Overview
R1a-Y2633 is one of the dominant branches of R1a-Z2123 and forms a major component of the paternal ancestry of Saka, Scythian and eastern Iranian-speaking groups. It emerged in the Central Asian steppe zone during the late Bronze Age, among pastoralist societies carrying Sintashta-Andronovo ancestry. These groups were responsible for the rapid spread of chariot warfare, advanced bronze metallurgy and expansive trans-regional mobility. Y2633 expanded widely during the Iron Age. It appears in numerous Scythian and Saka burials, including elite kurgans with rich archaeological assemblages. Its subbranches reached deep into the Altai, Xinjiang and Central Asian oases. Linguistic and genetic evidence ties Y2633 expansions to the formation of early eastern Iranian languages. Today, Y2633 forms an important lineage across Central Asia and Iranian-speaking populations with steppe ancestry.