Origin of the Alans

[Alanus]

Thank you, Rennie

This thread does seem to have a following. For the first time, we can view a "barbarian" culture in all of its aspects. We already knew about the Alans' martial capabilities through Herodotus, Tacitus, and Ammianus. But we had no clue of how they lived, of their daily life, and religion. Their ancestors, the Yuezhi, took the High Ground-- the Altai-- and controlled it for half a millennium, pushing the Wusun to the east. This follows Herodotus exactly.

Recently things have changed. We now have DNA and metallurgy testing, plus forensic investigation. We see a predilection for cross-cultural marriage, a chieftain taking the daughter of a Xiongnu shanyu or Chinese trader, all through DNA results. Forensics clarify the picture-- the King of Arzhan II dying from prostate cancer, the Ukok Priestess from breast cancer and a fatal fall. The permafrost and "ice lens" over these graves is giving us an unparalleled glimpse into a lost civilization that Roman history books never achieved. And we see the Yuezhi as trade middlemen within a network running from the Mediterranean to China, at least a thousand years before the established Silk Road.

Through positive response, we'll try to keep this thread going. Michael Kerr will post when possible, I'm sure. I was going to discuss the Wusun next, but maybe I should give some info on Yuezhi kurgans like the "Kingly Grave" at Berel, a location not yet mentioned. Here's a photo of one of the King's horses.  

   
I like that bow! This reconstruction was done by Krym Altynbekov, very knowledgeable in historical detail.