Two landmark studies published in Nature reveal that the root of the Indo-European language family originated around 6,500 years ago in present-day Russia, specifically among the Caucasus Lower Volga people. This group thrived during the Eneolithic period, mixing genetically with other regional populations. The findings help clarify a long-standing linguistic enigma that has intrigued scholars for centuries, dating back to early 18th-century observations linking languages like Latin and Sanskrit. The historical context involving the Yamnaya people, influential in shaping these languages, is also explored more deeply.
The research identifies the Caucasus Lower Volga people in current-day Russia as the originators of the Indo-European languages around 6,500 years ago.
Senior author David Reich noted that this discovery provides a key understanding of early cultural traditions that influenced the subsequent spread across the region.
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