Ancient DNA from Iran
149 ancient people from Iran have had their genome published, from 10,000 BC to AD 1561. Here they are on a map and period by period, with their archaeological cultures and haplogroups.
149ancient individuals
18excavation sites
12published studies
10,000 BColdest individual
Main archaeological groups: Iran Hasanlu IA (20), Iran GanjDareh N (17), Iran TepeHissar C (14), Iran ShahriSokhta BA1-1 (11), Iran ShahriSokhta BA2-2 (11).
Most frequent Y-DNA lines: J2a (15), R1b (13), R2 (8), G1a (5), T1a (5), J1a (4).
Most frequent mtDNA lines: K1a (11), U7a (8), U1a (7), R2 (6), W3b (6), J1b (5).
📊 How Iran's DNA changed over 10,000 years: hunter-gatherers, farmers, steppe herders and later arrivals, period by period.
Find the ancient individuals closest to your own town →
Period by period
10,000 to 5,000 BC (36 individuals)
| Date | Group | Site | Y-DNA | mtDNA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10,000 BC | Iran BeltCave Mesolithic | Belt Cave | H+73 | |
| 10,000 BC | Iran BeltCave Mesolithic | Belt Cave | HV2a | |
| 8,850 BC | Iran HotuCave Mesolithic HotuIIIb | Hotu Cave | J2a2~ | |
| 8,212 BC | Iran GanjDareh N | Ganj Dareh | R2 | R2b |
| 8,212 BC | Iran GanjDareh N | Ganj Dareh | R2 | R2b |
| 8,092 BC | Iran GanjDareh N | Ganj Dareh | R2 | R2b |
| 8,042 BC | Iran GanjDareh N | Ganj Dareh | R2 | R2b |
| 8,042 BC | Iran GanjDareh N | Ganj Dareh | R2 | R2 |
| 8,025 BC | Iran GanjDareh N | Ganj Dareh | R | U7 |
| 8,002 BC | Iran GanjDareh N | Ganj Dareh | R2 | R |
| 7,975 BC | Iran TepeAbdulHosein N | Tepe-Abdul-Hosein | R2 | |
| 7,971 BC | Iran TepeAbdulHosein N | Tepe-Abdul-Hosein | J2 | R2 |
| 7,968 BC | Iran TepeAbdulHosein N | Tepe-Abdul-Hosein | T2c | |
| 7,950 BC | Iran GanjDareh N | Ganj Dareh | U7a | |
| 7,950 BC | Iran GanjDareh N | Ganj Dareh | U7a | |
| 7,950 BC | Iran GanjDareh N | Ganj Dareh | U7a | |
| 7,898 BC | Iran GanjDareh N | Ganj Dareh | HV | |
| 7,856 BC | Iran GanjDareh N | Ganj Dareh | X1'2'3 | |
| 7,856 BC | Iran GanjDareh N | Ganj Dareh | X1'2'3 | |
| 7,856 BC | Iran GanjDareh N | Ganj Dareh | X2 | |
| 7,850 BC | Iran GanjDareh N | Ganj Dareh | R2+13500 | |
| 7,850 BC | Iran GanjDareh N | Ganj Dareh | R2 | J1 |
| 7,850 BC | Iran GanjDareh N | Ganj Dareh | R2 | J1 |
| 7,397 BC | Iran TepeGuran EN PPN | Tepe Guran | ||
| 7,300 BC | Iran TepeGuran PPN | Tepe Guran | J2a2~ | R2 |
| 7,296 BC | Iran TepeGuran EN PPN | Tepe Guran | U7a | |
| 7,264 BC | Iran WezmehCave N | Wezmeh-Cave | G2b2 | J1d6 |
| 5,970 BC | Iran HajjiFiruz N | Hajji Firuz | HV | |
| 5,960 BC | Iran HajjiFiruz N | Hajji Firuz | K1a19 | |
| 5,954 BC | Iran HajjiFiruz N | Hajji Firuz | J2b2b1~ | K1a3 |
| 5,954 BC | Iran HajjiFiruz N | Hajji Firuz | J2b2b1~ | K1a3 |
