Overview
Haplogroup R-V1636 is a rare but historically important early branch of R1b. It belongs to the deep structure of R1b1a and diverged long before the dramatic expansion of R-M269 in western Eurasia. R-V1636 is first attested in Eneolithic and early Bronze Age individuals from the Pontic–Caspian steppe and the North Caucasus piedmont zone, placing it in the heartland of populations that contributed heavily to the later Corded Ware and related cultures.
Ancient DNA has confirmed R-V1636 in several key archaeological contexts. Eneolithic burials on the North Caucasus steppe, early Yamnaya-associated individuals and a Copper Age male from Arslantepe in eastern Anatolia carried this lineage, showing that V1636-bearing males participated in early steppe expansions toward the south and west. A later example from the Single Grave culture in Denmark demonstrates that R-V1636 also reached northwestern Europe as part of the wider movement of steppe-derived groups.
Despite its broad ancient geographic footprint, R-V1636 remains very rare in present day populations. Modern occurrences have been reported at low frequencies in the Caucasus, Anatolia, the Near East and sporadically in other regions. This pattern suggests that R-V1636 was overshadowed demographically by other R1b lineages during the Bronze Age and Iron Age, yet it preserves a distinct signature of early steppe related paternal ancestry that did not fully participate in the later M269 centered expansions.
Geographic distribution
Today, R-V1636 is extremely rare. It has been identified at low levels in parts of the Caucasus, eastern Anatolia, the Near East and occasionally further afield, including isolated cases in Europe and western Asia. The modern distribution is scattered and does not reflect the much wider ancient footprint documented by ancient DNA.
Ancient DNA
- Eneolithic males from sites in the North Caucasus piedmont steppe carried R1b-V1636, making this lineage one of the earliest documented R1b branches on the Pontic–Caspian steppe.
- A Copper Age individual from Arslantepe (eastern Anatolia) has been reported with R1b-V1636, indicating southward expansion of this lineage from the steppe into early complex societies of Anatolia.
- A Single Grave culture burial from Gjerrild in Denmark yielded an individual belonging to R1b-V1636, showing that this rare branch also participated in the westward spread of steppe ancestry into northern Europe.
- Additional R-V1636 cases have been identified in Yamnaya-associated contexts on the steppe, reinforcing its role as a marker of early steppe paternal structure.
Phylogeny & subclades
R-V1636 branches from the deep R1b backbone downstream of L278 and L389. It is phylogenetically close to lineages such as R-P297 and represents a sister branch to the cluster that would eventually give rise to R-M269. Its internal diversity is limited compared to the large radiations under M269.
- R-V1636* (rare basal lineages)
- Several small regional microbranches found in the Caucasus and Near East
Notes & context
Although numerically minor, R-V1636 is highly informative for reconstructing the early history of R1b on the steppe and in surrounding regions. It furnishes an independent line of evidence for multiple R1b lineages participating in steppe related expansions, not only those descending from R-M269.
References & external links