01-24-2006, 03:43 PM
15. Genetics may now begin to help in establishing early population
movements. However, the error bars in such studies (like those in raw
C14 dates) usually are thousands of years wide, and therefore useless
for the historical period around 1000 BCE. (All this apart from the
fact that there is a methodological problem of the speed of
mutations that needs to be properly addressed).
The discussion of individual papers would take too long; let me just
point out that the much-touted Kivisild paper of 1999 is contradicted
by --- Kivisild in his later incarnations (2004 etc.). The same authors
who claim proof for persistence of ``Indian`` genes also participate in
papers that show the opposite, ``Aryan`` immigration.
Further, papers such as Kivisild 1999 are about the African exodus
around 60,000 BCE, and cannot tell us anything about immigration or
non-immigration at c. 1500 BCE --- a point that Hindutva people still
have not understood or even realized.
We know that this first settlement of the subcontinent has resulted in
a typical Indian gene pool (mtDNA M2, etc.) , just as it has resulted
in a typical SE Asian and a Near Eastern/European one. That tells
*nothing* about later movements into the subcontinent. Typically,
Pakistan has more such ``western`` influx than the rest of the
subcontinent.
Once more resolutions is reached (beyond the general haplotypes, (A, B,
C etc.) more specific movements *in historical times* may be
established, but it still is too early for that, and as mentioned, the
error bars will have to come down, preferably with DNA analysis of
excavated DNA carrying bones (of which we do not have many after the
Indus period: cremation).
16. In sum. We have clear linguistic, religious/ritual data, some
archeological ones (horses, Gandhara Grave Culture), and incipient
genetic ones. They all point to a limited immigration into the
subcontinent. An immigration, however, that had great direct and
indirect impact on the rest of North India and later on in all of
S.Asia -- by osmosis/acculturation and acceptance of an ``elite kit``
(Ehret) by the various local elites.
Echoed by the Iranian developments: early influx into the East and NW
and then into the SW (Fars). After all , Iranians are speaking
Persian now and not Elamite, and Northern Indians speak IA and not a
prefixing Munda-like language or Dravidian. And, they follow Vedic
ritual to this day in marriage and death, even if religion as such
has changed beyond recognition to result in Hinduism.
17. Attempts to deny this general timeline and scheme are based on the
belief in the Hindutva mantra of (1), but they cannot explain the
presence of IIr/IA language, religion and ritual, horses, etc. (and
some West and C. Asian genes)...
However, it is high time to get away from such fruitless political
discussions (that I left out here, not to speak of the usual personal
attacks seen in this thread). It rather is time get down to the
nitty-gritty details. Let a Hindutva person do a proper analysis of the
RV --- Talageri’s (2000) is mistaken as he did not even follow the
indigenous arrangement of the text (as per Rsi, Devata and Chandas,
exemplified in detail by H. Oldenberg way back in 1888, now available
in English 2005) but made up this own. I have given some indications
(1995) how to go about it. Then we can talk.
18. Other (Hindutva inspired) ``discussions`` such as already seen in
this thread and those that inevitably will evolve out of individual
points made here, usually are tangential, lead into cul de sacs, and
thus are a waste of time. And, all to many times we have to reinvent
the wheel for them, as I did in this post.
However, if serious questions are put (information, clarification) I
may answer when I get time.
Cheers!
M. Witzel
movements. However, the error bars in such studies (like those in raw
C14 dates) usually are thousands of years wide, and therefore useless
for the historical period around 1000 BCE. (All this apart from the
fact that there is a methodological problem of the speed of
mutations that needs to be properly addressed).
The discussion of individual papers would take too long; let me just
point out that the much-touted Kivisild paper of 1999 is contradicted
by --- Kivisild in his later incarnations (2004 etc.). The same authors
who claim proof for persistence of ``Indian`` genes also participate in
papers that show the opposite, ``Aryan`` immigration.
Further, papers such as Kivisild 1999 are about the African exodus
around 60,000 BCE, and cannot tell us anything about immigration or
non-immigration at c. 1500 BCE --- a point that Hindutva people still
have not understood or even realized.
We know that this first settlement of the subcontinent has resulted in
a typical Indian gene pool (mtDNA M2, etc.) , just as it has resulted
in a typical SE Asian and a Near Eastern/European one. That tells
*nothing* about later movements into the subcontinent. Typically,
Pakistan has more such ``western`` influx than the rest of the
subcontinent.
Once more resolutions is reached (beyond the general haplotypes, (A, B,
C etc.) more specific movements *in historical times* may be
established, but it still is too early for that, and as mentioned, the
error bars will have to come down, preferably with DNA analysis of
excavated DNA carrying bones (of which we do not have many after the
Indus period: cremation).
16. In sum. We have clear linguistic, religious/ritual data, some
archeological ones (horses, Gandhara Grave Culture), and incipient
genetic ones. They all point to a limited immigration into the
subcontinent. An immigration, however, that had great direct and
indirect impact on the rest of North India and later on in all of
S.Asia -- by osmosis/acculturation and acceptance of an ``elite kit``
(Ehret) by the various local elites.
Echoed by the Iranian developments: early influx into the East and NW
and then into the SW (Fars). After all , Iranians are speaking
Persian now and not Elamite, and Northern Indians speak IA and not a
prefixing Munda-like language or Dravidian. And, they follow Vedic
ritual to this day in marriage and death, even if religion as such
has changed beyond recognition to result in Hinduism.
17. Attempts to deny this general timeline and scheme are based on the
belief in the Hindutva mantra of (1), but they cannot explain the
presence of IIr/IA language, religion and ritual, horses, etc. (and
some West and C. Asian genes)...
However, it is high time to get away from such fruitless political
discussions (that I left out here, not to speak of the usual personal
attacks seen in this thread). It rather is time get down to the
nitty-gritty details. Let a Hindutva person do a proper analysis of the
RV --- Talageri’s (2000) is mistaken as he did not even follow the
indigenous arrangement of the text (as per Rsi, Devata and Chandas,
exemplified in detail by H. Oldenberg way back in 1888, now available
in English 2005) but made up this own. I have given some indications
(1995) how to go about it. Then we can talk.
18. Other (Hindutva inspired) ``discussions`` such as already seen in
this thread and those that inevitably will evolve out of individual
points made here, usually are tangential, lead into cul de sacs, and
thus are a waste of time. And, all to many times we have to reinvent
the wheel for them, as I did in this post.
However, if serious questions are put (information, clarification) I
may answer when I get time.
Cheers!
M. Witzel


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