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Y-DNA Haplogroup Atlas

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Haplogroup J2a-Y23094

Macro-haplogroup
J
Parent clade
J2a-Z2227
Formed (estimate)
c. 10,000–13,000 years before present
TMRCA (estimate)
c. 4,000–5,500 years ago

Overview

J2a-Y23094 is a downstream Mediterranean-oriented branch of J2a-Z2227 that crystallized among coastal or near-coastal early Neolithic populations in the eastern Mediterranean, especially those inhabiting Cyprus, southwestern Anatolia, the Aegean islands and the northern Levant. Its formation coincides with the intensification of maritime subsistence strategies and increased inter-island mobility during the early Holocene. By the Bronze Age, Y23094-bearing lineages appear as part of the demographic base of Aegean–Anatolian maritime societies involved in copper trade, artisanal production and palace-centered economic systems. This clade also played a role in the genetic shaping of the Aegean Bronze Age civilizations, including Minoans and Mycenaeans, as well as in the subsequent classical Mediterranean expansions.

Geographic distribution

Today, J2a-Y23094 is most common in Cyprus, Crete, the Aegean islands, southwestern Turkey and coastal Levantine regions. Secondary frequencies appear in Sicily, southern Italy, Greece, Bulgaria and parts of Armenia. The geographical distribution closely matches ancient seafaring networks that linked Cyprus, the Aegean, western Anatolia and the Levant. Occasional signals in western Iran and Mesopotamia may reflect Bronze Age population flows or classical-era resettlements.

Ancient DNA

  • Bronze Age Cypriot individuals display J2a lineages consistent with early Y23094 expansions.
  • Aegean Bronze Age individuals, including Minoans and Mycenaeans, show J2a signatures compatible with downstream Y23094 branches.
  • Levantine Chalcolithic and Bronze Age sites exhibit J2a variants matching early Y23094 diversification.
  • Anatolian Bronze Age individuals from southwestern and western regions show patterns consistent with Y23094-linked populations.
  • Classical-era coastal Greek and Cypriot burials reveal continuity with Y23094-bearing groups.

Phylogeny & subclades

Y23094 forms a well-defined maritime Mediterranean branch under Z2227, splitting into subclades concentrated in Cyprus, Crete, the Aegean and the southwestern Anatolian coastline. The phylogeny reflects repeated seaborne demographic pulses during the Copper and Bronze Ages and shows tight regional clustering consistent with island–coastal founder effects.

  • Y23094* (basal)
  • Y23097 coastal-Aegean branch
  • YP1351 Cyprus–Crete microclade
  • Minor Levantine and Anatolian subclusters

Notes & context

J2a-Y23094 serves as an important marker of eastern Mediterranean maritime demography, aligning with archaeological evidence for prehistoric seaborne trade and cultural connectivity among Cyprus, the Aegean and the Levant. Its widespread Bronze Age presence underscores its role in the formation of major eastern Mediterranean civilizations.