The Location of Azaris on the Patrilineal Genetic Landscape of the Middle East (A Preliminary Report)

Authors: Yepiskoposian, Levon; Margarian, Shot; Andonian, Laris; Rashidvash, Vahid

Source: Iran and the Caucasus, Volume 15, Numbers 1-2, 2011 , pp. 73-78(6)

Publisher: BRILL

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Abstract:

The origin of the Turkic-speaking population of the north-western provinces of Iran, the so-called Azaris, is the subject of long-year debate. Here, we present preliminary results on testing of several hypotheses concerning their origin: 1) the Azaris are the descendants of the Turkic ethnic groups migrated from Central Asia; 2) they have an autochthonous origins; 3) they are of Iranian origin; and 4) they have mixed ethnic origin with unknown proportions of source populations' contribution. The results show that Azaris have much weaker genetic affinity with the populations from Central Asia and the Caucasus than with their immediate geographic neighbours. Relying on these outcomes one can suggest that language replacement (change) with regard to Azaris occurred through "elite dominance" mechanism rather than "demic diffusion" model.

Keywords: AZARIS; GENETIC ORIGIN; LANGUAGE CHANGE (REPLACEMENT)

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/157338411X12870596615395

Affiliations: 1: Institute of Molecular Biology, National Academy of Sciences, Yerevan; Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Yerevan State University

Publication date: 2011-06-01