Overview
J2a-FGC16510 is a downstream lineage of J2a-Z2227 with a demographic center strongly anchored to coastal southern Anatolia, Cyprus and the southern Aegean basin. Its formation aligns with the expansion of mid Holocene maritime and agro pastoral communities who operated across coastal environments and island networks. Archaeological matches include early coastal settlements in Cilicia, Chalcolithic Cypriot communities and proto urban maritime hubs. During the Bronze Age, FGC16510 bearing individuals likely formed part of the population matrix connecting Cyprus, the Aegean, coastal Anatolia and the Levant through metal trade, grain redistribution systems and maritime transport. The clade’s downstream branching reflects demographic pulses associated with the rise of Aegean palatial systems, Cypriot metallurgical centers and Levantine coastal polities.
Geographic distribution
Highest frequencies appear in Cyprus, coastal Turkey, the Dodecanese and parts of Crete. Moderate presence occurs in mainland Greece, the Levant and southern Italy. Lower but widespread presence in the central Mediterranean reflects classical and Roman era maritime diffusion.
Ancient DNA
- Bronze Age Cyprus individuals show clear J2a patterns matching early FGC16510 phases.
- Southern Anatolian Bronze Age individuals carry J2a lineages congruent with upstream FGC16510.
- Aegean Bronze Age burials exhibit J2a diversity consistent with this maritime oriented lineage.
- Classical and Hellenistic coastal populations preserve downstream branches of FGC16510.
- Roman era maritime centers include J2a subclades overlapping with FGC16510 expansions.
Phylogeny & subclades
FGC16510 contains several coastal centered microbranches with island focused founder effects. Its phylogeny shows strong maritime dispersal from the eastern Mediterranean toward the Aegean and southern Italy.
- FGC16510* basal coastal form
- Cypriot downstream clusters
- Southern Aegean microbranches
- Anatolian and Levantine derivatives
Notes & context
J2a-FGC16510 is a key clade for reconstructing Bronze Age maritime population structures across the eastern Mediterranean.
References & external links