Overview
J2a-FGC17140 is a downstream branch of the J2a-Z2227 complex with strong associations to southern Anatolia, Cyprus and the coastal Levant. Its early formation corresponds to the expansion of middle Holocene coastal agricultural communities that relied on mixed farming, maritime exchange and seasonal herding. Archaeological parallels include early coastal villages of southern Anatolia, Chalcolithic Cypriot settlements and pre Bronze Age Levantine maritime interaction spheres. During the Bronze Age, individuals associated with this lineage appear to have participated in seaborne trade networks that linked Cyprus, the Levant and the Aegean. The downstream structure of FGC17140 reflects demographic expansions driven by the rise of coastal polities, metallurgical centers and maritime trade hubs that flourished across the eastern Mediterranean during the Bronze and classical periods.
Geographic distribution
FGC17140 is most frequent in Cyprus, coastal Turkey, the southern Aegean islands and the Levant. Moderate levels occur in Greece, Crete and southern Italy. Lower frequencies in the central Mediterranean reflect classical maritime expansions.
Ancient DNA
- Cypriot Bronze Age individuals show J2a patterns aligned with early FGC17140 diversification.
- Southern Anatolian Bronze Age remains include J2a signatures consistent with upstream portions of this clade.
- Aegean Bronze Age samples contain J2a variants overlapping with FGC17140 related expansion.
- Classical Levantine port settlements preserve downstream FGC17140 branches.
- Roman era remains from coastal hubs across the eastern Mediterranean show continuity with this lineage.
Phylogeny & subclades
FGC17140 contains several coastal centered subbranches with strong representation in Cyprus and southern Anatolia. The phylogeny shows a maritime oriented diversification pattern with notable island based founder effects.
- FGC17140* basal coastal form
- Cypriot downstream branches
- Southern Anatolian microclusters
- Levantine derived lines
Notes & context
J2a-FGC17140 is a key lineage for reconstructing maritime demographic connections across the eastern Mediterranean.
References & external links