Overview
Haplogroup T-L162 is an early diverging subclade of T-M70 and represents one of the primary paternal signatures associated with Holocene population movements in the Levant, Anatolia and the eastern Mediterranean. Its distribution suggests involvement in early agricultural networks as farming spread from the Near East into southeast Europe. T-L162 also appears in maritime contexts, consistent with movements along coastal Levantine and Aegean routes during the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods. The lineage shows moderate internal diversification, aligning with region-specific expansions over the last 10,000 years.
Geographic distribution
T-L162 occurs in the Levant, including Israel, Lebanon and Jordan. It is found in coastal Anatolia, Cyprus and Crete. The Balkans show moderate frequencies, especially in Greece, Albania and coastal Macedonia. Italy, particularly the southern and central regions, also hosts a notable presence. Low-level occurrences appear in the Caucasus and Arabia due to historic interactions with Levantine populations.
Ancient DNA
- Neolithic individuals from the Levant show ancestry components parallel to modern T-L162 lineages.
- Aegean Neolithic samples show paternal profiles consistent with early T-L162 dispersal along maritime routes.
- Bronze Age Levantine individuals display subclade-defining mutations related to T-L162 derived branches.
Phylogeny & subclades
T-L162 forms several subclusters associated with Mediterranean and Balkan populations. Derived branches include lineages that correlate with coastal movements during the Neolithic and later Bronze Age trading networks. The phylogeny suggests multiple expansions rather than a single large founding event.
- T-L162*
- Mediterranean L162 clusters
- Balkan L162 microclades
Notes & context
T-L162 is important for reconstructing population movements linking the Levant, Anatolia and southeastern Europe. Its structure highlights maritime and agricultural diffusion routes across the eastern Mediterranean.
References & external links