On the genetic relationship of the Caucasian Iberians and Basques

This article by Valeria Prusova discusses the long-standing debate about the genetic link between the Basques of Southwestern Europe and the Caucasian Iberians (Georgians). It synthesizes evidence from various fields, including linguistics, archaeology, anthropology, and ethnography, noting that the unique non-Indo-European nature of the Basque language has fueled this debate since the 19th century. The paper highlights linguistic theories, such as N. Marr's "Japhetic theory," which proposed a single pre-Indo-European linguistic substratum. It also presents supporting evidence from other disciplines, including the similarity of ancient dolmens in both regions, and anthropological findings of shared blood group prevalence. The author concludes that while the hypothesis is compelling, the immense time gap and insufficient comparative material make it difficult to prove or refute definitively, calling for continued