I think you've missed the point. This individual, who was buried in the late 6th century BC in Carthage, has mitochondrial DNA from a European (likely Spanish) maternal line. Thus, despite being a wealthy individual of supposedly Phoenician blood (which one would make to have Lebanese / Levant DNA), he has a European lineage from hunter gatherers that has been virtually wiped out.

The implication is that when the Phoenicians colonized the southern Iberian peninsula, they mixed with the local hunter gatherer Europeans. Then, the individuals who mixed spread out to more substantial and traditional Phoenician urban centers further east.

Given that:

- he died in the late 6th century BC in Carthage

- Carthage was only founded in 814 BC

- Traditional Phoenicia (Lebanon) was conquered by the Persians in the late 6th century, resulting in Carthage becoming the most important remaining Phoenician city during his lifetime.

Then it is quite significant that in the relatively early days of Carthage, then the de facto capital of the Phoenician world, a wealthy individual actually had hunter gatherer DNA from Spanish Europeans.

What is the story explaining this? An ultimate tale of social mobility wherein his family was integrated into Phoenician society and steadily increased their status through only 10 generations (300 years)? A Jon Snow bastard situation where a wealthy Phoenician impregnated a local indigenous Spanish woman, potentially in war or rape?

Given that his haplogroup, U5b2c1, "has been identified in both La Braña 1 and 2, the 7000 year-old remains recovered from the La Braña-Arintero site in León in Northwestern Spain" Then it is almost assuredly that his maternal line is hunter gatherer Europeans. They were only beginning to see the waves of technology radiate from the middle east. 2800 - 1800 BC they experience the Beaker Culture, which is characterized by pottery likely used to drink alcohol. Thus, as grains, alcohol, and pottery first arrive, their society rapidly begins to change. Then in 1000-800 BC the Phoenicians show up and bring writing and massive advances in technology and social organization. Nonetheless, Spain remained more of a source of raw materials than a major urban development for the Phoenicians at that point. Much of the silver in the Levant was coming from Spain and Sardinian mines run by Phoenicians.

[1] http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjourna... (the actual journal article)