A deep Caucasus lineage
Kotias Klde, from western Georgia, is one of the ancient individuals commonly used to represent CHG-related ancestry.
Ancient DNA affinity · Caucasus and West Asia
Caucasus Hunter-Gatherer ancestry calculator from raw DNA
Compare your raw DNA with Caucasus Hunter-Gatherer-related ancestry, commonly abbreviated CHG in archaeogenetic studies.
Free comparisonUpload not retainedTransparent f4 method
Timelinec. 11,000–7,000 BCE
15,000 BCE10,000 BCE5,000 BCEPresent
Related to—but distinct from—Iranian farmers
CHG and Iranian Neolithic ancestry share deeper connections but remain distinguishable in ancient-DNA models.
Important across the steppe and West Asia
CHG-related ancestry contributed to steppe pastoralists and many later populations across western and southern Asia.
Free ancient-DNA comparison
Compare your DNA with Caucasus Hunter-Gatherer (CHG).
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Understanding Caucasus Hunter-Gatherer (CHG) ancestry.
Caucasus Hunter-Gatherer is a genetic label for ancient foragers of the Caucasus. The Kotias Klde individual from western Georgia is a frequently used reference, dating to the Mesolithic. CHG describes a deep lineage and is not a synonym for modern Georgian, Caucasian or Iranian identity.
Why it matters
CHG-related ancestry appears in the ancestry history of steppe pastoralists and later populations across West and South Asia. Its signal can overlap with Iranian Neolithic and other West Asian sources, so this page deliberately reports a comparison statistic rather than treating CHG as an isolated percentage.
Who were the Caucasus Hunter-Gatherers?
CHG is a genetic category based on ancient foragers from the Caucasus, including Kotias Klde and Satsurblia in Georgia. It describes deep population history, not a modern Caucasian ethnicity.
How does CHG relate to Iranian Neolithic ancestry?
CHG-related and Iranian farmer-related populations share ancient connections, but ancient genomes distinguish their profiles. Their later contributions also varied across the Caucasus, steppe, West Asia and South Asia.
Why CHG matters for steppe ancestry
Early Bronze Age steppe populations carried substantial Caucasus-related ancestry alongside EHG-related ancestry. CHG therefore helps explain one major source of the Yamnaya profile without being identical to Yamnaya.
Common questions
Caucasus Hunter-Gatherer (CHG) ancestry FAQ.
What is Caucasus Hunter-Gatherer ancestry?
CHG ancestry means genetic similarity to ancient Caucasus foragers represented by genomes such as Kotias Klde and Satsurblia.
Is CHG ancestry the same as Georgian ancestry?
No. CHG is an ancient lineage. Modern Georgians have additional later ancestry and population history, which is why Georgian remains a separate modern comparator.
Is CHG the same as Iranian Neolithic ancestry?
No. They are related deep West Eurasian lineages, but ancient-DNA studies distinguish them and their later geographic contributions.
Why does CHG appear in Yamnaya models?
Yamnaya and related steppe populations inherited substantial ancestry from a source related to Caucasus hunter-gatherers, alongside EHG-related ancestry.
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