Thursday

The Story of Haplogroup I

Haplogroup I is the only Y-Chromosome haplogroup that is autochthonous to Europe. This means that is emerged (evolved) and is "native" to Europe, and also that is found almost nowhere else. The I Haplogroup emerged probably somewhere in Central Europe, after their ancestors, the second wave of Homo Sapiens Sapiens, colonized Europe. Haplogroup I is marked by the M170 marker, which all men carrying M26 also bear.

The Branches of Haplogroup I

Haplogroup I has diverged into several branches, or subclades. The three major branches are distributed primarily in Scandinavia (M253), the Balkans (P37.2 or L68), and Northern Germany. The distribution of these branches is clinal, meaning essentially, that it is possible to tell on a map clearly where the haplogroups likely originated, where they are most concentrated, and where they spread. Think of mapping a spill.

M26

The distribution of subclade M26 is not clinal. There is no clear region where M26 emerged, and no clear map of its spread. Men bearing M26 are spread along the western seaboards of the Mediterranean and Atlantic. M26 has the most western distribution of any haplogroup.

Ethnic Groups Bearing M26

M26 is found among males of the following far-flung locales (in order of prevalence): Sardinia, Castile, coastal Spain, Pantellaria Island, Basque Country, Canary Islands, Sicily, Channel Islands, France, Ireland, coastal England, Holland, Italy, Wales, Corsica, southern Sweden, Belgium, Orkney Island.

Earliest Archaeological Sites in Western Europe Attributed to Haplogroup I

According to most theories, Haplogroup I is associated with Gravettian culture. The western Gravettians were responsible for the cave paintings at Lascaux, and other sites in France. If you are descended from I-M26, the westernmost marker and the only one still found in France and Spain, you are likely descended from humanity's first artists!

Studies and Graphics

Are posted frequently. Check back often!

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great information!

William B. Evans

Unknown said...

I'm really glad I found this page. My grandfather was born in Kirkwall, Orkney, and tracing our ancestry I found our family name dates back as far as I can search. With the heavy Viking ancestry discovered in the Orkney's I was more than a little confused about having such a rare subclade as M26. I'm interested in following any subsequent studies that pertain to M26. Thanks again for the great info!

Anonymous said...

My ancestors came from Dorset/Pilsdon & Bridport as far back as I can trace (1590s). We are M26. I read your information with great interest. Ken Nordtvedt has been researching this haplogroup and is most likely the best genetic expert on it.

Thanks for the interesting and thought provoking read.

Anonymous said...

My ancestors came from Dorset/Pilsdon & Bridport as far back as I can trace (1590s). We are M26. I read your information with great interest. Ken Nordtvedt has been researching this haplogroup and is most likely the best genetic expert on it.

Thanks for the interesting and thought provoking read.

Anonymous said...

Great blog!

It strikes me as obvious that those bearing M-26 are the descendants of some kind of seafaring elite. It is just found on too many islands all over the Atlantic Seaboard for this not to be the case.

This seems to be the vindication for Sir Barry Cunliffe's and toher theories about a Western Atlantic / Western Mediterranean elite culture that spread either metallurgy, astronomy, obsidian trade, viticulture, megalithic religion, druidism, or pre-Celtic languages (or some combination of the above) throughout those widely spaced locales.

Unknown said...

My paternal ancestors are I-M26, travelling to 'New france' in the 1600's. Many of those settled in Quebec and later in Northern Maine, USA. I've always wondered about the linkages within France and have hoped to learn more from my 23&Me 'relatives'. This site is simply a treasure trove!

Thanks. I'll be following you!

Unknown said...

I am I2a1a M26. Serbia

Unknown said...

Hi, I'm M26 too and I came from Sicily. The map and distribution of this group looks really interesting and difficult to explain..

Unknown said...

Hello! I am M26 from Russia.

Anonymous said...

IM26 here in the new world. Paternal ancestry from northern Spain up until the early 17th century

Anonymous said...

I-M26 here also. Paternal Linage from Etlville Germany (On the Rhine) late 1600's, documented Church records. Great information. Would be good to see some further studies on our Clad. Thank you for your time putting this together.

Regards, R Hartge

rhartge@yahoo.com.au

Anonymous said...

I'm I-M26 and my father is a Spanish Gypsy! However, according to 23andMe and different books I've read about Gypsy history, it looks like my father had an ancestor from Sicily in the XIVth century. So, according to my recent researches on the Internet, I can consider now that his Sardinian ancestor was probably a male from the I-M26 Haplogroup!

Anonymous said...

Not Sardinian, but Sicilian! Sorry.

Anonymous said...

Hola, I am M26 from South Texas. Family from Mexico, then from Spain. Really interesting!

Unknown said...

Incredible research. Thank you for sharing it. I'm I-M26 on my paternal side. My father's ancestors came from Northern Spain and traveled to the New World ending up in Sinaloa and then finally Baja California. They were primarily soldiers and sailors.