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Y-DNA Haplogroup Atlas

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Haplogroup I2a1f

I2-Y4460

Macro-haplogroup
I
Parent clade
I2a1
Formed (estimate)
c. 11,000–13,000 years before present
TMRCA (estimate)
c. 5,000–6,000 years ago

Overview

I2a1f (Y4460) is a southeastern and central European branch of I2a1 that originated among Late Mesolithic populations inhabiting the lower Danube and Carpathian basin. Its early formation places it among the indigenous paternal lines that encountered, and intermingled with, incoming early farmers during the Neolithic transition. Unlike the explosive expansion of I2a1b, I2a1f retained a modest but regionally stable demographic profile.

Geographic distribution

Modern carriers are found in Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, western Ukraine, Serbia and Hungary. Low but consistent presence occurs across Slovakia and northern Greece.

Ancient DNA

  • Neolithic remains from the lower Danube display ancestry related to early I2a1f-like variants.
  • Copper Age Carpathian burials reveal upstream Y4460-associated patterns.
  • Bronze Age Balkan individuals show continuity with I2a1 substructure linked to this lineage.

Phylogeny & subclades

I2a1f forms a sister branch to I2a1a–d within the I2a1 complex. SNPs including Y4460 and Y4463 define a lineage with limited but regionally structured downstream diversification.

  • I2-Y4463
  • I2-CTS1001
  • Basal Y4460*

Notes & context

I2a1f contributes to reconstructing the fine-scale paternal structure of Neolithic–Bronze Age southeastern Europe, highlighting indigenous continuity.