Administrators: Adam Ćwiklak, Dr Vladimir Gurianov, Karl Oscar Högström, Vladimir Volkov, Mehmet Ali Yilmaz

Characteristics of the Q-L712 haplogroup  and its subclades,

basic information about the "Focus Group Q-L712" Project

 

Q-L712 Focus Group exists to explore the genetic genealogy, geography and history of the Q-L712 Y-DNA branch and its subclades

 

The haplogroup Q-L712 Y-DNA is extremely rare and its frequency in the FTDNA data base is about 0.05%.

According to Y-FULL research, this haplogroup was formed about 16,000 years ago and its subclades were formed in the following time:

Subclade	Time ybp
Q-L715	10 700
Q-BZ640	4 900
Q-YP844	4 900
Q-L713	3 800
Q-YP789	3 800
Q-BZ1000	1 950
Q-BZ351	1 950
Q-BZ1026	700

The haplogroup Q-L712 Y-DNA (Q1a1b1) is a subclade of the haplogroup Q-M25 Y-DNA (Q1a1b) which belongs to the Q-M242 Y-DNA haplogroup.

Our project is aimed at the study of Q-L712 Y-DNA and its subclades and is a subset of the larger Q-M242 Project.

 

All men belonging to the Q-M242 Project and having positive SNP Q-L712 are encouraged to take part in the Q-L712 Focus Group.

 

Many factors indicate primary Hunnic or Hunnic-Sarmatian origin of this haplogroup and its subclades.

 

Project Groups

 

 

Based on genetic genealogy and the historical and ethnographic data, the project participants are grouped into the following subgroups:

 

Nr	Project group	SNP	SNP	SNP	SNP	SNP	SNP	SNP	Number of project members
1.	Balkaria/Digora Group	Q-L712+	Q-L715+	Q-BZ641+	Q-BZ640+	-	-	-	19
2.	Eurasian Group I	Q-L712+	Q-L715+	Q-L713+	-	-	-	-	8
3.	Eurasian Group II	Q-L712+	Q-L715+	Q-L713+	Q-YP789+	Q-BZ1000+	-	-	1
4.	Szekelys (Szekler) Group	Q-L712+	Q-L715+	Q-L713+	Q-YP789+	-	-	-	8
5.	Polish Group	Q-L712+	Q-L715+	Q-L713+	Q-YP789+	Q-BZ351+	-	-	3
6.	Middle Eastern Group I	Q-L712+	Q-F4531+	Q-YP4400+	-	-	-	-	1
7.	Middle Eastern Group II	Q-L712+	Q-F4747+	Q-F5005+	Q-BZ992+	Q-BZ1010+	Q-BZ1026+	-	3
8.	Middle Eastern Group III	Q-L712+	Q-F4531+	Q-YP4400+	Q-F4705+	Q-F4741+	Q-Y50173+	Q-BY143900+	1

 

Description of project groups

 

 

1. Balkaria/Digora Group

 

 

It brings together men from the North Caucasus region belonging to the Q-L712 cluster. The majority of them derive their genealogical roots from the historical Balkarian/Digorian aristocracy associated with the dynasty of Badeliats and Basiats. According to the family legends, the ancestors of both dynasties, two real brothers (Badel and Basiat), arrived sometime in the Caucasus as foreigners and thanks to their unique attributes, abilities and skills, inter alia knowledge of firearms, were able to subdue the native Digorian people and take authority over them. At the time of Badel and Basiat arrival the indigenous people did not know firearms and gunpowder and fought with bows. In accordance with Digorian tradition, the brothers had come from Hungary or from a town called Majar located instate of the Golden Horde (some versions of the old family legend say about Hungarian and even Hunnic origin). Historians have been involved in an ongoing debate concerning Majar or Hungarian origin of Badeliats and Basiats relating to the aural similarity of the terms "Majar"and "Magyar".

 

According to the latest state of research, the above referred events took place in the late15th or early 16th century.

