The Proto-Indo-European Origin of J1-P58: The Mitanni Migrations That Shaped the Levant and Beyond

The geographic origin of Y-chromosome haplogroup J1-P58 (J1a2b) remains contentious in archaeogenetic literature. However, this study challenges the prevailing "Levantine-Presumption" and presents evidence that supports a Proto-Indo-European (PIE) source of J1-P58 in the Pontic-Steppe. In addition to a historical analysis of early Bronze Age Indo-Aryan/Indo-Iranian migrations, this study correlates these patterns to J-M267/J-P58 Y-DNA movements into the Levant and the greater Middle East, alongside other "Indo-European" and "Northern" lineages such as R1a, R1b, and Q. This study integrates published ancient DNA samples spanning the Upper Paleolithic to early modern period, combined with modern autosomal and Y-DNA data from the author's patriline (Big-Y, Eurogenes K36) and publicly available databases (ExploreYourDNA, MyTrueAncestry, GEDmatch, G25). Lastly, E1b1b1, T, and H are identified as likely candidates for "autochthonous", patrilineal Levantine populations and as "originators" of the spread of Semitic languages.

Version 2.5 Additions: Version 2.5 builds upon Version 2, adding more information regarding the specific PIE affiliated cultures that carried J1; it also makes minor graphical fixes by removing the highlights on the G25 charts.