Overview
R-M269 is the most common paternal lineage in Western Europe today and is strongly associated with the Bronze Age expansions of steppe pastoralist groups into Europe. The lineage likely arose in the Pontic Caspian Steppe and became highly successful during the spread of Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age cultures such as Yamnaya and its European successors. R-M269 rapidly replaced much of the earlier Neolithic male lineages and became the dominant Y-chromosomal signature across Western Europe.
Geographic distribution
Extremely frequent in Western Europe, especially in Ireland, the United Kingdom, France, the Low Countries, northern Spain and parts of central Europe. Also present in the Caucasus, Anatolia and western Asia due to Bronze Age movements.
Ancient DNA
- Yamnaya steppe pastoralists showing upstream R1b ancestry
- Bell Beaker cultural samples with widespread R-M269 presence
- Early and Middle Bronze Age central European populations dominated by R-M269 subclades
Phylogeny & subclades
R1b-M269 splits into several major European branches including R1b-L51, R1b-Z2103 and derivative Western European clusters. These form the core of the Bronze Age expansions into Europe.
Notes & context
R-M269 is key to Eurasian Bronze Age demographic transformations and the formation of Indo European linguistic expansions.
References & external links