Origin of the Alans

[Alanus]

Defining the Alans.... and Tribes Who Were Not.

We have made some amazing discoveries. The "Sarmatian Problem," if we can define it, appears to be a complete nebulosity as to Who the Sarmatians actually were, as we see in modern references by historians and anthropologists. In the third field of study, archaeologists simply avoid the problem and will not assign particular graves from the Caucasus, Kuban, and Crimea to any sect/culture beyond the all-inclusive term "Sarmatian."

From what we've discovered, the term "Alan" can stand by itself as a perfect designation for late Saka coalitions which arrived in Europe from the Central Asian steppe. The arrival of the Alans can be pinpointed prior to the turn of the millennium when we find the Chinese statement, "Yancai has changed its name to Alanliu."

The subsequent tribes (or coalitions) found in Strabo-- with the exception of the Siraces-- become the forefront of the Alan Culture. Although the Siraces have been mentioned in previous posts as possible Alans, they are recorded back to the late 5th Century BC-- long before the Alanic intrusion. They were last mentioned in the wars of 47 BC and disappear from record precisely when the Rhoxalai and Aorsi arrive. They appear to be a western extension of the Middle Sarmatian Culture-- actual Sarmatians, but not Alans who were rooted in the Saka Culture.

To place Alan tribes within the Saka continuum, we lineally record the religious, linguistic, historical, cultural, and self-perceived "Royal" connection from the Altai, to the Semirechye and BMC, and finally to Europe:

Issedone/Asii/Wusun/Aswen/Euseni/Alan/Osseti

(arim)Aspi/ Arsi/Yuezhi/Ruezhi/Aorsi/Alan/Osseti

plus Rhoxalani/Roxolani, the "Royal" lead splinter group (probably Wusun/Euseni)

the Osseti become sole survivors of both Royal factions

Here's a quick rundown. From the BMC and Semirechye, the Yuezhi and Wusun expanded to the northwest, but not from pressure by the Xiongnu. (The Xiongnu confederation split into two factions; and with the aid of the Han, the Southern Xiongnu literally wiped out the Northern portion, a form of self-destruction.) The Saka migration northward was likely an economic one, or a move to better grazing lands, or even a population explosion. Initially, we know the Yuezhi could field 100,000 warriors. That equates with a population of one-half million. The Wusun held a lower number, but may have had a population of 200 thousand. That's a lot of savy barbarians who considered themselves elite.

And now for speculation. The two factions, both describing themselves as "royal," evidently split from a founding and singular coalition prior to the journey of Aristeas. (The largest known kurgans arrived at the apex of three "Royal" dynasties, 600 to 400 BC, and in three separate locations-- geographically in the Northern Pontic (Scythians), a second one at Issyk Kul (Sakarauli), and easternmost in the Altai (Issedones/Aspi). Before Aristeas arrived, the Altai group split to Essedone and Aspi, perhaps the latter taking the Ukok Plateau. When they finally reached Europe, the two groups may have formed the resulting northern affiliations of Aorsi/Major (from the Yuezhi, catacomb grave) and Rhoxalani/Minor (from the Wusun, pit grave), both considering themselves as "royal, honest, noble, worthy." "We're the Worthiest and you just think you are. So, there!"  As such, we find two leading Alan groups-- separate from one another-- entering Europe.

Thank you for reading this. More to come... hopefully.