The Illyrian Genetics and Heritage of the Albanians
Many countries have incorporated genetic analysis into criminal investigations and this is an example of the effectiveness of scientific technology in solving crimes. DNA and fingerprints are the basic and sure principles of identifying individuals that confirm their presence in a particular place.
While all written pieces of history are desirable, DNA is “the real thing.” It is the real truth, because it cannot be changed, and man carries it with him as a central part of himself, in his heart.
Language can change, but genes cannot.
The Illyrians did not leave written texts on papyrus or marble, but they left something else…. themselves, their skeletons, their genetic DNA. The ancient historians forgot to mention the Albanians in antiquity, but their DNA did not forget anything. The DNA of today’s Albanians is the continuation of the DNA of the ancients who lived in Illyria, and this is what science tells us, it is not mythology.
Connecting ancient skeletons in Illyria to modern Albanians through DNA Genetic
Studies show that modern Albanians have significant genetic continuity with ancient Balkan populations, particularly the Illyrians. Several studies claim that a large percentage of their genetic ancestry comes from the Illyrians, with estimates ranging around 75–80%.This genetic continuity is supported by the presence of specific Y-DNA haplogroups, such as J2b2a1-L283, R1b and E-V13, which are associated with ancient populations of the region.
Furthermore, Albanians show little genetic admixture with neighboring peoples, which strengthens the hypothesis of direct descent from the Illyrians.INDO-EUROPEAN CONNECTIONBALKAN ACADEMYIn summary, genetic data suggests that Albanians largely retain their ancestry from the ancient Illyrians.
The Slavs in the Balkans, the closer geographically to the Albanians, the more E-V13 R1B and J2B they have, even if overall the Slavic R1a and I2 predominate, this shows that some Illyrians and others were Slavized.
Albanian DNA (if we can call it that) has not been influenced at all by Turkish DNA, it’s strange but true.
Authors and Institutes:Iain Mathieson, professor of genetics at the University of PennsylvaniaNick Patterson, David Reich and other important geneticists from:Harvard UniversityBroad InstituteUniversity of Oxford etc.— Year of publication: June 2023 (preprint on bioRxiv)
Notably, Albanian paternal ancestry shows a continuity from the Bronze Age Balkan populations, including those known as Illyrians.
The BioRxiv research then highlights for the J2B-Z600 subgroups, ” Today these subgroups are more common in Albanians than any other population in the world, suggesting continuity and identification with the Illyrians”,:
Based on the data from the research, it is entirely reasonable to say that the ancestors of today’s Albanians have lived in the Balkans for at least 4,000 to 5,000 years.
According to the study ” Ancient DNA reveals the origins of the Albanians ” published in 2023, modern Albanians are descended mainly from populations of the western Balkans of the Roman era, with additional influences from groups related to the Slavs.
The study analyzed more than 6,000 ancient genomes from the last 8,000 years, using advanced bioinformatics tools to quantify the spatiotemporal mobility of people. The results show that the paternal lineage of Albanians shows continuity from Bronze Age populations in the Balkans, including those known as Illyrians.
Furthermore, the study locates the area of development of the Albanian language in the western Balkans, with a possible focus in the Mati region in northern Albania. This suggests that the ancestors of the Albanians maintained a relatively isolated presence in the region, with limited influences from migratory waves, such as those of the Slavs.
In summary, genetic research supports that Albanians are indigenous populations of the western Balkans, with deep roots reaching back to the Bronze Age, and that the Albanian language developed within this region.
Author Information:
Leonidas-Romanos Davranoglou,
Aris Aristodimou,
David Wesolowski and
Alexander Iraklides
1Oxford University Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
This article provides strong evidence that the DNA of modern Albanians has deep roots in the Balkans, with significant genetic continuity from antiquity, particularly the Bronze Age and Roman periods. Below I briefly explain how this is documented:
Albanians are closely related to the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age (BA–IA) populations of the Balkans, who are 30–40% of steppe origin.
These populations had formed a common genetic “core” in the western Balkans, from Epirus to Albania and northern Macedonia.
2. Genetic continuity during the Roman and Post-Roman period:
Although many populations in the Balkans were altered by Germanic, Slavic, and nomadic migrations (5th–7th centuries), samples from Medieval Albania (500–800 AD) do not show strong Slavic admixture.
This means that the ancestors of today’s Albanians remained in the same geographical area and largely preserved their ancient DNA.
3. Resistance to Slavic influence:
While the rest of the Balkans received extensive Slavic and Germanic admixture, Albanian population groups remained more genetically “unaffected”.
