R-FGC13617 (Y-DNA)

R-FGC13617 is a decendant of R-L2.
Descendant branches of R-FGC13617 include:

• R-FTA39145 (2 England)
• R-FGC13621 (1 Ireland; 5 Balkan Peninsula)

Ancient Human DNA sample I13758 (male; Sk116) from Yorkshire, East Riding, Pocklington (Burnby Lane) – 400 to 50 BCE – L2 > FGC13617.

The Iron Age cemetery at Burnby Lane, Pocklington was excavated by MAP Archaeological Practice between October 2014 and February 2017 in advance of a residential development. The site is situated in a valley bottom at the edge of the Yorkshire Wolds dip slope, at an elevation of c. 33m AOD (Above Ordnance Datum). In total, 85 ditched barrows were excavated at Burnby Lane, and 172 inhumations were recovered (Stephens and Ware 2020, 17).

Eighty-three barrows were identified in the Iron Age cemetery (Period 2), placing this site amongst the larger excavated cemeteries of the Arras culture. Whilst the barrows themselves were mainly square or rectangular in shape, seven circular barrows were also recorded. Additional detail in relation to the typological characteristics of the barrows at Pocklington can be found in Stephens and Ware (2020, 20–21), but, in summary, barrows of Groups 1–3 (after Dent 2010; Halkon 2013) were recorded, with Group 2 barrows numerically dominant (48 examples).

A total of 72 primary burials survived, mainly interred
in the crouched position but with both flexed and tightly contracted burials also identified. Coffin-like structures were identified in a number of cases, identified by sharply defined edges within grave features. These have been interpreted as self-supporting shuttered boxes. Grave goods were identified in 27 of the excavated graves, with brooches, bracelets, beads, and a single ‘food offering’ all recorded (Stephens and Ware 2020, 24–25).

In addition to the items above, a number of weapons burials were also identified at Burnby Lane. These included the burial of a male individual (36–45 years old) who was placed on top of a rectangular shield; a (male) speared-corpse burial of an individual aged 18–25 years, interred with sword; and a cart or chariot burial with two mature ponies in association (ibid., 26–7). The AMS dating of one of these ponies indicates barrow construction c. 250 BCE.
Sample I13758 was one of the 15 male individuals whose petrous bones were successfully analyzed for aDNA.

Source of samples: MAP Archaeological Practice/University of Hull

Authors of entry: Mark Stephens, Paula Ware and Malcolm Lillie

European Nucleotide Archive:
SAMEA10556196

References: Dent, J.S. 2010. The Iron Age in East Yorkshire. Oxford: British Archaeological Reports, British Series 508.

Other Mentions:

England_EastYorkshire_IA:I13758,0.134311,0.129988,0.054305,0.046512,0.032621,0.01255,0.00752,0.004384,0.003272,0.006014,0.001137,0.008393,-0.021407,-0.026011,0.017644,0.017634,0.010431,-0.004054,-0.006411,0.004877,0.004118,0.001855,-0.006162,0.008796,-0.007784
content://media/external/downloads/1000007561

The Presence of Y-DNA Haplogroup R-U152 in Britain: Proposed Link to the La Tene Groups from West of the Rhine River: The Belgae and Other Celtic Tribes (Hypothesis C) by David K. Faux. Amended: 28 September 2008; 18 November 2022. Copyright 2008-2022

Patterson, N., Isakov, M., Booth, T. et al. (220 more authors) (2022) Large-scale migration into Britain during the Middle to Late Bronze Age. Nature. pp. 588-594. ISSN 0028-0836
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-04287-4

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-04287-4#Sec20

R-L2 origin is still debated nowadays, with as major hypothesis its beginning within the Alpine Celts belonging to the Unetice culture and descended from the Yamna culture of Bronze Age Celts. Highest frequencies of R-L2 are found among Germans, Northern and Western Italians, the French and Swiss.