Origins History of the Basques

1 origins

1.1 first historical references
1.2 prehistory

1.2.1 genetic evidence


1.3 alternative theories
1.4 new genetic findings, 2015

origins

first historical references

location of ancient tribes

·red: basque , other pre-indoeuropean tribes

·blue:celtic tribes

in 1st century, strabo wrote northern parts of navarre (nafarroa in basque) , aragon inhabited vascones. despite evident etymological connection between vascones , modern denomination basque, there no direct proof vascones modern basques ancestors or spoke language has evolved modern basque, although suggested both historically consistent toponymy of area , few personal names on tombstones dating roman period.

three different peoples inhabited territory of present basque autonomous community: varduli, caristii , autrigones. historical sources not state whether these tribes related vascones and/or aquitani.

the area basque-related language best attested period gascony in france, north of present-day basque region, ancient inhabitants, aquitani, spoke language related basque. (the extinct aquitanian language should not confused gascon, romance language has been spoken in aquitaine since middle ages.)

during middle ages, name vascones , derivates (including basque) extended cover entire basque-speaking population of present-day basque country, bordering areas , farther east , north (the whole pyrenean region , gascony).

prehistory

although little known prehistory of basques before period of roman occupation owing difficulty in identifying evidence specific cultural traits, mainstream view today basque area shows signs of archaeological continuity since aurignacian period.

many basque archaeological sites, including cave dwellings such santimamiñe, provide evidence continuity aurignacian times down iron age, shortly before roman occupation. possibility therefore cannot ruled out of @ least of same people having continued inhabit area thirty millennia.

some scholars have interpreted basque words aizto knife , aizkora axe containing aitz stone , take evidence basque language dates stone age. however, stone abandoned in chalcolithic, , aizkora (variants axkora, azkora) considered loaned latin asciola; cf. spanish azuela, catalan aixol.

genetic evidence

a high concentration of rh- among basques, have highest level worldwide, had been interpreted suggestive of antiquity , lack of admixture of basque genetic stock. in 1990s luigi luca cavalli-sforza published findings according 1 of main european autosomal components, pc 5, shown typically basque trait believed have receded owing migration of eastern peoples during neolithic , metal ages. x chromosome microsatellites seem point basques being direct descendants of prehistoric western europeans, having highest percent of western european genes found @ high levels among neighbor populations, direct descendants of same people. however, mitochondrial dna have cast doubts on theory.

alternative theories

the following alternative theories prehistoric origins of basques have had adherents @ time rejected many scholars , not represent consensus view:

basques neolithic settlers: according theory, precursor of basque language might have arrived 6,000 years ago advance of agriculture. archaeological evidence partly support hypothesis ebro valley area.
basques arrived indo-europeans: linked unproven linguistic hypothesis includes basque , caucasian languages in single super-family. if such basque-caucasian connection did exist, have @ great time depth relevant indo-european migrations. apart celtic presence in ebro valley during urnfield culture, archaeology offers little support hypothesis. basque language shows few celtic or other indo-european loans, other transmitted via latin or romance in historic times.
basques iberian subgroup: based on occasional use basques of iberian alphabet , julius caesar s description of aquitanians iberians. apparent similarities between undeciphered iberian language , basque have been cited, fails account fact attempts far decipher iberian using basque reference have failed.

new genetic findings, 2015

in 2015, new scientific study of basque dna published seems indicate basques descendants of neolithic farmers mixed local hunters before becoming genetically isolated rest of europe millennia. mattias jakobsson uppsala university in sweden analysed genetic material 8 stone age human skeletons found in el portalón cavern in atapuerca, northern spain. these individuals lived between 3,500 , 5,500 years ago, after transition farming in southwest europe. results show these iberian farmers closest ancestors present-day basques.

the official findings published in proceedings of national academy of sciences of united states america. our results show basques trace ancestry farming groups iberia, contradicts previous views of them being remnant population trace ancestry mesolithic hunter-gatherer groups, says prof. jakobsson.