The Neolithic farmers of the Zagros Mountains often called Zagros Neolithic Farmers represent one of humanity’s earliest agriculturalist societies. Their DNA has revealed key insights into the origins of farming and the deep genetic roots of ancient Iran. A central part of their genetic identity lies in their Ychromosome haplogroups. Understanding what haplogroup(s) they carried helps illuminate migration patterns, regional continuity, and the development of agriculture across the Fertile Crescent and into South Asia.
Archaeogenetic Discoveries in Zagros Neolithic Farmers
Genomic studies of Early Neolithic remains from sites like Tepe Abdul Hosein and Wezmeh Cave in Iran have shown that these individuals belonged to a genetically distinct cluster separate from Anatolian Neolithic farmers and European huntergatherers. They exhibit strong affinities with modern populations in Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan particularly Iranian Zoroastrians and Balochi or Brahui groups.
In addition to autosomal DNA, recovered ancient DNA from male skeletons provided information on their Ychromosome haplogroup lineage.
YDNA Haplogroups Identified in Zagros Farmers
One key individual analyzed from Wezmeh Cave dated to around 9,000 years ago and associated with agricultural lifestyle was found to carry YDNA haplogroup G2b, specifically the branch GY37100, along with mitochondrial haplogroup J1d6.
Earlier Neolithic individuals from Tepe Abdul Hosein (c. 82007750 BCE) were assigned to haplogroup J2bM12, a subclade within the broader J2b branch, likely ancestral to J2b1 and J2b2 sublineages seen in later populations.
Summary Table: Identified Zagros Neolithic Haplogroups
- Wezmeh Cave individual: YDNA G2b (GY37100)
- Tepe Abdul Hosein individuals: YDNA J2bM12\ (possibly extinct branch closely related to modern subclades)
Implications for Neolithic Expansion and Regional Genetics
The presence of G2b and J2b in Zagros Neolithic farmers supports broader models of YDNA distribution among early agriculturalists. In the wider Fertile Crescent, haplogroup G2a is commonly associated with Anatolian Neolithic farmers and later spread into Europe, while J2 lineages especially J2a and J2b are tied to Southwest Asian origins and the spread of farming into Central and South Asia.
Genetic evidence suggests the Zagros Neolithic lineage forms a distinct branch ancestral to modern populations in Iran and South Asia. These groups often show about 60 % ancestry from ZagrosNeolithicrelated populations, alongside minor Anatolian, European huntergatherer, and Ancient South Indian (AASI) inputs.
Regional and Global Genetic Connections
The autosomal signature of Zagros Neolithic farmers remains detectable in modern South and Central Asian populations such as Balochi, Brahui, and Pakistani communities. The YDNA J2b and G2b/G2a lineages likewise persist at moderate frequencies in these regions and among certain Iranian populations, including Zoroastrians and Lurs.
These paternal lineages serve as markers of deep ancestry and cultural transmission. Haplogroup G2b may have remained largely regional, while J2b spread more broadly westward and eastward along trade and migration routes from the Zagros and Iranian Plateau into Europe and South Asia.
Population Continuity over Millennia
A recent genetic study of Iran’s Plateau spanning from the Chalcolithic through the Sassanid period confirms long-term regional genetic continuity, with Neolithic Zagros ancestry playing a central role throughout historical eras.
Why These Haplogroups Matter
Identifying G2b and J2b lineages in ZarÂgros Neolithic farmers has several key implications:
- It demonstrates the diverse YDNA lineages present among early farmers not only those associated with Anatolian G2a.
- It suggests a regional origin for early agriculture distinct from western Fertile Crescent traditions.
- It underpins genetic continuity between ancient Zagros populations and modern groups in Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
- It helps trace migration routes and cultural transmission from Zagros into South Asia and beyond.
Broader Archaeological and Genetic Context
Archaeologically, sites such as Ganj Dareh, Chogha Golan, and Tepe Abdul Hosein illustrate early evidence of domesticated wheat, goat herding, and settlement patterns dating back 10,000 years. Genetic analysis from these sites confirms inheritance of these lifeways alongside specific paternal markers. The coexistence of multiple haplogroups (G2b, J2b, later also G2a) suggests a mosaic of family lineages adopting farming independently within the Zagros region.
The Zagros Neolithic farmers carried Ychromosome haplogroups that included G2b (GY37100) and J2bM12\ in their male lineage. These haplogroups highlight the unique genetic character of early Iranian Plateau populations who developed agriculture independently of Anatolian farmers. Their descendants appear in modern-day Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and beyond, linking thousands of years of human history. Studying these haplogroups offers a window into the dawn of farming, migration patterns, and the genetic foundations of later civilisations across West and South Asia.
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