The origin of Uralic-speaking groups from a historical genetic point of view

Abstract

Abstract In recent years, a number of primarily linguistic studies have dealt with the origin of the Uralic language family. These studies formulated important and, in some cases, novel results regarding the location of the Proto-Uralic homeland, the classification of linguistic branches, the chronology and geographical aspects of migration routes, and even the archaeological cultures embodying the migration routes. At the same time, our knowledge of the gene pool of the Uralic peoples has also increased significantly. The aim of the present study is to identify parallels and discrepancies between the latest linguistic and historical genetic results. We highlight several convergences between recent conclusions of linguistics and our model based on Y-chromosome data. A key finding is a correlation between Uralic language sub-branches and N subgroups. The direction and chronology of the eastward migration of these N subgroups may also shed new light on the Uralic-Chukchi, Uralic-Yukaghir and Uralic-Altaic linguistic parallels.