Overview
J1-FGC9482 belongs to the highland-associated J1-Z1828 radiation and traces its origins to early agro-pastoral communities in the Armenian Highlands, eastern Anatolia and the northern Zagros. These ancestral groups practiced mountain-based pastoralism, utilized upland fortifications and maintained long-standing inter-valley exchange systems. Their cultural sphere contributed significantly to the shaping of the Kura-Araxes tradition in the early Bronze Age. During the Bronze and Iron Ages, populations carrying FGC9482 remained concentrated in rugged upland environments characterized by demographic stability and limited external gene flow. The downstream microclade structure of the lineage reflects geographic isolation within mountain valleys and high plateaus. Archaeogenetic data shows continuity into the medieval period, highlighting the strong regional anchoring of this branch.