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Subject: Unravelling the Origins of Tamils: Blueprint?
Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2002 06:52:36 +0530
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From: "Bala Pillai"
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----- Original Message -----
From: jpisc98357@...
To: akandabaratam@yahoogroups.com ; IndianCivilization@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, June 15, 2002 4:40 PM
Subject: Re: [akandabaratam] Re: Sumerian Weapons
In a message dated 6/15/02 4:03:31 AM Central Daylight Time, bala@... writes:
You mention that the Akkads were Semitic and you are silent on the "Semiticness" of the Sumerians? What is the distinguishing criteria
that historians use to label a group "Semitic" or not?
Dear Bala,
One of the great unsolved mysteries of the Sumerians and their language is "Where did it come from?" There are no proven sister languages or daughter languages of Sumerian while there are literally
hundreds of Semitic languages in both directions, Arabic and Hebrew are just two of them still in use today.
Sumerian is older than Akkadian, evidence goes at least as far back as the 4th Millenium Ubaid and Uruk Cultures which were also Sumerian.
My speculation is that Akkadian was spoken by the desert nomads and developed when there was more rainfall in the desert areas, at least enough to support a herding economy (not crops). These nomads entered the valley of the Euphrates some time during a drought in their pasturelands and came under the rule of one of the Sumerian cities where at least their upper classes became urbanized and they either came to dominate a Sumerian city or founded their own which probably much, much later came to become known as Akkad.
My speculation is based upon my reading of the published histories I have read, there is no emperical evidence to support it that I know of.
If you are going to identify a link between Sumeria, this is the kind of speculation you have to attempt first, then you have a rational scenario to seek evidence for. I doubt that you will find it in language texts but your first questions should be, if you believe them related should be:
1. Do Sumerian and Tamil or Dravidian show signs of having a
common root, are they cousins in the time line?
2. Is Sumerian a mother language,.like Latin, to many other languages,
of which Tamil and/or Dravidian are the only survivors?
A. Did refugees from Ur III's collapse escape to India to found a
new kingdom?
B. Were there trading colonies on the coast of India established by
Sumerians to serve as client states?
C. Did a native Indian kingdom with a port on the coast invite a
large expatriot community to its shores in an effort to spark the
growth of its economy by introducing much needed skills in
agriculture, irrigation, engineering, building, mining, smelting,
stone carving and lapidary art, metal casting, weaving, pottery
manufacture etc?
D. Is there any evidence of a coastal city appearing suddenly as a
functioning Bronze Age urban area where it should not be?
3. Can mtDNA studies isolate Sumerian from Semitic genetic lines in
the old heartland? If that could be done, then you would have a valid
theory for research into the genetic makeup of Tamil and Dravidian
speaking areas to see if you can find evidence of a familial relation-
ship.
I am afraid that I can do little more than provide you with possible scenarios that may or may not be true. If you wish to prove your case you will have to seek evidence in the genetic, archaeological and linguistic remains. You will have to be very patient. The clues will alway be very ambiguous, subject to many interpretations.
Your quest will be subject to intellectual harrassment as well by scholars who will deride the basic assumptions of your theory and hinder your access to donations by benefactors, foundation and government grands, unwillingness to allow you to excavate promising sites, take blood samples for mtDNA testing, use of local facilities, university support and on and on an on............
If you are still willing to pursue the quest, you will need to assemble a basic cadre of persons of similar mind and start building an organization that will outlast you, you must consider that your project may last a century or more and you will not be around to see its completion.
At some point Sadaam Hussein will be gone from Iraq and you will be able to pursue genetic studies, you should be prepared to do so as soon as that happens by immediately starting to map different mtDNA strains in India to develop a genetic map. Some of this information already exists in the literature, you will have to assemble it, look for gaps and be prepared with fully operational facilities when the opportunity arises.
I have gone on and on but now at least you have the perspective of an outsider who has no sword to draw or battles to fight in your own quarrels with each other. I would appreciate any input on my writings and hope it proves to be helpful.
I was hoping that I would find this kind of discussion when I first signed up for membership in the Indian Civilization discussion group, instead I have seen too many nationalist hotheads explaining to me why a nuclear war would be good for India.
Best Regards, John
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ancientweapons
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Dong_Son
http://www.johnpiscoposwords.com
PO Box 137
Western Springs, IL 60558
(708)246-7111
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