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Y-DNA Haplogroup Atlas

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Haplogroup I1-Z1388

I1-Z1388 Baltic–Central European

Macro-haplogroup
I
Parent clade
I1
Formed (estimate)
c. 3,400–3,900 years before present
TMRCA (estimate)
c. 2,000–2,400 years ago

Overview

I1-Z1388 is a Baltic–Central European aligned branch under the I1-Z138 complex. It formed in the coastal and inland regions linking southern Scandinavia, the Oder–Vistula delta, and northern Germany. The clade reflects smaller communities that participated in Baltic amber-route networks, Iron Age trade, and proto-Germanic cultural formation. Although not as expansive as dominant Z138 branches, Z1388 is essential for reconstructing the finer structure of this macro-lineage.

Geographic distribution

Modern carriers are concentrated in Poland (Pomerania, Kashubia), Germany (Mecklenburg, Brandenburg), Denmark, Sweden and Latvia. A lower frequency presence in Norway and Finland reflects Viking and later medieval diffusion. Minimal but detectable levels appear in Britain.

Ancient DNA

  • Baltic Iron Age individuals show Z138 derivatives clustering close to the Z1388 root.
  • Roman-era Germanic frontier sites in northern Germany include males with haplotypes aligning with early Z1388 structure.
  • Viking Age burials from Gotland and Bornholm have individuals downstream or phylogenetically adjacent to Z1388.

Phylogeny & subclades

Z1388 branches underneath the main Z138 radiation, parallel to clades such as S2293 and Z2541. Z1388, Z1390 and BY50512 define its structure. Its downstream phylogeny is shallow but clearly regionally patterned.

  • I1-Z1390
  • I1-BY50512
  • Basal Z1388*

Notes & context

I1-Z1388 is highly informative for differentiating Baltic–Central European components of the Z138 system from North Sea and British Isles focused branches. Its distribution matches archaeological evidence of Iron Age coastal networks.