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Haplogroup B-M182

B-M182

Macro-haplogroup
B
Parent clade
B-M60
Formed (estimate)
c. 75,000–100,000 years before present
TMRCA (estimate)
c. 35,000–55,000 years ago

Overview

Haplogroup B2-M182 represents the dominant and most internally diverse branch of haplogroup B. Nearly all modern B lineages descend from this cluster, which shows deep time depth and extensive geographic structuring. B2-M182 is especially prominent among Central African rainforest foragers and among Eastern and Southern African forager-derived populations. The lineage’s antiquity and broad but structured diversity provide critical insight into the demographic history of African Middle and Late Pleistocene populations. Unlike B1-M236, which survives today mainly as fragmented and low-frequency pockets, B2-M182 underwent multiple radiations. These radiations correlate with distinct ecological niches, including dense equatorial forests, savanna–woodland transition zones, and later agro-pastoralist corridors. B2’s two major descendant branches, B2a-M150 and B2b-M112, represent contrasting demographic trajectories: B2a participated in Holocene expansions linked to Bantu and Sahelian populations, while B2b retained strong associations with ancestral forager communities like the Mbuti, Baka, Biaka and certain Khoisan-influenced groups. This duality makes B2-M182 one of the most important lineages for reconstructing African prehistory. It shows how ancient forager populations persisted across vast time spans while simultaneously interacting with or being absorbed into later demographic surges during the Holocene.

Geographic distribution

B-M182 has a wide but structured distribution. It reaches its greatest frequencies in Central Africa, especially among rainforest hunter-gatherer groups in Cameroon, Gabon, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These populations typically carry B2b-M112 and its subclades. In East Africa, B2-M182 occurs among the Hadza, Sandawe and related forager-derived groups, while also appearing at low-to-moderate frequencies among some Nilo-Saharan and Cushitic-speaking populations. In Southern Africa, B2 lineages occur in both Khoisan-speaking groups and Bantu-associated populations, often reflecting deep forager ancestry. B2a-M150 shows a different pattern, being widely distributed across West, Central and Southern Africa as part of expansions associated with Bantu migrations and earlier Sahelian dispersals. Small but notable frequencies of B2 lineages appear in Sudan, Ethiopia and the Nile corridor, representing older substrata overshadowed by major expansions of E-M2 and J lineages. Outside Africa, B2-M182 is rare but present in the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, Afghanistan and among a few South Asian groups. These occurrences are generally tied to historic or medieval gene flow, including Red Sea crossings and Indian Ocean trade networks.

Ancient DNA

  • The Shum Laka individuals from Cameroon (c. 8,000 and c. 3,000 years before present) were assigned to B2b-related lineages, confirming deep continuity of B2b-M112 among Central African foragers.
  • Ancient genomes from Malawi and eastern Africa include B2b-like male lineages, indicating that the B2 radiation had already reached Eastern Africa by the Late Pleistocene.
  • Holocene individuals from Kenya, Sudan and the central Sahel show B2a- or B2b-derived branches, suggesting both early forager continuity and incorporation into pastoralist or mixed subsistence communities.
  • Comparative analyses of modern and ancient genomes show that B2b-M112 has remained highly localized, supporting long-term population stability among Central African rainforest foragers.

Phylogeny & subclades

B2-M182 divides primarily into two major descendant clades: B2a-M150 and B2b-M112. Both are ancient but represent distinct demographic pathways. B2a-M150 underwent broad expansions during the Holocene, becoming common in West and Central Africa and later diffusing into Southern Africa through Bantu-associated migrations. B2b-M112, in contrast, has remained strongly associated with forager populations in Central Africa and also appears among certain Khoisan and East African groups. Additional rare B2 lineages exist outside the B2a and B2b framework, but these are limited and poorly sampled. The overall structure of B2-M182 highlights a long history of regional isolation among forager populations as well as later interactions with expanding food-producing cultures.

  • B2a-M150
  • B2b-M112
  • Minor basal B2 lineages (B2* and rare private branches)

Notes & context

B2-M182 is essential for understanding the deep genetic structure of African populations and the relationships between ancient forager groups and later agro-pastoralist societies. Its two major radiations reflect different demographic processes: B2a as a signature of Holocene expansions and B2b as a marker of long-term forager continuity. Because B2 is so diverse and geographically structured, it serves as a crucial reference for aligning genetic, linguistic and archaeological narratives across the African continent.