R1b Cohane Project- Background

Background

Considered a major genetic genealogical achievement, the discovery of the Cohane Modal Haplotype years ago seemed to close the book on the genetic story of the Cohanim, the ancient priests of Israel said to be direct descendents of Aaron. Or did it? Found within the Jewish R1b DNA project (http://www.JewishR1b.org), within which all members are scrutinized for CONFIRMED paternal Jewish lineage, were tightly-clustered individuals who all tested as Cohanim. Not only were all these individuals' matches beyond Y12 Jewish, but they were all Cohane. In discussions with Dr. Michael Hammer, he has confirmed that these lines are ancient, significant and were likely never a part of the Western R1b prevalent throughout Europe. This theory is shared with several esteemed genetic professionals and amateur experts. The two lines (two distinct clusters have been found) likely hate back a thousand years or more, and are theorized to be pre-Diaspora. But where did these individuals become part of the Cohanim? Were they a Roman admixture? Greek? Were the early (or even original) Cohanim more than one group? These are the questions we are trying to answer. All members have a confirmed Cohane lineage backed by at least family oral tradition, and often include textual and/or photographic evidence of old graves with the sign of the Cohanim.

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