Paglicci 23 Cro-Magnoid from Italy dated 28,000 years ago. Carries Cambridge Reference Sequence mtDNA common in modern Europe. Sequence differs from mtDNA of all seven handlers since 2003 excavation. Contamination ruled out by cloning 152 sequences and UNG treatment. Neandertal-specific primers failed to amplify any DNA. Cro-Magnoid mtDNA falls within modern human variation. Radically differs from all known Neandertal mtDNA sequences. No Neandertal-like HVR I sequences in 4800 modern Europeans. Demonstrates maternal continuity from Cro-Magnoids to modern Europeans. Neandertal contribution to modern European gene pool incompatible with mtDNA data. Burden of proof on Neandertal admixture proponents. Sample preservation confirmed by low amino acid racemization and high mtDNA copy number. Long fragments amplified unusually well for ancient DNA. Previous Cro-Magnoid sequences likely genuine. Paglicci 23 enables future nuclear DNA studies of early Europeans.