Written by Petrit Latifi
According to genetic and historical studies, the **Albanian population** is considered one of the oldest groups in the **Balkans**, with roots stretching back to the **Neolithic** period, long before the arrival of the **Greeks** around 2000 BC. Albanians are often linked to the ancient **Illyrians**, a population that inhabited the western Balkans, including present-day Albania, Kosovo, and parts of the surrounding regions, long before the Indo-European **Greek tribes** migrated into southern Europe around 2000 BC.
### Key Points:
1. **Illyrian Origins**: Albanians are believed to be descendants of the **Illyrians**, who have been present in the western Balkans for millennia. This connection suggests that modern Albanians have a direct lineage to some of the earliest inhabitants of the region, possibly dating back over **8,000 years**.
2. **Continuity**: Genetic studies, as well as archaeological evidence, show minimal external admixture, suggesting that the Albanian people have maintained a stable and continuous presence in the Balkans, even through various migrations and invasions by other groups [oai_citation:4,Ancient DNA reveals the origins of the Albanians | bioRxiv](https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.06.05.543790v1) [oai_citation:3,Oxford researchers publish the study of 6 thousand DNAs: Albanians are autochthonous – JETË](https://alfapress.al/…/studiuesit-oksfordit-nxjerrin…).
3. **Greek Migration**: In contrast, **Greek** tribes (Proto-Greeks) migrated to the Balkans around **2000 BC**, marking the beginnings of Greek civilization in the region. This migration is part of the broader **Indo-European movement**, which brought new populations and cultures to southern Europe [oai_citation:2,Oxford researchers publish the study of 6 thousand DNAs: Albanians are autochthonous – JETË](https://alfapress.al/…/studiuesit-oksfordit-nxjerrin…) [oai_citation:1,Who are Albanians genetically closest to? – Albania 360](https://albania360.com/who-are-albanians-genetically…/).
In summary, the **Albanian people** have a deeper historical presence in the **Balkans** compared to the **Greeks**, whose migration occurred several millennia later. Genetic and historical evidence supports the notion that the ancestors of the Albanians were part of the region’s ancient populations, predating the Greek arrival.
Balkan Academia 