The Iranian Ethnic DNA Origins of the Scythians and Sarmatians: A Personal Perspective
As someone of Alan ancestry, tracing my roots to the ancient Iranian Scythians and Sarmatians has been a personal journey of discovery. The Alans, who were among the last great nomadic tribes of the Sarmatians, have left a deep imprint on the history of the Eurasian steppe and beyond. Like many who share this lineage, I feel a profound connection to the nomadic Iranian-speaking peoples who roamed the vast grasslands of the Pontic-Caspian steppe—peoples whose culture, language, and DNA have shaped much of what we know today about the origins of the Scythians and Sarmatians.
By delving into the history of these Iranian-speaking nomads, we can uncover the fascinating genetic and cultural ties that bind them to modern-day Iranians and those of Iranian descent, such as myself.
The Iranian Origins of the Scythians
The Scythians, who roamed the Eurasian steppes between the 9th and 2nd centuries BCE, are often portrayed as one of the earliest and most prominent Iranian-speaking nomadic tribes. They were an ancient confederation of tribes, and their language, culture, and religious practices were distinctly Iranian. Herodotus, in his Histories, describes the Scythians as warlike, nomadic horsemen who inhabited the lands north of the Black Sea, in what is now Ukraine and southern Russia. Importantly, he mentions that the Scythians spoke an Iranian language, which aligns with the linguistic and archaeological evidence found throughout the region .
From a genetic standpoint, the Scythians are closely related to other Indo-Iranian groups, particularly the Medes and Persians, who inhabited the Iranian Plateau. Ancient DNA studies conducted on Scythian remains show a strong genetic link to both Eastern and Western Eurasian populations. However, their core genetic markers indicate a significant Iranian component, which is consistent with their linguistic and cultural ties to the broader Iranian world.
One of the most notable studies on the genetic origins of the Scythians was published in Nature Communications in 2018. Researchers analyzed the genomes of ancient Scythian remains from the Pontic-Caspian steppe and Central Asia, finding a significant continuity between the Scythians and modern Iranian populations. The study highlighted the genetic overlap between Scythians and other ancient Iranian-speaking groups, confirming their Iranian ethnic origin .
The Sarmatians: Heirs to the Scythians
Following the decline of the Scythians, the Sarmatians rose to prominence across the steppes between the 5th century BCE and the 4th century CE. The Sarmatians, who were closely related to the Scythians, spoke an Iranian language and shared many cultural traits with their predecessors. Like the Scythians, they were skilled horsemen and warriors, living a nomadic lifestyle that relied heavily on mounted warfare.
The Sarmatians are particularly important to my own lineage, as the Alans, a prominent subgroup of the Sarmatians, played a crucial role in the later history of the Iranian-speaking nomads. The Alans, who lived along the northern shores of the Black Sea and the Caucasus, were known for their fierce cavalry and warrior elite, traits that were passed down through generations of Iranian-speaking nomads. The Alans eventually migrated westward, influencing the peoples of Europe, including the Goths, Vandals, and even the Romans.
Genetic research on the Sarmatians reveals similar patterns to those found in the Scythians. A 2019 study published in Scientific Reports examined the genetic makeup of Sarmatian populations from southern Russia and Ukraine. The study found that the Sarmatians, like the Scythians, had a significant genetic component that could be traced back to the Iranian-speaking populations of the Eurasian steppes. Their genetic profile also included traces of admixture with Eastern Eurasian populations, which suggests that the Sarmatians, like the Scythians, were part of a complex network of nomadic tribes that spanned the Eurasian continent .
The Alans: A Personal Connection
As someone of Alan descent, I am particularly drawn to the history of this remarkable people. The Alans were a group of Sarmatian tribes who rose to prominence in the late Roman period. They were known for their cavalry and played a significant role in the migration period that followed the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. The Alans were instrumental in the spread of Sarmatian culture and genetics across Europe, as they joined forces with the Goths, Vandals, and other Germanic tribes during their westward migration.
One of the most fascinating aspects of Alan history is their enduring legacy in both Europe and the Caucasus. In the Caucasus, the Ossetians are considered to be the modern-day descendants of the Alans. The Ossetian language, which is part of the Iranian language family, serves as a living testament to the Alan presence in the region. This connection between the ancient Alans and the modern Ossetians further solidifies the Iranian ethnic origins of the Sarmatians and their descendants .
The Iranian Language and Culture of the Scythians and Sarmatians
The Iranian origins of the Scythians and Sarmatians are not only evident in their genetic makeup but also in their language and culture. Both the Scythians and Sarmatians spoke dialects of the Iranian language family, which is a branch of the larger Indo-Iranian group. These languages were closely related to ancient Persian, as well as the languages spoken by other Iranian peoples, such as the Medes and Parthians.
The religious practices of the Scythians and Sarmatians also bear striking similarities to those of other ancient Iranian peoples. Both groups worshipped a pantheon of gods that included deities associated with fire, the sun, and the earth—central elements in the Zoroastrian religion. The Scythians, for example, worshipped a goddess known as Tabiti, who was associated with fire and closely resembles the Zoroastrian god Atar .
Conclusion: My Iranian Heritage and Its Scythian-Sarmatian Roots
As an individual of Alan Y-DNA descent, tracing my roots to the Scythians and Sarmatians has deepened my understanding of both my personal heritage and the broader history of the Iranian-speaking peoples. The genetic, linguistic, and cultural evidence clearly points to the Iranian origins of these nomadic tribes, whose influence can still be felt today in the cultures and peoples of the Eurasian steppe, the Caucasus, and even parts of Europe.
The legacy of the Scythians, Sarmatians, and Alans is one of resilience, adaptability, and cultural continuity. Their Iranian-speaking heritage has survived through millennia of migrations, conquests, and cultural exchange, leaving an indelible mark on the peoples and nations that followed in their wake. As I reflect on my own connection to this rich and storied past, I am reminded that the history of the Scythians and Sarmatians is not just a distant memory but a living part of my own identity.
References
- Herodotus. Histories. Translated by Aubrey De Sélincourt, Penguin Classics, 2003.
- Sulimirski, T. (1970). The Sarmatians. New York: Praeger Publishers.
- Ivantchik, A. (2018). "The Scythians". The Oxford Handbook of Ancient Iran. Oxford University Press.
- Mallory, J.P., & Mair, V.H. (2000). The Tarim Mummies: Ancient China and the Mystery of the Earliest Peoples from the West. Thames & Hudson.
- Unterländer, M. et al. (2018). "Ancestry and demography and descendants of Iron Age nomads of the Eurasian Steppe." Nature Communications. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-02849-9
- Damgaard, P. de B., et al. (2018). "The first horse herders and the impact of early Bronze Age steppe expansions into Asia." Science. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aar7711
- Di Cosmo, N. (2002). Ancient China and Its Enemies: The Rise of Nomadic Power in East Asian History. Cambridge University Press.
- Bessmertny, V. (2006). Scythians in Ukraine: Historical and Archaeological Studies.
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