 

The most recent common ancestor (MRCA) of the Balkaria/Digora Group lived ca. 500 years ago. This time is consistent with the results of archaeological research related to the beginning of the Badeliats and Basiats dynasty in Digoria.

 

Compiled on the basis of:

 

В. А. Кузнецов, Археологические данные о происхождении дигорских Баделят. Edited by: Б. Х. Бгажноков, В. А. Фоменко, Археологияиэтнология Северного Кавказа. Нальчик 2012.

 

 

2 and 3. Eurasian group

 

 

Members of this subgroup, conventionally called “Eurasian”, derived their ancestors from different regions of European and Asiatic continents (Ireland, Poland, Russia,Uzbekistan).

The project participants are not ethnically related with the Balkaria/Digora and Székely (Szekler) subcluster. However most of these men are similar to Székely Y-DNA profile.

 

 

4. Székely (Szekler) group

 

 

The next subgroup consists of men from Székely community who belong to the Q-L712 haplogroup and its subclades. The research of Székely genetic genealogy deals with FTDNA Hungarian Bukovina project. Székelys is a Hungarian-speaking ethnic group, living in eastern part of Transylvania and demonstrating unique cultural characteristics, distinguishing it from other European nations. So far the origin of Székelys has remained unknown. Characteristic for Székely people are inter alia specific type of runes, called Old Hungarian Alphabet (Székelyrovásírás) used before the year 1000 AD, unique pillar tombs called Kopjafa and characteristic Székely gates. The origin of the Székely people and their uniqueness remain a mystery even though several hypotheses have been put forward on the subject. The Székelys in their ancient legends claim that they are descendants of the Huns who, after the defeat of the mighty Hunnic king Attila, remained in Europe, changed the name from Huns to Székely and found asecluded place to hide from retribution from the previously conquered nations.Their forefathers descend in a straight line from the mythological prince Csaba, who would have been the son of Attila the Hun.The old Hunnic motifs and themes are still present in the Székely folklore.This fact is especially intriguing in the context of genetic genealogy because more and more evidence leads to the hypothesis of Hunnic origin, or very close relation to the Hunnic origin of the haplogroup Q-M25 and its subclades. Michael Maglio writes: “If I had to pose a theory, I would say that Attila is Q1a2 [Q-M25], part of the royal class of Huns living in Hungary. (...) The combined evidence of DNA, geography and history leads to the conclusion that at the end of the Hunnic Empire, the core East Asian Huns assimilated into the eastern European cultures. They left behind a strong genetic footprint in the same territory that they historically inhabited. The next time I’m asked, What about the Huns?  I can point to Europe and say, They’re still there” (full article by M. Maglio).

 

Due to the aforementioned facts the Székely legends about the Hunnic origin,questioned by some researchers, may invite a slightly different reading.

 

The most recent common ancestor (MRCA) of the Székely (Szekler) subcluster lived most likely about 1700 years ago. For various reasons, this time can be combined with the Hunnic invasion of Europe in 370 AD. High level of differentiation within the Székely (Szekler) subcluster, distant time to the most recent common ancestor and a relatively large concentration of haplogroup within one ethnic group may suggest a kind of center of this rare ancient and mysterious haplotype in Europe.

 

 

5. Polish group

 

 

The Polish group includes participants with the Q-YP789, Q-BZ1000 and Q-BZ351 polymorphisms. They seem to come from the common ancestor of the Székely group. The common ancestor of the Polish and Székely groups lived about 1700 years ago.  See also: Niezgoda Y-DNA Project

The most recent common ancestor (MRCA) of the Polish subcluster lived most likely about 1050 years ago.

 

 

6, 7 and 8. Middle Eastern group

 

The Middle East group includes participants from Iran and Turkey. They represent the Q-YP4416 and Q-F5005 polymorphisms and their subclades.

 

Ancient Y-DNA samples have matches with living people!