4. Support for the theory of local development of the Albanian language:
Genetic continuity from the populations of the western Balkans (possibly “Illyrians”) supports the theory that the Albanian language evolved locally, and not as an import.
Albanian DNA has ancient roots in the western Balkans, with a continuous presence from the Bronze Age to the present. Although there have been some later genetic influences (mainly Slavic and nomadic), the basic genetic core has been preserved.
This does not mean absolute “purity” (which is not true for any people), but it shows that Albanians are direct descendants of ancient Balkan populations, something that is also supported by historical geography and linguistics.
*See here detailed DNA y-haplogroup Albanian Rrenjet
Map with ancient skeletons of J2B L283, Croatia, Montenegro, Northern Albania
Some ancient skeletons that have been found
Cetina Valley, Croatia 2000–1600 BC
J2b-L283 > Z597
Veliki Vanik (Dalmatia) Croatia 1631–1521 BC
J2b-L283 > Y15058 → Z38240
Velika Gruda Montenegro Bronze Age
J2b-L283
Cinamak, Kukës Albania Iron Age
Another Map with Ancient Bones with Y-DNA J2B L283
Map with the current distribution of J2B L283
J2b-L283 in the area of present-day Romania is from later migrations of Illyrians to these parts, since there is no ancient genetic material there, the ancient bones that have been found there are none with this haplogroup.
J2B L283 is considered the seal of the Illyrians
J2b-L283 was already in the Western Balkans in the Bronze and Iron Ages (ancient DNA from Albania, Croatia, Montenegro) and these areas are identified with the zones that ancient authors (Polybius, Strabo, etc.) give to the Illyrians.
Today, J2b-L283 is more common among Albanians than any other population in the world, indicating continuity and identification with the Illyrians, since the subclades also show that the skeletons are ancestors of the Albanians.
The ancient E-V13
Mokrin Serbia ~1900–1800 BC
E-V13
Glasinac Bosnia Iron Age
E-V13
Barç Albania (Korçë) Iron Age
E-V13
Kamenica Tumulus Albania ~900–500 BC
E-V13
The ancient Balkan genetic material J2B L283 has been found in ancient bones in Albania (Kukës, Shkodër, Korçë), Montenegro (Kotorr), Croatia (Dalmatia), Bosnia (Veliki Vanik, Mokrik -Dalmat) etc., and dates back to the Bronze Age. While the genetic material with E-V13 has been found in the western Balkans (5500 years ago) but a little further inland, but in the Illyrian area again.
While the presence of R1b-M269 (especially the subclade Z2103) in Albania is associated with migrations of steppe origin during the Bronze Age (~2500 BC). All three of these constitute the core of the paternal lines of the Albanians and are from pre-Illyrian times in the western Balkans.
It is known and logical that the Illyrians themselves were not only from a single genetic code of origin.
It seems that most Illyrian tribes moved further south with the descent of the Slavs. Molecular genealogy (Y-DNA) allows us to “read” exactly such historical movements, even when there are no written sources or when the names of the tribes have been lost, while some stayed and were Slavized. Such examples can be found in Y-FULL through SNP of Y-DNA.
To give an example, below we see a Bosnian Croat, an Albanian, and a Greek with
J2BL283>Z638>Z1297>Z1295>Z631>Z1043>
Y22894
What does the example J2b L283 (Y22894 and offshoots) show:
It shows a specific genealogical line that begins in the Illyrian territory (western Balkans), and over time:
It arrives in Albania,
Moving towards Greek territories
How do we understand this?.. from the sub-branches. “TMRCA” (Time to Most Recent Common Ancestor)
According to what the sub-branch shows, the Croatian remained at the base, since the Albanian and the Greek have about 800 years of difference between them, while with the Croatian there is only 600 years, so a total of 1400 years, so the movement took place somewhere in the 6th century AD, which coincides with the descent of the Slavs.
Modern northern Albanians carrying the entire sequence J2b‑L283 → … → Y22894 are approximately 50–60 generations distant from the ancient Dalmatian samples. This suggests impressive genetic continuity from the Bronze Age to the present.
This sample also reflects the general picture.
