The great West African line

Where it is common today

West, Central and Southern Africa — the most common line among African Americans.

How old it is

This branch split from its parent about 39,300 years ago (between 36,400 and 42,200).

Every man who carries it today descends from one man who lived about 16,400 years ago (between 14,600 and 18,300).

From the big letter down to this branch

1. DE
2. E
3. E-M5479
4. E-P147
5. E-P177
6. E-M5557
7. E-V38
8. E-M2

Every test reads your line to a different depth. One report says J1, another J-P58, another a code four steps further down — all of them are right, the longer one is simply more detailed. HealthOS reads as deep as your file allows.

Ancient people who carried it

24 ancient genomes in the Allen Ancient DNA Resource carry this line. The oldest is from Xaro, Botswana, around AD 850.

• Cemetery for Enslaved at Catoctin Furnace, USAAD 1,810 – AD 1,8208 people
• Makwasinyi, KenyaAD 1,750 – AD 1,8805 people
• San José de los Naturales Royal Hospital mass burial, MexicoAD 1,450 – AD 1,5403 people
• Xaro, BotswanaAD 8501 people
• Deloraine Farm, KenyaAD 9401 people
• Calle Panaderos 21-23, SpainAD 9501 people
• Songo Mnara, TanzaniaAD 1,4401 people
• Lindi, TanzaniaAD 1,6101 people
• Faza, KenyaAD 1,7201 people
• Kindoki, Democratic Republic of the CongoAD 1,7501 people
• Ngongo Mbata, Democratic Republic of the CongoAD 1,7501 people

Paternal lines (Y-DNA)