Overview
O1a1a is a major downstream subclade under O1a1-CTS10887 and forms one of the most characteristic paternal lineages of early Austronesian-speaking groups in Taiwan. The formation age aligns with the development of Neolithic cultures such as Dapenkeng, which represent the earliest archaeological horizon associated with the rise of proto-Austronesian societies. The lineage played a central role in the demographic formation of indigenous Taiwanese groups and in the initial dispersal southward toward the Philippines.
Geographic distribution
O1a1a is found at notably high frequencies among Taiwanese indigenous populations such as the Amis, Atayal, and Bunun. It is also present in lower frequencies in the northern Philippines, particularly in Luzon, and appears sporadically across maritime Southeast Asia as part of early Austronesian expansions.
Ancient DNA
- Neolithic Taiwanese remains indicate ancestry consistent with O1a1a-level lineages.
- The clade’s timing corresponds to transitions from coastal foraging to settled horticultural economies.
- O1a1a likely contributed to the initial waves of Austronesian dispersal into the northern Philippines.
Phylogeny & subclades
O1a1a sits as a primary daughter of CTS10887 and contains multiple downstream microbranches that reflect localized diversification among Taiwan’s mountain and coastal communities.
- O1a1a*
- Minor CTS10887 derivatives
Notes & context
O1a1a is essential for identifying early Austronesian paternal ancestry and reconstructing the internal diversity of Taiwan’s indigenous populations.
References & external links