Samples from Dalmatia (Croatia – Cetina region)
In the study by Mathieson et al. 2018, a man from Western Dalmatia (Veliki Vanik, Bronze Age, ca. 1631–1513 BCE) had Y-DNA haplogroup J2b2a1-L283. In the Cetina culture area, 9 out of 10 men tested genetically carry J2b (mainly J-L283 subclades)
According to a recent study ( Patterson et al . 2022 / Lazaridis et al. 2022), from 18 samples (Bronze Age – Early Iron Age) in areas corresponding to historical Illyria: Most men had J2b2a1‑L283 (such as subclades J‑PH1602, J‑Y86930, J‑Z1297), with only one sample R1b‑L2.
One of the oldest samples of J2B‑L283 was found in Northern Albania (Shkrel), around the 19th century BC, i.e. about 4000 years ago.
Haplogroup J2b-L283, often associated with Illyrians and the western Balkan populations in general, has been found in ancient DNA from southern Italy, including areas where the Messapians lived. The presence of J2b-L283 in the Messapians supports the hypothesis of a common ancestry with Illyrian populations.
Ancient skeletons with J2b-L283 from Illyria are genetically related to present-day Albanians.
For example, two ancient skeletons, one from Montenegro and one from Albania
The same examples exist for E-V13 and R1B.
*The hypothesis “J2b-L283 → Illyrian heritage → strong presence in today’s northern Albanians, in some areas up to 50-60%, all other peoples of the region have less than 5%”: It did not come from the arrival of the Slavs, because the Slavs did not bring J2b-L283.
J2B L283 is considered the seal of the Illyrians
J2b-L283 was already in the Western Balkans in the Bronze and Iron Ages (ancient DNA from Albania, Montenegro) and these areas are identified with the zones that ancient authors (Polybius, Strabo, etc.) give to the Illyrians.
Today J2b-L283 is more common among Albanians than any other population in the world, suggesting continuity and identification with the Illyrians,
In the bigger picture, northern Albania is the center of J2B L283 and as we move away from this center, the Y-DNA becomes more sparse, defying existing borders, you mean.
Ancient bones with J2B L283 have been found in pre-Illyrian region, and the current distribution of J2B L283 is more common among present-day Albanians than in any other country in the world.
J2b-L283 shows genetic continuity from the Illyrians to modern Albanians. Ptolemy’s references confirm the historical and geographical continuity of Illyrian territory, along a parallel line from the said most difficult point through the Alban Mountains to the Bevian Mountains.. Ptolemy – Geographical Notes, p.128
All of this, combined with the linguistic study of the Albanian language by the University of Cambridge , fits the final piece of the puzzle that shows the Albanians that they are the descendants of the Illyrians.
There is a living, direct genetic continuity from ancient Illyrian Dalmatians (Cetina) to present-day Albanians, through the subclade PH1602….who belong to the subclade J2b-L283 → Z38241 → PH1602, ..and therefore have direct genetic contact with the same line that appears in ancient Dalmatian markers (Cetina), these skeletons are 2200 BC, i.e. over 4000 years old in the area that would later be pronounced as Illyria by ancient Greeks and Romans.
Such examples exist in Y-FULL with Albanians from northern Albania and Kosovo having a direct line of kinship from ancient skeletons that have been found in Croatia, Montenegro and Albania. For example, an Albanian belonging to the PH1602 subclade—and originating from the Ferizaj region (Kosovo). Furthermore, another one is found on the same genetic tree a little higher up (Z38241), from the Mat region in Albania, and so on…!
Today, several Albanians belong to the same branch (going down to PH1602).
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Glasinac-Mati culture (Bosnia – Albania)
Iron Age (~1000–500 BC)
Samples with J2b-L283, some in Z638 and some in Z597. Albanians today have a large presence in these two branches.
It shows that the line continued in the same geographical area.
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Croatia & Montenegro – various samples L283
Dating: from ~1700 BC (Late Bronze Age) to ~300 BC.
Branches: J2b-L283 → Z638, Z597.
Exactly the same branches that today’s Albanians have.
Today’s Albanians have a genetic “connective tissue” with the skeletons of the Illyrian region, but the most direct line comes from the Z38240/PH1602 of the Cetina culture (Dalmatia, Croatia).
* Let us bring here another example of the three well-known surnames/tribes (Gashi, Krasniqi, Nikaj) in northern Albania and Kosovo and their direct genetic connection to the Illyrians. This example also applies to the vast majority of Albanians.
Four thousand years ago, in the mountains of Dalmatia and Dardania, the first carriers of Y-DNA J2b-L283 appear. Archaeological findings from the Cetina Culture in Croatia (~2000 BC) and burials at Shkrel and Çinamak in Albania (~1800-500 BC) clearly show the presence of this genetic branch in populations that historians identify with pre-Illyrians and then with the Illyrians.
