Overview
J2b-Z41221 is a downstream component of the J2b-M241 lineage, strongly associated with the demographic landscapes of the southern Balkans, the Aegean basin and western Anatolia. Its early formation corresponds to the spread of Neolithic farming communities into coastal southeastern Europe and the integration of Balkan highland and Aegean maritime networks. The Bronze Age saw Z41221-bearing populations participating in demographic circuits linked to Mycenaean influence, Aegean maritime trade routes and western Anatolian cultural zones. Downstream diversification includes distinct founder effects in Aegean islands, coastal Balkan settlements and riverine microregions. Continuity in Iron Age and classical populations indicates stable regional presence through multiple cultural transitions.