GENEALOGY-DNA-L Archives

Archiver > GENEALOGY-DNA > 2007-04 > 1176431830


From: ellen Levy <>
Subject: Re: [DNA] Ten Lost Tribes, Far East, esp. Japan
Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2007 19:37:10 -0700 (PDT)
In-Reply-To: <BAY133-DAV176AFAAA086E24A77A3363D05D0@phx.gbl>


Cherie:

This is a good question. However, the primary
haplotype among Levite R1a1 has been dated by both
Nebel and Behar to have originated from a founder (or,
in my opinion, a group of founders) within the
post-Diaspora period (ie, within the last 2000 years).

It also appears to be limited in geography among
Ashkenazim, occuring no further west than Germany.
(It should also be noted that "Levite" R1a1 is not
restricted to the Levite caste, but is also found in
non-Levite Jews). And of course, how an ethnic group
of probable non-Israel origin obtain priestly Levite
status and came, in fact, to be the dominant
haplogroup among this group, is both intriguing and
matter of great debate.

On the other hand, it appears that J1 with the CMH
dates to the pre-Diaspora period, occuring in great
frequency (50%-80%) among both Sephardic and Ashkenazi
Cohamim.

Sasson is correct, though. It is quite possible that
there was a low frequency of some R1a1 among the
ancient Israelites. Sasson mentioned that R1a1 is
found at about 2% of Sephardic Jews (the primary
haplotype differs from that found among Ashkenazim).
However, it is equally possible, I think, that
Sephardim obtained their R1a1 from Spanish or French
admixture. I believe Spanish groups have a similar
frequency of R1a1. I have not attempted to do a
comparison of Spanish and Sephardic R1a1 haplotypes,
which could be potentially revealing.

Ellen Coffman






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