Where Did the Oldest Patriarch of E-V22 Live?
Y-DNA haplogroup E-V22, a split from E-Z1919, emerged around 8200 years ago (YFull). But where did this key event occur? Evidence strongly points to the Levant as the cradle of E-V22 and nomadic pastoralism.
Nomadic Pastoralism and E-V22: A Shared Origin
Around 8000 years ago, as Steven Rosen (2016) describes in "Revolutions in the Desert", the Southern Levant saw the rise of mobile pastoralism—sheep and goat herding that reshaped desert societies. This aligns with the spread of E-V22, suggesting a direct link between its genetic expansion and the shift from settled farming to pastoral nomadism.
At sites like ‘Ain Ghazal (modern Jordan), this transition is vividly recorded. From the Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (PPNB) to the Ceramic Neolithic (9250–7000 YBP), we see:
Population shifts as people fled depleted lands.
A rise in livestock farming, particularly goats and sheep.
Seasonal mobility and the development of temporary dwellings, reflecting the new pastoral lifestyle.
Genetic Evidence: E-Z1919 to E-V22
Due to Lazaridis et al. 2016 we have the availability of Pre-Pottery Neolithic farmers samples from ‘Ain Ghazal and Motza in the southern Levant (10300–8700 YBP). Y-DNA haplogroup E1b1b1b2 has been found in 75% of the ʿAin Ghazal population, along with 60% of PPNB populations (and is present in all three stages of PPNB).
The oldest known E-Z1919 sample (I1710, re-sequenced in 2024) comes from ‘Ain Ghazal, dating back 9741–9522 YBP. This site exemplifies the genetic and cultural cradle of E-V22 and nomadic pastoralism. Subsequent population expansions, such as E-CTS567 (8300 YBP) and E-L1250 (7800 YBP), coincide in time with the spread of herding communities across the Levant and beyond.
A Levantine Cradle
Thanks to recent research, including contributions by Faisal AL-Hashash, one of the oldest branch of E-V22 (E-BY7700, 6600 YBP) has been traced to Aleppo, Syria. This, combined with archaeological and genetic data, confirms the Levant as the most likely birthplace of both E-V22 and nomadic pastoralism, spreading into adjacent MENA regions.
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