Overview
H1c represents an early diverging branch of the H1 radiation with a geographic core situated between Pakistan, northern India and the southeastern Iranian plateau. Unlike the more expansive H1a and the predominantly southern Indian H1b, H1c occupies an intermediate geographic domain and appears to reflect early Holocene population structures in the Indus borderlands and adjacent highland regions.
Genetically, H1c contains a mixture of small regional clusters that correlate with historical settlement zones around the Thar fringe, Sindh, Baluchistan and the western Himalayan foothills. These lineages exhibit moderate diversity despite limited downstream radiation, suggesting long term but regionally constrained persistence. H1c is particularly useful for reconstructing the demographic transitions between early agro pastoral populations of the Indus periphery and the more complex later societies that emerged during the Bronze Age.
Geographic distribution
H1c is found mainly in Pakistan (Sindh, Baluchistan, Punjab) and adjoining regions of northwest India (Rajasthan, Haryana). Smaller but consistent frequencies appear in Afghanistan and eastern Iran, especially among groups with historical ties to Indus and Makran coastal populations.
The southern Himalayan arc harbors minor but notable occurrences of H1c, likely reflecting ancient foothill settlements. Its presence tapers off sharply toward peninsular India, distinguishing it from H1b dominated southern populations.
Ancient DNA
- Late Neolithic and Chalcolithic signatures from Pakistan often show M52 derived backgrounds that may include ancestral H1c representatives.
- Ancient Iranian plateau individuals sometimes display upstream H1 structure connected to H1c.
- No confirmed Bronze Age H1c genome exists yet, but phylogenetic proximity suggests involvement in early Indus periphery demography.
Phylogeny & subclades
H1c sits as a sister branch to H1a and H1b, forming a triad of major H1 radiations. Its internal phylogeny is shallow, characterized by several microbranches associated with western South Asia. Unlike H1a, it shows limited diffusion into Iran or Europe, and unlike H1b, it does not dominate peninsular regions, reinforcing its identity as a regional frontier lineage.
- H1c* basal
- Indus fringe microbranches
- Baluchistan foothill clusters
Notes & context
H1c is essential for reconstructing fine scale paternal structure in the Indus borderlands. Its presence balances the H1 cluster and provides the necessary intermediate geographic layer between H1a and H1b.
References & external links