| 5,950 BC | Iran HajjiFiruz N | Hajji Firuz | J2b2a1 | K1b1 |
| 5,797 BC | Iran HajjiFiruz N | Hajji Firuz | J2b2b1~ | U1a1d |
| 5,736 BC | Iran SehGabi LN | Seh Gabi | K1a12a | |
| 5,736 BC | Iran SehGabi LN | Seh Gabi | G2a | K1a12a |
| 5,736 BC | Iran SehGabi LN | Seh Gabi | G2a | K1a12a |
5,000 to 3,000 BC (29 individuals)
| Date | Group | Site | Y-DNA | mtDNA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,740 BC | Iran SehGabi C | Seh Gabi | U3a'c | |
| 4,727 BC | Iran SehGabi C | Seh Gabi | J2a2~ | K1a12a |
| 4,685 BC | Iran GolAfshanTepe Bakun | Gol-Afshan Tepe | ||
| 4,589 BC | Iran SehGabi C | Seh Gabi | H29 | |
| 3,881 BC | Iran SehGabi C | Seh Gabi | G1a1a1b2b2 | I1c |
| 3,881 BC | Iran SehGabi C | Seh Gabi | G1a1a1b2b2 | I1c |
| 3,881 BC | Iran SehGabi C | Seh Gabi | G1a1a1b2b2 | I1c |
| 3,869 BC | Iran SehGabi C | Seh Gabi | U7a | |
| 3,616 BC | Iran TepeHissar C | Tepe Hissar | U7 | |
| 3,583 BC | Iran TepeHissar C | Tepe Hissar | J1d | |
| 3,572 BC | Iran TepeHissar C | Tepe Hissar | J2a1a4b | N |
| 3,259 BC | Iran ShahTepe LateC EBA | Shah Tepe | J1 | I1a |
| 3,259 BC | Iran ShahTepe LateC EBA | Shah Tepe | sha004-b1e1l2p1_CCGGATA-CAGTTGC_L002_CutAdapt-eq_set-FLASH_corrected.200624_A00187_0321_BHFC3HDSXY.all | |
| 3,248 BC | Iran BozoodpeyGhaleBen MBA Caucasus | Bozoodpey-Ghal-e Ben | ||
| 3,248 BC | Iran BozoodpeyGhaleBen MBA Caucasus | Bozoodpey-Ghal-e Ben | ||
| 3,248 BC | Iran BozoodpeyGhaleBen MBA Caucasus | Bozoodpey-Ghal-e Ben | ||
| 3,235 BC | Iran ShahTepe BA | Shah Tepe | HV13b | |
| 3,205 BC | Iran ShahTepe BA | Shah Tepe | U5a2+16294 | |
| 3,165 BC | Iran ShahriSokhta BA2-2 | Shahr-i Sokhta | U1a1c1 | |
| 3,150 BC | Iran ShahTepe BA | Shah Tepe | H14 | |
| 3,150 BC | Iran ShahTepe BA | Shah Tepe | J1b1b1 | |
| 3,150 BC | Iran ShahTepe BA | Shah Tepe | K1a12a | |
| 3,150 BC | Iran ShahTepe BA | Shah Tepe | HV2 | |
| 3,150 BC | Iran ShahTepe BA | Shah Tepe | J1 | U1a3 |
| 3,150 BC | Iran ShahTepe LateC EBA | Shah Tepe | T1a | HV13b |
| 3,150 BC | Iran ShahTepe LateC EBA | Shah Tepe | T1a | |
| 3,050 BC | Iran ShahriSokhta BA2-2 | Shahr-i Sokhta | J2a1a4b | U2c1 |
| 3,050 BC | Iran ShahriSokhta BA1-1 | Shahr-i Sokhta | ||
| 3,050 BC | Iran ShahriSokhta BA2-2 | Shahr-i Sokhta | J2a1a4b | U2c1 |
3,000 to 1,000 BC (57 individuals)
| Date | Group | Site | Y-DNA | mtDNA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,992 BC | Iran ShahriSokhta BA1-1 | Shahr-i Sokhta | U1a1a | |
| 2,950 BC | Iran ShahriSokhta BA1-1 | Shahr-i Sokhta | W | |
| 2,950 BC | Iran ShahriSokhta BA1-1 | Shahr-i Sokhta | J2 | I1 |
| 2,912 BC | Iran ShahriSokhta BA1-1 | Shahr-i Sokhta | J2a1a1b1 | J1 |
