Description
Haplogroup I2a2 (M436) is a subclade of I2a found primarily in Central and Western Europe, with highest frequencies in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Britain. Also known as I2-Cont (Continental European), it represents a distinct branch of ancient European hunter-gatherer ancestry that survived the Neolithic transition at moderate levels. I2a2 was likely widespread among Mesolithic European hunter-gatherers and persisted through the Neolithic farming period, subsequently becoming part of the Bronze Age and Iron Age European gene pool. It is distinct from the 'Dinaric' I2 of Eastern Europe.
Interesting Fact
I2a2 was found in ancient DNA from Mesolithic hunter-gatherers in Germany and Scandinavia, demonstrating that it was present in pre-farming European populations. Its survival into the modern era — despite the massive demographic impacts of Neolithic farming and Bronze Age steppe migrations — suggests some degree of population continuity for Western European hunter-gatherer lineages.
Distribution by Ethnicity
| Ethnic distribution | Region | Frequency | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dutch | Northwestern Europe | n=500 | |
| Belgians | Northwestern Europe | n=400 | |
| Germans | Central Europe | n=800 | |
| British (England) | Northwestern Europe | n=800 |
Tags
References
- Lazaridis et al. (2014) — Ancient human genomes suggest three ancestral populations for present-day Europeans. Nature 513(7518), 409–413.