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www.sciencenews.org...
Indo-European languages range throughout Europe and South Asia and even into Iran, yet the roots of this widespread family of tongues have long been controversial. A new study adds support to the proposal that the language family expanded out of Anatolia — what’s now Turkey — between 8,000 and 9,500 years ago, as early farmers sought new land to cultivate.
A team led by psychologist Quentin Atkinson of the University of Auckland in New Zealand came to that conclusion by using a mathematical method to calculate the most likely starting point and pattern of geographic spread for a large set of Indo-European languages.
The new investigation, published in the Aug. 24 Science, rejects a decades-old idea that Kurgan warriors riding horses and driving chariots out of West Asia’s steppes 5,000 to 6,000 years ago triggered the rise of Indo-European speakers. “Our analysis finds decisive support for an Anatolian origin over a steppe origin of Indo-European languages,” Atkinson says.
Originally posted by Astyanax
This makes sense to me, because it harmonizes with what we know about the invention of agriculture and its spread outward from the Fertile Crescent. Of course, probably no-one will ever be able to establish the facts for certain. It was all so long ago, long before the invention of writing... and the subject of the origins of language is one of the most controversial in academia.
Not just in academia either. Another name for Proto-Indo-European (the language being discussed here) is 'Aryan'.
Originally posted by St Udio
isn't the Anatolia area where real ancient 'cities' are hewed out of the rock...
there are plenty of known dwellings that could house hundreds or even a thousand people way back then
maybe even the first wife of Adam, a woman named Lilith came from the Anatolia underground cityedit on 24-8-2012 by St Udio because: (no reason given)
Ashikli Huyuk - Evidence of sophisticated technology dating to 7,500 BC.
Turkey has produced some exceptional and unique archaeological surprises that have forced us to reconsider the traditional view of prehistory in the middle east. For a long time, it was said that civilisation began in Egypt but the discovery of ancient Turkish cities and industrial complexes, combined with evidence of skills and technology, geometry and astronomy, are revealing a very different picture from that prescribed in most history books. Discoveries include: The earliest evidence of metallurgy in the world, dating at 7,200 BC. The use of 'Mud-bricks for structures at 6,500 BC. As well as this, the underground city at Derinkuyu which was connected to four other similar sites, creating a potential capacity of 100,000 people.
Velikovsky suggested that the origin of prehistoric bull-veneration was related to the arrival of the planet Venus, which he believed was witnessed, and from whence came the apparent universal calendar change from 360 days to 365 days. The discovery of such obvious evidence of cattle-worship from before the time he predicted, is not in favour with this theory. Such an early date does tie in nicely with another theory however, as it accords nicely with the motions of the 'Platonic year'. There have been several serious suggestions that the understanding of prehistoric astronomy extended to the recognition of the 'precession of the equinoxes', which has a cycle lasting approximately 25,960 years, and is measured by the gradual rotation of the zodiacal constellations on the horizon at the equinoxes). The product of such observations was the division of the sky into twelve equal parts, each occupied by a constellation, and each being visible at the equinoxes for a period of approximately 2,160 years. Although Plato's name is attached to this theory, it is known from Sir N. Lockyer's research at temples such as Denderra in Egypt, that the procession of the equinoxes was a recorded phenomena from long before the Greeks. Just how far back is a question yet to be answered, although it is tempting to associate the prehistoric veneration of cattle with the 'age of Taurus', which occurred at the same time as the constellation of Taurus was the 'rising' constellation at the equinoxes. It has also been suggested in relation to this, that the Sphinx was a remnant of the 'age of Leo', and that Christianity is symbolic of the 'age of Pisces'.
The fact that the term 'Aryan' was around way before Nazis, should be clear to people. The whole 'white apologist' thing is anathema to proper understanding of origins and people shouldn't see any interest in this field of research as racist, it simply isn't.
Originally posted by Astyanax
reply to post by theabsolutetruth
The fact that the term 'Aryan' was around way before Nazis, should be clear to people. The whole 'white apologist' thing is anathema to proper understanding of origins and people shouldn't see any interest in this field of research as racist, it simply isn't.
I'm coming at it from a slightly different perspective, though the historical roots of the delusion are similar. What I'm talking about is Hindu and Buddhist bigots in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and elsewhere who have completely swallowed the whole Aryan palaver and make all kinds of ridiculous pseudohistorical claims. A respected academic in my country has published books saying that the 'ancient aliens' who 'built the Pyramids' were actually flying-saucer-driving prehistoric-but-high-tech Aryan compatriots of ours.
These lunatics are hand in glove with the folk who believe the ancient Indians had flying machines and atom bombs, by the way.
edit on 24/8/12 by Astyanax because: of low-flying Aryans.
Originally posted by Astyanax
Not just in academia either. Another name for Proto-Indo-European (the language being discussed here) is 'Aryan'.
Originally posted by theabsolutetruth
reply to post by LUXUS
Certainly is interesting.
There is more and more proof that the first civilizations are from this area, and obviously feasible that the same civilizations founded and developed Ancient Egypt.
I also think there is a lot of proof suggesting modern humanities origins are from the Middle East, even flour archaeology adds weight to these origi n theories.
Originally posted by arpgme
reply to post by Noinden
Not all are. Sumerian is an isolate language for example.
Is Anatolia (Turkey) considered Mesopotanian or Indo-European (Iranian)?