Overview
G-PF3296 is a major internal branch of the PF3293 arm of G-M406. In many phylogenies it is treated as the immediate descendant of PF3293 and as the ancestral trunk for several historically important clusters, including the Hadhrami Y32612 group and European branches such as Z30814. Age estimates place its formation around 6300 BCE, which is consistent with an origin in Neolithic or Chalcolithic West Asia, probably in or near Anatolia and northern Syria, similar to other M406 lineages. :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}
The demographic significance of PF3296 lies not in high present day frequency but in its role as the ancestral backbone linking a series of later founder events. These include coastal Arabian lineages associated with prestigious sayyid families and Mediterranean and central European clusters that appear in Imperial Roman and Avar period ancient DNA. PF3296 therefore connects a deep time Anatolian background to historically visible movements in both the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean worlds.
Geographic distribution
Modern PF3296 derived lineages appear across a wide but fragmented area. They are present in Turkey and the eastern Mediterranean, particularly Lebanon and the northern Levant. They occur in coastal Arabian populations, including Oman and Yemen, where PF3296 forms the upstream framework for the Hadhrami Y32612 cluster that is strongly represented among Ba Alawi Sada families and their descendants. :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}
In Europe, PF3296 is represented by subclades such as Z30814 and further downstream branches that have been found in Hungary, Austria, Spain and other areas. For example, an Avar period burial from Kiskundorozsma in Hungary has been assigned to G2a2b1b1a2c, a Z30814 derived PF3296 sublineage, and the Imperial Roman sample R47 from Rome also belongs to a PF3296 greater than Z30814 greater than S11415 branch. These findings show that PF3296 lines were part of East Mediterranean ancestry that participated in Roman and post Roman population histories in central Europe. :contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}
Ancient DNA
- Middle Bronze Age Oylum Höyük individual I14785 from southern Anatolia belongs to a PF3296 greater than PF3316 branch and provides a clear Bronze Age anchor for PF3296 in the northern Levant corridor. :contentReference[oaicite:20]{index=20}
- Late Roman or early medieval samples from Hungary, such as 2039Bolzano or KDA 517, have been assigned to PF3296 derived clades under Z30814. These individuals likely represent Anatolian or Levantine ancestry that was incorporated into steppe confederations or local populations during the Avar period. :contentReference[oaicite:21]{index=21}
- Imperial Roman individual R47 from Rome belongs to a PF3296 greater than Z30814 greater than S11415 branch. This shows that PF3296 lines entered the urban Roman population together with other M406 lineages that had roots in Anatolia and the Levant. :contentReference[oaicite:22]{index=22}
Phylogeny & subclades
PF3296 stands below PF3293 and above several important downstream nodes. One of these is Z30814, which has its own internal structure and whose descendant branches include S11415 and Y82047. These subclades show strong representation in European samples and in Avar and Roman ancient DNA. Another major downstream line is Y32612, the Hadhrami cluster, which has a very recent common ancestor yet sits phylogenetically beneath PF3296 and PF3316, linking a medieval founder event with a much older West Asian ancestry. :contentReference[oaicite:23]{index=23}
From a tree topology perspective, PF3296 acts as a relay point. The early branch records Neolithic or Chalcolithic population structure in the Near East. The downstream clusters record specific historic processes. Z30814 and its European derivatives relate to Roman, post Roman and steppe interactions in Europe. Y32612 and its satellite branches relate to Hadhrami and Indian Ocean diaspora history.
- G-PF3296* basal, represented in a mix of Near Eastern and European samples with no further downstream SNP calls yet
- G-Z30814, which splits around the mid sixth millennium BCE and under which several European ancient DNA samples and modern central European lineages are grouped :contentReference[oaicite:24]{index=24}
- G-S11415 and G-Y82047, younger branches under Z30814 that contain individuals from Italy, Spain, Hungary and Scandinavia in modern and ancient datasets
- PF3296 derived lineages that proceed into Arabian and Hadhrami clusters such as Y32612, forming the upstream framework for Ba Alawi Sada paternal lines in Yemen, Oman, the Gulf and Southeast Asia
Notes & context
G-PF3296 is a good demonstration of how a middle level node in a haplogroup tree can be crucial for linking deep prehistory with fairly recent historical events. In the context of this atlas, PF3296 helps organize the story of M406 into three connected layers. First, an early Neolithic to Chalcolithic stage in Anatolia and the Levant. Second, a Bronze and Iron Age phase in which PF3296 lines appear in Anatolian and Levantine contexts. Third, a historical phase in which its descendants are found in Roman, Avar and Hadhrami settings across Europe and the Indian Ocean world.
References & external links