Modern genetic studies do not support the hypothesis of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus regarding the Balkan origin of Armenians, instead demonstrating a multi-millennial genetic continuity of the population of the Armenian Highlands. This was stated by Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor Levon Yepiskoposyan during an interactive meeting titled “Genetics in Armenia: Today and Tomorrow” at The Academy People cafe, where he presented the latest findings in the field of human population genetics.
According to the scientist, the pivotal evidence came from a study published in 2025 in the American Journal of Human Genetics. The research is based on comparing the genomes of modern Armenians with ancient DNA samples obtained from archaeological finds within the Armenian Highlands.
“We observed that modern Armenians and ancient DNA samples form a single cluster. The modern population overlaps with the ancient one, dating back to the Neolithic era,” Yepiskoposyan noted.
According to him, this refers to a period roughly eight to ten thousand years ago. The results indicate a genetic continuity of the region’s population that can be traced across millennia.
Six to Eight Thousand Years of Genetic Continuity
The professor explained that different methods of genetic analysis allow scientists to trace the continuity of the Armenian gene pool to varying depths. For instance, studies of mitochondrial DNA, which is inherited exclusively through the maternal line, showed a continuity of at least eight thousand years.
“We have at least eight thousand years of genetic continuity along the maternal line,” he said. At the same time, a comprehensive analysis encompassing mitochondrial DNA, the Y-chromosome, and autosomal DNA allows us to speak of approximately six thousand years of uninterrupted existence of the modern Armenian gene pool.
Yepiskoposyan noted that scientists already possess new, yet-unpublished data that could push this boundary significantly further—to around fifteen thousand years. However, he emphasized that this refers strictly to the biological continuity of the region’s population, rather than the existence of the Armenian nation in the modern sense.
Why DNA Data Contradicts Herodotus’s Version
The scientist considers one of the main conclusions of the study to be the complete lack of genetic evidence for Herodotus’s hypothesis, according to which Armenians migrated to Asia Minor from the Balkans alongside the Phrygians.
According to Yepiskoposyan, this version existed for about two and a half thousand years, yet it was actually based solely on Herodotus’s observation regarding the similarity between the attire of Armenian and Phrygian warriors during the Greco-Persian Wars.
“In fact, the conclusion was drawn solely based on clothing. No other evidence existed at the time,” the professor remarked. In the new study, scientists utilized not only data from modern inhabitants of Armenia but also a large dataset of ancient DNA from various regions—the Balkan Peninsula, Anatolia, Eastern, and Western Armenia.
According to Yepiskoposyan, the comparison of these data showed an absence of any genetic grounds for the version of the Balkan origin of Armenians. “Figuratively speaking, we left no stone unturned of this hypothesis,” he declared.
Genetics Does Not Transport Modern Nations into Deep Antiquity
At the same time, the professor urged extreme caution when interpreting the research results. According to him, a common misconception is the claim that data showing an eight- or fifteen-thousand-year genetic continuity implies the existence of Armenians as a nation in such deep antiquity.
“We are not saying that Armenians lived here fifteen or eight thousand years ago. We are speaking about the biological, genetic ancestors of the modern Armenian population,” the scientist emphasized.
He explained that ethnic identity cannot be determined by DNA alone. In the researcher’s view, one can speak of Armenians only when the Armenian language, a stable cultural tradition, and a formed historical community already existed.
“We can call people Armenians only when they already spoke the Armenian language, had lived in this territory for a long time, and possessed their own historical and cultural tradition,” Yepiskoposyan noted.
From Scientific Publication to Textbooks
The professor stressed that publishing the research results is merely the first stage of scientific work. According to him, fundamental discoveries acquire practical significance only when they become part of the educational system.
“A scientific result is just the very beginning. Next, it must enter university curricula, school textbooks, and become a part of education,” the scientist said. At the same time, he pointed out that despite the study being published more than a year ago, its conclusions are still virtually absent from educational programs.
In Yepiskoposyan’s opinion, the dissemination of modern scientific data should be aided not only by scientists but also by the mass media, as this is precisely what will make the results of fundamental research accessible to a broad audience.
