Overview
J1-FGC8259 is a downstream highland-oriented lineage under J1-Z1828, with a demographic footprint concentrated in the South Caucasus, eastern Anatolia and parts of the northern Zagros. Its early formation is linked to upland agro-pastoral communities that existed during the middle Holocene, forming part of the broader network that produced the Kura-Araxes cultural sphere. Archaeological connections include upland pastoral stations, obsidian and metal exchange routes, and fortified settlements. Through the Bronze and Iron Ages, FGC8259 bearing groups participated in highland socio-political systems characterized by tribal segmentation, mountain fortress settlements and long-distance transhumance routes. Its downstream microstructure shows strong geographic clustering, reflecting long-term continuity in upland environments with limited diffusion into lowland regions. This makes the lineage particularly informative for reconstructing highland demographic dynamics.