As the centuries passed, J2b-L283 did not disappear; on the contrary, it became the main genetic core of many communities living in the mountains between present-day northern Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro. Even during the Roman Empire and Byzantine times, the same mountains acted as a refuge, where local populations maintained their identity.
Around the Middle Ages, the J2b-L283 lineages that had remained in the region formed new branches, such as Y126399 → Y252971. From these emerged the tribes we know today as Gashi, Krasniqi, and Nikaj. These three tribes share close genetic ties; in the Y-DNA tree they appear as “sibling” branches, i.e. they originate from the same common ancestor around the 5th-6th century AD.
This ancestor, a carrier of J2b-L283, lived in the same area that then belonged to the Roman province of Dardania/Prevalia. Therefore, we are not talking about a long-distance migration, but about genetic continuity: today’s Gashi, Krasniqi and Nikaj are the direct descendants of a local Illyrian line that lived in the same mountains for millennia.
The Gashi, Krasniqi and Nikaj tribes are linked to the Illyrians through the Y-DNA J2b-L283, which is documented in ancient samples from Illyrian regions (Dalmatia, Montenegro, Albania) and is preserved uninterruptedly to this day in the same geographical zones. It forms the subclade Y252971, which is the genetic hallmark of these tribes.
Subclade Y252971 was formed around 500 AD, precisely in the period when medieval tribal organization was beginning to take shape.
The common subbranch
Z597 → Z638 → Z1297 is the link that connects: the ancient samples from Illyrian areas (Shkrel, Çinamak, Velika Gruda, etc.) with the present-day descendants (Gashi, Krasniqi, Nikaj).
This means that these tribes are not random medieval creations, but continuers of the same lineage that has inhabited the region since at least the Late Bronze Age.
In other words, the Gashi, Krasniqi, and Nikaj are not random medieval groups; they are the living carriers of an ancient Illyrian patriline that survived through the turbulent history of the Balkans.
We are not talking about mythology here, the codes of genetic science are speaking here. It is not fantasy but reality. It is not a hypothesis but proof.
Ancient Illyrian Continuity
The Cetina (Croatia, ~2000–1600 BC), Shkrel and Çinamak (Northern Albania, ~1800–400 BC) and Velika Gruda (Montenegro, ~1500–1000 BC) samples all belong to J2b-L283, mainly on the branches Z615 → Z597 → Z638.
This indicates that J2b-L283 was the main patrilineal trunk of the Illyrians from the Late Bronze Age to the Iron Age.
Connection with modern Albanians
Today Albanians belong to the same genetic trunk: J2b-L283 → Z615 → Z597 → Z638 → Z1297 → Z1295 → Y21878 → Y252971 The subclade Y252971 was formed around the 5th–6th century AD and is a direct descendant of the same lineage that appears in ancient Illyrian samples.
This means that the lineage was maintained in the same region (Dalmatia – Montenegro – Northern Albania – Kosovo) for over 4000 years.
The continuity is so direct that it is not a medieval movement or admixture; today’s Albanian carriers of J2b L283 are living descendants of the ancient Illyrian populations.
Y-DNA provides strong evidence of direct genetic continuity from the ancient Illyrian Dalmatians to present-day Albanians.Present-day Albanians are the most characteristic modern-day carriers of this lineage.
Science confirms it, not mythology: the genetic code clearly “speaks” of continuous presence in the same geographical zone for millennia.
This map shows a slight movement of populations from Illyrians further south, compared to the ancient skeletons, but also identification in some areas, which means that this entire area was inhabited by the same genetically identical population.
J2b-L283 is the strongest genetic element linking present-day Albanians to the Illyrians.
J2b-L283 has been found in skeletons from the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age in Croatia (Cetina), Montenegro (Velika Gruda), Albania (Shkrel, Çinamak). All of these sites belonged to the area that the Greeks and Romans later called Illyria.
The exact same subclades (Z597, Z638, PH1602, Y21878, etc.) continue uninterrupted in present-day Albanians. In YFull and in archaeogeneic studies it is clearly seen that many tribes of N. Albania and Kosovo keep this branch to this day.
Other lines (such as E-V13, R1b, I2) are also present in Albanians, but they do not have such a clear and ancient local continuity with Illyria as J2b-L283, because the majority of ancient skeletons found in the area of ancient Illyria open to J2B L283.
