The Turks are known as an ethnic group that has played an important role throughout history in the vast steppes of Central Asia, in the geography we call Turkestan, and has developed a unique culture and identity. However, although there is no complete consensus on the origin of the Turks, there are theories accepted among various historians and researchers. These theories are briefly as follows:
1) Altai-Northern Siberia Theory: According to this theory, Turks originated from the Altai Mountains and Northern Siberia. Turkish, which is included in the Altai language family, has many similarities with the languages spoken in this geography. According to this theory, the origin of the Turks goes back to 2000-3000 BC.
The Altai Mountains and Northern Siberia are the main focal points of this theory. These regions are considered to be where the ancestors of the Turks lived and established their first communities. Using grammatical and cultural similarities, proponents of the theory claim that the people living in these regions are related to the Turks.
A) Linguistic Traces: Altaic and Turkic Languages
One of the main bases of the Altai-North Siberian Theory is the linguistic similarities between the Altai languages and the Turkic languages. The Altai languages represent a language family spoken around the Altai Mountains. The Turkic languages are the language family spoken by the Turkic peoples. When examining the similarities between these two language families, linguists have found significant evidence that the Turks originate from the Altai region.
B) Archaeological Findings: Cultural Traces
Archaeological excavations also support this theory. In the excavations carried out in the Altai and Northern Siberia regions, cultural traces of the ancestors of the Turks were found. In particular, the burial grounds and old settlements in these regions show that the Turks had early relations with these regions.
C) Genetic Research: Ancestry Traces
Genetic studies also support the Altai-North Siberia Theory. The genetic traces of the Turkic peoples indicate their historical ties with these regions. Genetic data provides strong evidence that the origins of the Turks are based on Altai and Northern Siberia.
2) Afro-Asiatic Theory : Some researchers seek the origin of the Turks much further west than Central Asia, in the southeast of Anatolia or the Middle East. This theory argues that the Turks were formed as a result of interaction with indigenous peoples around the Zagros Mountains in the Hakkari region. However, this theory finds less support than the generally accepted Altai theory.
The Afro-Asiatic Theory proposes that many languages in the world belong to this language family. According to this theory, the languages belonging to the Afro-Asiatic language family are spoken in a wide geography from eastern Africa to western Asia. These languages include Arabic, Hebrew, Amharic, Somali, Oromo and many more.
A) Characteristics of the Afro-Asiatic Language Family: Common Language Elements
The languages of the Afroasiatic language family share a number of common linguistic elements. These characteristics have led linguists to believe that these languages share the same root. Common linguistic elements include word roots, grammatical rules, and phonetic similarities. For example, similar words in Arabic and Hebrew indicate that the two languages are part of a language family.
B) Afro-Asiatic Language Family and Historical Traces
The Afro-Asiatic Theory is also based on historical and archaeological traces. These traces connect the origin of these languages to ancient cultural interactions between Africa and Asia. Excavations, especially in regions such as Egypt, Mesopotamia and the Levant, support cultural interactions and the spread of languages between these two continents.
C) Language Evolution and Human Migration: How Does It Illuminate Afro-Asiatic Origins?
The Afro-Asiatic Theory helps us understand the evolution of language and human migrations. According to this theory, as humans spread from Africa to Asia and beyond, languages may have spread along with these migrations. This allows linguists to better understand past human movements and cultural interactions.
Combination of Afro-Asiatic and Altaic Theories:
Some researchers argue that the origin of the Turks is not confined to a single region, but rather is shaped by the interaction of peoples from different geographies. This theory suggests that the Turks have continued this interaction by spreading to different geographies throughout history due to their nomadic lifestyle.
The most widely accepted theory about the origin of the Turks is that they emerged in the regions around the Altai Mountains. This region includes modern-day Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Siberia and the northern parts of China. The Altai origin theory suggests that Turkish belongs to the Altai language family. This language family shares similarities with Turkish and therefore it is thought that the origin of the Turks may be related to this geography.
Although there is still no complete unity among the theories about the origin of the Turks, different approaches such as the Altai-North Siberian Theory and the Afro-Asiatic Theory offer clues about the past of this mysterious people.
While both theories are supported by linguistics, archaeology and genetic data, the journey to shed light on the origins of the Turks continues. Perhaps this complex origin story is a reflection of the historical and cultural diversity of the Turks, and therefore always leaves a more fascinating effect in the eyes of researchers. The past of the Turks continues to be an open door to new discoveries and traces of the past.
Emre Yukselen
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