Overview
J2b-Z39741 is a downstream component of the J2b-M241 lineage with a demographic profile centered in the southern Balkans, the Aegean coastal arc and western Anatolia. Its formation corresponds to mid Holocene agricultural expansions into the Balkan interior followed by intense maritime interaction through the Aegean basin. Archaeological parallels include late Neolithic Balkan settlements, Chalcolithic island communities and early Bronze Age coastal towns linking Greece and western Anatolia.
During the Bronze Age, Z39741 participated in demographic streams associated with Mycenaean population expansion, coastal corridor interaction and maritime exchange networks connecting the Aegean, Adriatic and Anatolian regions. Its downstream structure shows founder effects focused in coastal Balkan and island based populations.
Geographic distribution
Highest in Greece, Albania and western Turkey; moderate in Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Cyprus; minor in southern Italy and the Levant.
Ancient DNA
- Late Neolithic Balkan individuals display J2b variants compatible with basal Z39741.
- Aegean Bronze Age burials include upstream branches linked to this lineage.
- Western Anatolian Bronze Age remains show continuity with Z39741 derived lines.
- Iron Age Levantine samples contain downstream signals aligned with the clade.
- Classical Greek communities preserve multiple branches of this lineage.
Phylogeny & subclades
A Balkan and Aegean centered J2b-M241 derivative with coastal oriented diversification and maritime microclades.
- Z39741*
- Aegean coastal clusters
- Western Anatolian extensions
Notes & context
A major J2b lineage central to the demographic history of the Aegean and southern Balkans.
References & external links