| 2,894 BC | Iran ShahriSokhta BA1-1 | Shahr-i Sokhta | L1a2a | M33a2a |
| 2,888 BC | Iran TepeHissar C | Tepe Hissar | T | HV |
| 2,850 BC | Iran ShahriSokhta BA2-2 | Shahr-i Sokhta | CT | |
| 2,846 BC | Iran ShahriSokhta BA1-1 | Shahr-i Sokhta | R30b | |
| 2,800 BC | Iran ShahriSokhta BA3-3 | Shahr-i Sokhta | T2d2 | |
| 2,765 BC | Iran TepeHissar C | Tepe Hissar | U5b2 | |
| 2,765 BC | Iran TepeHissar C | Tepe Hissar | X2p | |
| 2,757 BC | Iran TepeHissar C | Tepe Hissar | L | W3b |
| 2,749 BC | Iran ShahriSokhta BA2-2 | Shahr-i Sokhta | H1a1a | W3a1 |
| 2,748 BC | Iran BozoodpeyGhaleBen MBA Caucasus | Bozoodpey-Ghal-e Ben | J1b* | U7a |
| 2,675 BC | Iran TepeHissar C | Tepe Hissar | U7a | |
| 2,650 BC | Iran ShahriSokhta BA1-1 | Shahr-i Sokhta | L3f2b | |
| 2,650 BC | Iran ShahriSokhta BA1-1 | Shahr-i Sokhta | J2a2a1a1a2a~ | R5a2b |
| 2,650 BC | Iran ShahriSokhta BA1-1 | Shahr-i Sokhta | T1a3 | |
| 2,650 BC | Iran ShahriSokhta BA2-2 | Shahr-i Sokhta | P1 | M3a2 |
| 2,650 BC | Iran ShahriSokhta BA2-2 | Shahr-i Sokhta | ||
| 2,650 BC | Iran ShahriSokhta BA2-2 | Shahr-i Sokhta | ||
| 2,650 BC | Iran BozoodpeyGhaleBen MBA Caucasus | Bozoodpey-Ghal-e Ben | HV19 | |
| 2,614 BC | Iran TepeHissar C | Tepe Hissar | W3b | |
| 2,550 BC | Iran ShahriSokhta BA1-1 | Shahr-i Sokhta | J2a1a4b | U1a1c1d |
| 2,550 BC | Iran ShahriSokhta BA2-2 | Shahr-i Sokhta | W3a1b | |
| 2,550 BC | Iran ShahriSokhta BA2-2 | Shahr-i Sokhta | J2a1a1b1a1a | R7 |
| 2,497 BC | Iran TepeHissar C | Tepe Hissar | J2a1a4b | T2h2 |
| 2,397 BC | Iran TepeHissar C | Tepe Hissar | T1a3b2 | W3b |
| 2,397 BC | Iran TepeHissar C | Tepe Hissar | T1a3b2 | W3b |
| 2,397 BC | Iran TepeHissar C | Tepe Hissar | T1a3b2 | W3b |
| 2,362 BC | Iran HajjiFiruz BA | Hajji Firuz | I1b | |
| 2,250 BC | Iran ShahriSokhta BA2-2 | Shahr-i Sokhta | M30b | |
| 2,093 BC | Iran TepeHissar C | Tepe Hissar | W3b | |
| 2,092 BC | Iran Hasanlu MBA | Hasanlu | J1a2b1b2~ | J2a2 |
| 1,892 BC | Iran DinkhaTepe BA IA1-1 | Dinkha Tepe | U2d | |
| 1,825 BC | Iran DinkhaTepe BA IA1-1 | Dinkha Tepe | U2e2 | |
| 1,824 BC | Iran DinkhaTepe BA IA1-1 | Dinkha Tepe | U7a4 | |
| 1,821 BC | Iran DinkhaTepe BA IA1-1 | Dinkha Tepe | J2a1a1b1a1a1 | N1b1a5 |
| 1,793 BC | Iran DinkhaTepe BA IA2-2 | Dinkha Tepe | G1a1a1b2b | J1d6 |
| 1,500 BC | Iran DinkhaTepe BA IA1-1 | Dinkha Tepe | J1a2a1a2d2b2b2c4b2a~ | J1b8 |
1,000 BC to AD 1 (24 individuals)
| Date | Group | Site | Y-DNA | mtDNA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 961 BC | Iran Hasanlu IA | Hasanlu | J2a1a1b1a1a | HV1a'b'c |
| 961 BC | Iran Hasanlu IA | Hasanlu | U5a2b | |
| 957 BC | Iran Hasanlu IA | Hasanlu | R1b1a1b1b | J1b1a3 |
| 948 BC | Iran DinkhaTepe BA IA1-1 | Dinkha Tepe | K1a12a | |
