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

Version 3 Additions: Version 3 builds upon Version 2.5, mainly addressing the apparent contradictions in Y-DNA subclade assignments, particularly regarding the two key J1a2b Khvalynsk and Afanesievo samples. Additionally, using DNAChron on a FTDNA Big-Y BAM file, the Bota J1-C127097 has been refined to J1-BY61095. The assignment of this subclade fundamentally changes the placement in the J1 phylogeny, validating earlier suspicions of a connection to the Late_Xiongnu_Sarmatian samples in ancient Mongolia, particularly UGU006. Lastly, inspired by some comments and critical feedback I have receive concerning the working-paper, I will add a section (also added to Origins of the Bota v.3) addressing some common misconceptions and my thoughts and impressions based on the current record as well as my body of research.

The geographic origin of Y‑chromosome haplogroup J1‑P58 (J1a2b) remains contentious. The prevailing “Levantine‑Presumption” attributes its emergence to indigenous Semitic populations, whereas a growing body of archaeogenetic evidence points to a Proto‑Indo‑European (PIE) source in the Pontic‑Steppe. Here we integrate several published ancient‑DNA (aDNA) samples spanning the Upper Paleolithic to the early modern period, together with modern autosomal and Y‑DNA data from the Bota family (Big‑Y, Eurogenes K36) and publicly available databases (ExploreYourDNA, MyTrueAncestry, GEDmatch, G25). Additionally, this working paper explores the cultural continuity of these groups across time; illustrating the deeply-rooted Trans-Iranic heritage of J1 and J1-P58 carriers, especially from Non-Semitic speaking backgrounds.
The goal of this working paper is to accurately reframe the commonly distributed misconceptions concerning the J1-P58 lineage. This paper is dedicated to those devoted to genomic science and history, and to fellow J1-P58 descendants who may be misrepresented by the pervasive yet incomplete narrative surrounding this haplogroup’s origins.