Overview
Haplogroup T-L208 is a major Mediterranean and Near Eastern branch under T-M70. It is strongly represented in Italy, the Balkans, the Aegean and the Levant. The lineage expanded during the Neolithic and continued through the Bronze Age and classical periods, likely participating in maritime networks that connected the eastern Mediterranean with southern Europe. T-L208’s substructure reveals multiple founder effects in Italy and the Balkans, consistent with archaeological evidence for repeated population contacts across the Mediterranean Basin.
Geographic distribution
T-L208 is most common in Italy, particularly in the central and southern regions. It is also present in Greece, Albania, North Macedonia and the coastal western Balkans. The Levant, including Lebanon, Israel and Palestine, shows moderate frequencies. It occurs at lower levels in Turkey, Cyprus and Crete. North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula show sporadic occurrences linked to historical movements.
Ancient DNA
- Italian Neolithic and Bronze Age individuals show paternal signals compatible with early T-L208 ancestors.
- Aegean Bronze Age samples from Crete and mainland Greece contain ancestry components aligned with L208 carrying populations.
- Phoenician and eastern Mediterranean maritime expansions likely contributed to the dispersal of early L208 branches.
Phylogeny & subclades
T-L208 contains several downstream clades including T-Y13800, T-L446 and additional microclades concentrated in the Balkans and Italy. The phylogeny displays strong geographical stratification, with multiple founder events shaping the diversity of the clade.
- T-Y13800
- T-L446
- Regional L208 clusters
Notes & context
T-L208 is one of the most geographically informative branches of T-M70, linking the Levant, Aegean and Mediterranean populations during key demographic transitions of the Holocene.
References & external links