Studies Identify Caucasus-Lower Volga People as Proto-Indo-European Ancestors
Genetic and archaeological research uncovers the origins of Indo-European languages, linking them to a population in the Pontic-Caspian steppe 6,500 years ago.
- Two landmark studies published in *Nature* trace the origins of the Indo-European language family to the Caucasus-Lower Volga (CLV) people, who lived in modern-day Russia around 4000 BCE.
- The CLV people contributed significantly to the ancestry of the Yamnaya, a steppe pastoralist culture that later spread Indo-European languages across Eurasia.
- While the Yamnaya were central to the spread of these languages, the CLV people also influenced ancient Anatolians, linking them to the Indo-European linguistic lineage despite lacking Yamnaya ancestry.
- The studies relied on DNA analysis from over 400 ancient individuals, revealing the genetic and cultural diversity of the CLV population, which facilitated their migrations and interactions across regions.
- The findings represent a major breakthrough in understanding the origins of the Indo-European languages, a family spoken by 40% of the global population today.
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