Overview
J1-FGC11171 is a downstream highland-associated lineage of the J1-Z1828 macroclade and formed among agro-pastoral communities located across the Armenian Highlands, eastern Anatolia and the northern Zagros. These populations practiced vertical transhumance, cultivated upland farmlands and maintained fortified settlements characteristic of highland Bronze Age societies. Archaeological evidence suggests continuity with cultural developments linked to the Kura-Araxes sphere. Throughout the Bronze and Iron Ages, FGC11171-bearing communities remained demographically stable within rugged highland environments, where ecological isolation restrained long-distance migration. The lineage's internal structure reflects valley-bound microclades that persisted over long periods. Medieval Armenian plateau samples preserve multiple downstream segments of FGC11171, indicating deep continuity in highland population history.