About the “Central Asian Phrygians” (on I. Čašule's hypothesis)

Abstract

In recent years there has been a wide discussion about the relict language of Burushaski, the reason for which was the hypothesis of Ilija Čašule. The author of the hypothesis defines Burushaski as an Indo-European, ancient Balkan language, very probably Phrygian or related to it, although its contacts with the North Caucasian and Yenisei languages are not denied. Leaving the subject of discussion to the linguists, we would like in this connection to draw attention to the problem of the origin of the repeatedly mentioned anonymous Central Asian donor language and, in addition, cite the data of the genetic study of the Cimmerians, as well as the carriers of the Karasuk and Okunevo cultures. In turn, some insight into the complex historical movements of peoples and their cultural contacts can be given by archaeological materials from Central Asia.In particular, we are talking about a peculiar cultural-historical community that spread from the southern Mongolian steppe belt to the Gansu province, the Tarim basin and further southwest to the Central Asian interfluves inclusively.