That is why most researchers say that J2b-L283 is the “DNA marker” that makes the most direct bridge Illyrians → modern Albanians. In today’s Albanians, the percentages of J2b-L283 usually reach 15–25% (depending on the region), that is, it is the highest in the world .
In other Balkan peoples it exists, but in much lower percentages (e.g. Croats, Montenegrins, Serbs 2–5%). In peoples outside the Balkans it is almost non-existent.
When the ancient skeletons (Cetina, Shkrel, Velika Gruda, Çinamak) show J2b-L283, and the same J2b-L283 with the specific subclades is today so concentrated in Albanians and only them with this being the dominant one of the global code, the picture makes sense:
Continuous presence of the same genetic line in the same geographical space, from at least the Late Bronze Age to the present day according to Y-DNA genetic research .
* Bronze Age E-V13 is highest in Northern Albanians, especially in Kosovo (35%+) and radiates outward from there to Albania, Greece, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, etc. at rates of around 20-30%. Some Albanian regions can even reach 40-50% E-V13, but this is rare. Albanians have the highest percentage of this lineage in an average population.
E-V13 is originally a Paleo-Balkan lineage from the Bronze Age.
* R1B, In the Balkans since the Bronze Age , the Y haplogroup R1b is found particularly in countries such as Albania and Greece, with a presence in other Balkan nations as well. It is part of the wider genetic landscape of the region, which also includes haplogroups such as E1b1b and J2. While R1b is not as prevalent as some other haplogroups in the Balkans, such as I2a, it still represents a significant portion of paternal ancestry, especially in areas such as Albania.
Here is a more detailed analysis:
Albania:
R1b-BY611>Z2705 is a specific subgroup of R1b found in Albanians, representing a notable 12-14% of their paternal ancestry, according to a study published on bioRxiv.
*Y-DNA, J2B L283, E-V13, and R1B
All three of these constitute the core of the paternal lines of the Albanians and date back to pre-Illyrian times in the western Balkans.
When we look at the autosomal DNA of ancient skeletons with J2b-L283, we see that there is genetic similarity to groups that today carry E-V13 or R1b.
At the autosomal level, the DNA inherited from all sides (mother and father) of skeletons with J2b L283 contains “contributions” from E-V13 and R1b.
At the autosomal level we can say that there is a “genetic core”, that is, a population with characteristics from all three branches. Essentially, J2b-L283 carriers maintain their lineage as nature intended, but have in their genome pieces that come from E-V13 and R1b.
This means that there were mixed characteristics in the population: J2b-L283 carriers had ancestors or kinship contacts with populations that today correspond to E-V13 and R1b.
The autosomal traces from E-V13 and R1b show that the ancient J2b-L283 carriers had genetic contacts with populations of E-V13 and R1B. At the autosomal level there is a “concentration”/core of genetic elements from J2b-L283, E-V13 and R1b.
There is no “triple haplogroup” you mean — it is simply genetic mixing in a common population.
Scientists use autosomal clustering and PCA (Principal Component Analysis) to see which groups are genetically closest. J2b-L283 samples appear common to modern Albanians on the axis, while “memories” of populations that today have E-V13 or R1b also appear.
When we take autosomal DNA from an ancient skeleton with Y-DNA J2b-L283, we see that a large part of its genetic characteristics resemble modern carriers of J2b-L283, that is, modern Albanians who have this subclade, this automatically connects the Illyrians and pre-Illyrians with modern Albanians in a continuous presence from antiquity to the present.
At the same time, there are also pieces of DNA (autosomal) that are currently associated with subclades E-V13 or R1b.
What do these “traces” mean?
These autosomal fragments do not change the Y-DNA. The man remains J2b-L283 paternally.
The “traces” at the autosomal level of E-V13 or R1b indicate that the ancestors of the skeletons had admixture with populations carrying these haplogroups, i.e. E-V13 and R1B. This, as the BioRxiv research says, has created a ” core ” population since at least the Bronze Age.
It’s like saying: “genetically there is a memory of contact of J2b L283 with populations that today correspond to E-V13 or R1b.”
This trio is the genetic core of today’s Y-DNA of Albanians.
The Y-DNA lines J2b-L283, E-V13 and R1b from ancient skeletons in the region that would later be called Illyria coexisted in antiquity and, through admixtures, created a common genetic core since antiquity , but also one that is detected in the autosomal DNA of modern Albanians, showing a temporal genetic continuity , meaning without the Y-DNA lines directly determining the autosomal DNA, but the autosomal of these skeletons that had this Y-DNA.