| 948 BC | Iran Hasanlu IA | Hasanlu | R1b1a1b1b | J2b1 |
| 948 BC | Iran Hasanlu IA | Hasanlu | R1b1a1b1b | |
| 927 BC | Iran DinkhaTepe BA IA2-2 | Dinkha Tepe | G1a | U2e1b |
| 900 BC | Iran Hasanlu IA | Hasanlu | R1b1a1b1b | U1a1 |
| 883 BC | Iran Hasanlu IA | Hasanlu | R1b1a1b1b | N1a3a |
| 874 BC | Iran Hasanlu IA | Hasanlu | R1b1a1b1b | H13a2c |
| 871 BC | Iran Hasanlu IA | Hasanlu | H13a | |
| 856 BC | Iran Hasanlu IA | Hasanlu | L1a | H14a |
| 856 BC | Iran Hasanlu IA | Hasanlu | L1a | H14a |
| 803 BC | Iran Hasanlu IA | Hasanlu | R1b1a1b1b | H+195 |
| 787 BC | Iran Hasanlu IA | Hasanlu | R1b1a1b1b | X2d |
| 632 BC | Iran Hasanlu IA | Hasanlu | T2d2 | |
| 330 BC | Iran Vestemin MiddlePeriod Sasanian | Vestemin | ||
| 150 BC | Iran LiarsangBon Parthian | Liarsang-Bon | ||
| 150 BC | Iran LiarsangBon Parthian | Liarsang-Bon | ||
| 150 BC | Iran LiarsangBon Parthian | Liarsang-Bon | ||
| 150 BC | Iran LiarsangBon Parthian | Liarsang-Bon | ||
| 150 BC | Iran LiarsangBon Parthian | Liarsang-Bon | ||
| 90 BC | Iran LiarsangBon Parthian | Liarsang-Bon | ||
| AD 0 | Iran LiarsangBon Parthian | Liarsang-Bon |
AD 1 to 1000 (1 individual)
| Date | Group | Site | Y-DNA | mtDNA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AD 340 | Iran Vestemin MiddlePeriod Sasanian | Vestemin |
After AD 1000 (2 individuals)
| Date | Group | Site | Y-DNA | mtDNA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AD 1240 | Iran Kalmakarehcave Medieval | Kalmakareh cave | ||
| AD 1561 | Iran GanjDareh Historic | Ganj Dareh | U1a1a3 |
Excavation sites
- Hasanlu 24, 2,092 BC to 632 BC
- Shahr-i Sokhta 23, 3,165 BC to 2,250 BC
- Ganj Dareh 18, 8,212 BC to AD 1561
- Dinkha Tepe 15, 1,892 BC to 927 BC
- Tepe Hissar 14, 3,616 BC to 2,093 BC
- Shah Tepe 11, 3,259 BC to 3,150 BC
- Seh Gabi 10, 5,736 BC to 3,869 BC
- Hajji Firuz 8, 5,970 BC to 1,100 BC
- Liarsang-Bon 7, 150 BC to AD 0
- Bozoodpey-Ghal-e Ben 5, 3,248 BC to 2,650 BC
- Tepe Guran 3, 7,397 BC to 7,296 BC
- Tepe-Abdul-Hosein 3, 7,975 BC to 7,968 BC
- Belt Cave 2, 10,000 BC
- Vestemin 2, 330 BC to AD 340
- Gol-Afshan Tepe 1, 4,685 BC
- Hotu Cave 1, 8,850 BC
- Kalmakareh cave 1, AD 1240
- Wezmeh-Cave 1, 7,264 BC
Source: Allen Ancient DNA Resource v66 (Mallick et al. 2024), individuals with a date and coordinates; samples the AADR flags as misdated are left out. Group names are those of the original studies. Haplogroups are shown when they could be read from the ancient DNA.
Which of these ancient peoples are in your DNA?
Our Simorgh (Iranian Plateau) report compares your own raw DNA file with the ancient and modern populations of the region, era by era, and explains your result in plain language with your haplogroups.