Overview
G2a2b2a2 (L91) is a Mediterranean-centered branch of the P303 macro-expansion. It played a key role in early maritime Neolithic dispersals, especially along the coasts of Italy, the Adriatic, the Tyrrhenian Sea and the western Mediterranean. L91 is found in ancient remains from the western Mediterranean Neolithic, making it one of the clearest paternal markers of early seafaring farmer groups.
Modern L91 displays strong localization in Sardinia, Corsica and coastal Italy—regions that preserve unusually high proportions of early Neolithic ancestry. These patterns align with archaeological evidence of maritime pioneer farming groups establishing settlements on islands and coastal enclaves during the 6th millennium BCE.
Geographic distribution
L91 is most common in Sardinia (one of Europe’s strongest refuges of Neolithic ancestry), Corsica, coastal Tuscany, Liguria, southern France and pockets of Iberia. It is also found at modest levels in the Aegean and Crete. In the Near East and Caucasus, L91 occurs only sporadically, reflecting its stronger association with Mediterranean maritime expansions.
In mainland Europe beyond Italy and France, L91 appears only at low frequencies, usually representing either ancient remnants or later historic admixture.
Ancient DNA
- Early Neolithic individuals from Sardinia and the western Mediterranean islands carry L91 or close upstream branches.
- Neolithic sites in coastal Italy and southern France show L91-derived lineages, consistent with maritime colonization.
- Some Aegean Neolithic individuals may represent upstream branches ancestral to L91.
- Late Neolithic and Chalcolithic individuals from Iberia include L91-related clades, reflecting western maritime expansions.
Phylogeny & subclades
L91 is a compact but archaeologically significant sub-branch of the P303 radiations. Its internal structure includes several island-specific and coastal-specific microclades, many of which appear to have diverged rapidly during the early Mediterranean Neolithic.
Compared to continental branches like L497 or Caucasus-linked Z1903, L91’s subclades form tight founder clusters, reflecting isolation of early maritime communities.
- L91* basal branches
- Mediterranean island-specific microclades (Sardinia, Corsica)
- Italian coastal regional lineages
- Western Mediterranean founder-effect clusters
Notes & context
L91 is essential for mapping the maritime spread of the Neolithic. Its localized, island-enriched substructure provides rare paternal continuity that survived later Bronze Age turnover. In Sardinia especially, L91 contributes to the island’s unique genetic signature—a strong preservation of early Anatolian farmer ancestry with limited later steppe influence.
References & external links