The genetic core that was created about 4000 years ago in the Western Balkans has survived in today’s Albanians.
This is shown both by Y-DNA lines (J2b-L283, E-V13, R1b), which remain dominant, and by autosomal DNA, which shows that a large part of the ancient genetic background is still present.
Despite later admixtures with Slavs and, to a lesser extent, Germanic populations (Roman era), the basic genetic “base” or otherwise this “core” is preserved, showing a strong genetic continuity from antiquity to the present day.
In other words, today’s Albanians bear the direct genetic impact of this CORE of the ancient Western Balkan populations (pre-Illyrian) that was created, which has survived over 4000 years to the present day in today’s Albanians.
Today’s Albanians carry approximately 80% of Y-DNA lineages from an ancient Western Balkan background.
Autosomal DNA shows the preservation of the ancient genetic core, with approximately 20% newer admixtures.
*The interconnection of the present-day Albanian language with the ancient Greek language into an ancient Greco-Albanian language within the framework of an old Balkan language (Greaco-Albanian), as revealed by the scientific research of the University of Cambridge, reaffirms all of the above about the ancient DNA of the Albanians in the Western Balkans, but this time in a linguistic way.
Published online by Cambridge University Press
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There is a strong possibility that the Arbërit are descendants of the Ardians, since because they have a common geographical base, they carry the same genetic line (J2b-L283) throughout Adriatic Illyria according to ancient skeletons that have been found, and there is linguistic continuity in the name (it changes “δ” to “β” which is a common phenomenon).
The paternal line J2B L283 is only found in Albanians with a higher percentage (close to 20%), since in neighboring peoples it is below 5%, this percentage decreases the further you move away from geographical Albania, and increases the closer you get to geographical Albania, this line has been in the Balkans since the Bronze Age.
J2b-L283 and its sub-branches (such as Y22894, Z1043, Y15058, etc.) have been present in the Adriatic and western Balkans at least since the Bronze Age. Modern Albanians, especially in the North, have a significant percentage of this DNA, in geographical and genetic continuity, it is scientifically correct to consider it part of the Illyrian heritage, since J2B L283 is considered the seal of the Illyrians.
“He sent some of them to the Parthians, an Illyrian nation residing in Epidamnus, who were willing to serve Brutus, and some to the Dardaneans, another Illyrian tribe, who were fleeing to Macedonia.”
Some of these Illyrians he sent to the Parthians, a nation that lived as neighbors in Epidamnus and were very willing to help Brutus. Others he sent to the Dardanians, another group of Illyrians who often attacked Macedonia.”
Haplogroup Origin Included in “native”? Estimate %
E-V13 Neolithic/Thracian Illyrian ~35–40%
J2b-L283 Illyrian/Adriatic Bronze Age ~15–20%
R1b-Z2103 Bronze Age Indo-Europeans ~15–20%
J2a-M410 Neolithic/Oriental ~10–12%
G-M201 Neolithic ~5%
Total native Albanians from paternal line close to— — ~75-80%_____
When the percentage of “natives” is measured, the following are usually excluded:
I2a-Y3120 → Slavic expansion (5th-6th century AD)
R1a-M417 → Slavic/Steppe Indo-European
J1-M267, E-M123, I1, U106 etc. → non-Balkan, usually later influxes
But e.g., I2a-Din-BY4460 (~2,500 years old) in Albania — it may be a pre-Slavic remnant.
The ancient Balkan genetic material with which the comparison was made has been found in ancient bones in Albania (Kukës, Shkodër, Korçë), Montenegro (Kotor), Croatia (Dalmatia), Bosnia, etc.
Strabo calls the Illyrians of Dardania “Dardani of the Illyrians”.
We also have this testimony from Strabo about the Illyrians:
“The Japonese are settled on Mount Albi . They are a brave and warlike people…
– Pliny (III. 21): “Nine young men and an equal number of virgins who came from Illyria gave birth to 12 peoples.”
The image of the paternal Y-DNA of the Albanians may not be that of a completely pure race, but it firmly holds its ancient core in the Balkans, and compared to other neighboring countries we understand that the Albanians were less influenced by foreign influxes from other neighboring peoples.
“More than half of the ancestry of most peoples in the Balkans today comes from Slavic migrations, with about a third of Slavic ancestry even in southern countries. The population of Croatia, for example, and that region during the pre-Slavic period had the Y-DNA haplogroups E-V13, R1b, J2b, J2a, G2a, while with the Slavic migration came R1a-Z282 and I2a-L621, among others.”
