In a recent preprint of Allentoft 2022 a new Caucasian hunter gatherer (CHG) sample (NEO283) was published. It was similar to two other previous ones but had the Y DNA J2b.

 In a recent preprint of Allentoft 2022 a new Caucasian hunter gatherer (CHG) sample (NEO283) was published. It was similar to two other previous ones but had the Y DNA J2b.

It's age 9700 years old is comparable to the previous oldest J2b from Zagros Neolithic in Iran. Given that the age of J2b is 15800 years we can assume that the homeland of J2b was somewhere between Caucasian range and South Zagros of Iran. Further distribution of it's subbranches support that idea.

J2b1-M205 was found in Bronze Age Levant. Given that it appears there in relatively large number with the J1-P58 we can imagine that both haplotypes came from Ubaid and expanded with Semitic tribes in Bronze Age. This obviously do not mean that all cases of J2b1 are from Levant. Grugni has found that ~6% of Tehran Armenians had J2b1. Nakhichevan Armenians also seems to have slightly higher level of this branch. It was also noticed in Khatri merchant caste in India.

J2b2b-Z2453 This branch was found in Hajji Firuz site in North West Iran in Chalcolithic period. Given their Central farmer shift we can assume that it was present in historic Armenia also. Not surprising it is found in modern Armenians also in small number. In general this is a minor Neolithic farmer lineage in West Asia that moved to various directions.

J2b2a1-L283. This is the most puzzling subbranch of J2b. It is frequent in Balkanes in Europe. But occasionally can be found in West Asia also. It was found in LBA/EIA Armenia. Based on current data this branch moved from South Caucasus to Steppe and expanded there with Yamna. Though it's still missing from Yamna samples. The age is 5500 years. It's an IE lineage so not surprising it was very popular in ancient Illyrians and modern Albanians. It is seldom found in modern Armenia.

J2b2a2-Z2432 It's the sister branch of L283 but has completely different distribution. It is present mostly in India. In ancient DNA it was found in BMAC and Iron Age Pakistan. Based on it's age (9700 years) it must be a Neolithic lineage that moved from North Iran to East.

The first picture is the J2b2a while the second one is the J2b1. In total J2b makes ~2% of modern Armenian gene pool.

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