Overview
J2a-Y18172 is a structurally significant downstream branch of the J2a-M67 lineage, anchored demographically in the mountain ecologies of eastern Anatolia, the Armenian plateau and the northern Zagros corridor. Its earliest formation corresponds to upland Holocene agricultural systems that developed early terrace cultivation, small-scale metallurgy and specialized highland herding adaptations.
During the Bronze Age, Y18172-bearing communities were closely integrated into the demographic landscapes of the Upper Tigris basin, Lake Van region and the Armenian highlands. These populations inhabited fortified upland centers and strategic mountain passes controlling interregional movement between Mesopotamia and the Caucasus. Downstream diversification appears linked to localized expansions in highland valleys and plateau margins. Iron Age and classical populations retained derivative subbranches indicating long-term continuity of upland lifeways and genetic stability.
Geographic distribution
Armenia, eastern Turkey, northwest Iran, northern Iraq; minor occurrences in Georgia and northern Syria.
Ancient DNA
- Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age Armenian highland genomes exhibit upstream J2a-M67 markers consistent with ancestral Y18172.
- Upper Tigris Bronze Age individuals preserve paternal signals aligning with early phases of this lineage.
- Eastern Anatolian Bronze Age settlements contain upstream components related to Y18172.
- Iron Age highland populations in northern Mesopotamia carry downstream derivatives.
- Classical Armenian plateau communities display continuity in microbranches associated with this lineage.
Phylogeny & subclades
A highland-rooted J2a-M67 branch with internal microstructure distributed across the Armenian plateau and eastern Anatolian uplands.
- Y18172*
- Armenian highland microbranches
- Upper Tigris derivatives
Notes & context
Y18172 is a key component in reconstructing long-term highland demographic continuity and Bronze to Iron Age upland cultural trajectories.
References & external links