 

 

Genetic genealogy of the Q-L712 Y-DNA haplogroup can be supplemented by archeological research and archaic DNA tests. In the ancient burial grounds in Asia and Europe the archaeologists have discovered human remains, from which you can obtain genetic material (aDNA). Some samples belong to the haplogroup Q-L712 Y-DNA and to its subclades e. g.: Q-L715, Q-L713 and Q-YP789 (which have been for first time discovered in the genetic profile of the kit 180029 - member of our Q-L712 Focus Group) and have matches with living people who are the Q-L712 Focus Group Project members.

 

 

Sample	Archeological site	YBP	Culture	Estimated Y-DNA haplogroup	Remarks
RISE683	Okunevo, EMBA, Russia	4870-3920	Yamnaya	Q-FT414149	-
I8506	Kokcha 3, Uzbekistan, steppe, Grave N77	3614	-	Q-F4705*	-
RISE493	Sabinka 2, Russia	3551-3288	Karasuk	Q-FT414149	-
I12134	Swat Valley, Loebanr, Pakistan	2850	-	Q-F4705*	The skeletal remains are from secondary deposition of possibly manipulated burials
X3	Shirenzigou, China	2250	Post-Yanbulake Shirenzigou	Q-F4741	-
I7022	Uvs aimag cemetery, grave #11, Burial 7, Mongolia	2244	-	Q-FT414149	-
RISE600	Verh-Uimon, Russia	2450	Hunnic/Sarmatian	Q-YP844	-
RISE601	Verh-Uimon, Russia	2450	Hunnic/Sarmatian	Q-YP844	-
DA105	Uch-Kurbu, kurgan 1/4 (grave 4.), Kyrgyzstan, Tian Shan	1833±32	Hun	Q-L715	-
DA54	Keden, kurgan K70, Kyrgyzstan, Tian Shan	1693±31	Hun	Q-L715	-
DA74	Baskiya 2, kurgan 30, Kyrgyzstan, Tian Shan	1624±46	Hun	Q-YP1681*	Child, buried together with another individual
BRE004	Berel 2017_69, Kazakhstan	1633	Hun	Q-YP789	Warrior, buried together with horse in kurgan
BRE011	Berel 2018_90, Kazakhstan	1620	Hun	Q-YP789	Burial of an over 55 years old man in a stone box with a north western orientation
DA86	Boz-Adyr, kurgan 16, Kyrgyzstan, Tian Shan	1582±42	Turk	Q-L715	Warrior, buried together with horse
SEEurope9	Central Bulgaria	1100	Avar, Bulgar,	Q-L712	-

 

 

Phylogenetic tree of Q-L712 Y-DNA haplogroup with aDNA samples indicated

				Q-L712 (SEEurope9)
	Q-F4531			Q-Y11671
	Q-F4705 (I8506)			Q-YP828
	Q-F4741 (X3)
		Q-YP832				Q-FT394000
		Q-L715 (DA105, DA54, DA86)				Q-FT414149 (RISE683, RISE493, I7022)
		Q-YP844 (RISE600, RISE601)
Q-L713				Q-YP1677
Q-YP789 (BRE004, BRE011)

The above mentioned arguments lead to the conclusion about the possible Hunnic origin of men belonging to Q-L712 Y-DNA and its subclades and also about close links between the project participant's ancestors and the ancient Hunnic or Hunnic-Sarmatian culture.

 

Text author: Adam Ćwiklak ©

 

Links to the source material:

 

Analysis of the human Y-chromosome haplogroup Q  characterizes ancient population movements in Eurasia and the Americas

Ancient DNA: Map based on public dataset onwww.haplogroup.info. (www.indo-european.eu)

Ancient human DNA map

Anthrogenica

Chuan-Chao Wang, Dispersals of the Siberian Y‑chromosome haplogroup Q in Eurasia

https://amtdb.org/

https://docplayer.net/207890318-Supplementary-materials-for.html

"Nature",Y-chromosome haplogroups from Hun, Avar and conquering Hungarian period nomadic people of the Carpathian Basin

“Nature”, Population genomics of Bronze Age Eurasia

“Nature”,137 ancient human genomes from across the Eurasian steppes

“Science”,The first horse herders and the impact of early Bronze Age steppe expansions into Asia

Y-FULL