Overview
J2a-M47 is a notable branch within the J2a-Z6065 highland complex and shows an intriguing geographic bridge between West Asia and South Asia. It appears to have formed among early Holocene populations around the Iranian plateau, the eastern Fertile Crescent and adjacent highland regions. Its diversification overlaps with the time frame in which early agricultural and agro pastoral economies spread from the northern Fertile Crescent toward Iran and further east.
Modern data reveal that M47 has two main axes of presence: one in the Near East and Iran, and one in South Asia, reflecting either a bidirectional exchange corridor or an early eastward offshoot that became established in the Indo Iranian cultural sphere. The lineage is not a major component of Mediterranean J2a but instead highlights the role of trans Iranian routes connecting Mesopotamia, the Iranian plateau and the northwest Indian subcontinent. During the Bronze Age and later, M47 bearing lineages likely participated in the demographic landscapes associated with Iranian plateau societies and Indo Iranian expansions.
Geographic distribution
Observed at low to moderate frequencies in Iran, the Persian Gulf region, parts of the Levant and Arabia, and in northwest South Asia including Pakistan and northwest India. Isolated occurrences are also documented in the Caucasus and Anatolia.
Ancient DNA
- Ancient DNA from Iran and the Iranian plateau includes J2a lineages that are phylogenetically close to the M47 cluster.
- Comparative tree topology indicates that M47 shares upstream structure with highland oriented J2a-Z6065 branches found in Armenia, eastern Anatolia and Iran.
- South Asian genetic datasets show M47 within Indo Iranian associated paternal backgrounds, suggesting Bronze Age or earlier eastward movements.
- Patterns of coalescent time for M47 subbranches coincide with the emergence of complex societies on the Iranian plateau and neighboring regions.
- Modern distribution and tree position point to long term participation of M47 in the demographic history of Iranian speaking populations.
Phylogeny & subclades
Within J2a-Z6065, M47 forms a distinct subtree that connects Iranian plateau populations with a secondary expansion into South Asia. The internal branching structure displays several microclades associated with specific regional clusters.
- J2a-M47*
- Near Eastern derived branches
- South Asian related subclusters
Notes & context
J2a-M47 helps clarify the eastern highland dimension of J2a dispersals and illustrates links between Iranian plateau populations and South Asia that are not dominated by the more western Mediterranean J2a branches.
References & external links