Category: Y-DNA Haplogroup R1a

Categories: Y-DNA Haplogroup R1

Haplogroup R-M420 (Y-DNA Haplogroup R1a)

In human genetics, Haplogroup R1a is a Y-chromosome DNA haplogroup.

R1a is thought to have been the dominant haplogroup among the northern and eastern Proto-Indo-European tribes, who evolved into the Indo-Iranian, Thracian, Baltic and Slavic people. The Proto-Indo-Europeans originated in the Yamna culture (3300-2500 BCE). Their dramatic expansion was possible thanks to an early adoption of bronze weapons and the domestication of the horse in the Eurasian steppes (circa 4000-3500 BCE).

The first expansion of the R1a forest-steppe people occured with the Corded Ware Culture (see Germanic branch below). The forest-steppe origin of this culture is obvious from the usage of corded pottery and the abundant use of polished battle axes, the two most prominent features of the Corded Ware culture.

Y-DNA Haplogroup R-M420 (Y-DNA Haplogroup R1a)

R1a or M420

Phylogeny of R1a (at Eupedia)

The modern population of R1 decendents can be seperated into these broad divisions.

The Germanic branch

• R1a - Z283 subclade Germany and the Netherlands
• R1a - Z284 subclade Scandinavia
• R1a - L664 subclade Germany, Scandinavia, England

The Slavic branch

• R1a - M458 and Z280 subclads Poland, Belarus, Ukraine and western Russia.

The Baltic (Balto-Slavic) branch

• R1a - M458 and Z280 subclads (Uralic-speaking) southern Finland to Lithuania and in northwest Russia.

The Indo-Iranian branch

The Indo-Iranian migrations have resulted in high R1a frequencies in southern Central Asia, Iran and the Indian subcontinent. The highest frequency of R1a (about 65%) is reached in a cluster around Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and northern Afghanistan. In India and Pakistan, R1a ranges from 15 to 50% of the population, depending on the region, ethnic group and caste.

The Greek branch

Arrival of Proto-Greek speakers from the steppes became the Mycenaean culture which commenced circa 1650 BCE and is clearly an imported steppe culture. The Mycenaean people descended from Russia to Greece between 1900 and 1650 BCE, where they intermingled with the locals to create a new unique Greek culture.

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