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Y-DNA Haplogroup Atlas

F · K · K2 · T-M184

Haplogroup T-M184

T-M184 (YFull T1)

Macro-haplogroup
T
Parent clade
K2
Formed (estimate)
c. 35,000–45,000 years before present
TMRCA (estimate)
c. 20,000–30,000 years ago

Overview

Haplogroup T-M184 is an early branch of the broader K2 radiation and forms one of the principal paternal lineages associated with ancient populations of the Near East, the Horn of Africa and parts of South Asia. Its ancestors diverged from other K-derived lineages during the Late Pleistocene, likely in a region spanning the Near East and northeastern Africa. T-M184 today shows signatures of both deep-time structure and later Holocene expansions, reflecting complex interactions between early pastoralist, agricultural and maritime populations. Its distribution and phylogeny suggest involvement in early Afroasiatic networks, Red Sea coastal movements and later Mediterranean and Arabian dispersals.

Geographic distribution

T-M184 appears in notable frequencies in the Horn of Africa, the Levant, Arabia, Iran and South Asia. It is especially common in Ethiopia, Somalia, Yemen and parts of the southern Levant. Moderate levels occur in Mediterranean populations including Italy, Greece and coastal Balkans. South Asia shows scattered occurrences among populations from India and Pakistan. Trace frequencies in East Africa reflect ancient Near Eastern contacts. The lineage is also found at low levels in the Caucasus and Anatolia.

Ancient DNA

  • Neolithic Near Eastern samples show paternal components compatible with ancient T-derived ancestry, although direct M184 calls are rarely obtained due to coverage limitations.
  • Late Neolithic individuals from Iran and the Zagros region show genetic affinities overlapping with populations known to carry T-M184 in the present day.
  • Red Sea coastal archaeological contexts suggest movements of early pastoral or maritime communities that parallel the distribution of early T lineages.

Phylogeny & subclades

T-M184 divides into two main branches: T-L206 and T-M70. T-M70 forms the major Holocene expansion that accounts for most modern T lineages, while T-L206 is a smaller, earlier diverging branch. The phylogeny reflects distinct demographic histories, with T-M70 showing widespread distribution linked to pastoralist and maritime expansions and T-L206 remaining rare and regionally restricted.

  • T-L206
  • T-M70
  • Basal T-M184* lineages

Notes & context

T-M184 is essential for understanding the demographic history of the Near East and the Horn of Africa. Its early divergence and later expansions make it a key lineage for reconstructing movements across the Red Sea and into the eastern Mediterranean.