Author: Petrit Latifi

There is substantial archaeological, linguistic, and genetic evidence demonstrating that not only the Greeks but also other Proto-European tribes such as the Illyrians, Pelasgians, and other ancient peoples were distinct from one another. These groups, while sharing a common Indo-European ancestry, developed separately over millennia, with their own cultures, languages, and genetic backgrounds.

Key Evidence:

1. Linguistic Evidence

– The Illyrian language was distinct from Greek, and the language of the Pelasgians remains largely unknown but is considered to have predated Greek in the region. Studies at Harvard University and the University of Oxford have confirmed that these languages belonged to separate branches of the Indo-European family. The Pelasgians are often referred to as a pre-Greek people, and their cultural contributions have been debated, but they are not seen as Greek or Illyrian ([Harvard research on ancient languages](https://www.harvard.edu)).

2. Archaeological and Cultural Distinctions

– Archaeological evidence shows that these groups had distinct cultural practices. For example, the Pelasgians are linked with earlier pre-Greek societies, while the Illyrians were characterized by their warrior culture and hillfort settlements. The Greeks, meanwhile, developed city-states and were heavily influenced by Mycenaean and Minoan cultures. Institutions like the University of Chicago and the Archaeological Institute of America have emphasized these distinctions ([COGNIARCHAE on Illyrians](https://cogniarchae.com/)).

3. Genetic Studies

-Genetic studies further show that these groups maintained distinct populations over time. Research published by the University of Bern and the Max Planck Institute demonstrates that while all these groups share Indo-European roots, their genetic make-up shows clear distinctions. The Pelasgians and Illyrians have stronger ties to populations in the western Balkans, while the Greeks show connections to Anatolia. These findings confirm that the Greeks, Illyrians, Pelasgians, and other Proto-European tribes developed separately ([bioRxiv genetic research](https://www.biorxiv.org/…/2023.06.05.543790v1.full.pdf)).

4. Historical Sources:

– Historians like **Herodotus** and **Strabo** mentioned the Pelasgians, Illyrians, and Greeks as separate peoples with different languages and customs. Modern scholarship at universities like **Cambridge** has shown that while these groups may have interacted, they were ethnically and culturally distinct.

Sources

– [Illyrians on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illyrians)

– [COGNIARCHAE on Illyrians](https://cogniarchae.com/)

– [Smithsonian on Greek DNA](https://www.smithsonianmag.com)

– [Genetic research on Illyrians and Pelasgians on bioRxiv](https://www.biorxiv.org/…/2023.06.05.543790v1.full.pdf)

In conclusion, not only were the Greeks distinct from the Illyrians, but the Pelasgians and other Proto-European tribes also maintained separate identities. Despite some shared Indo-European ancestry, these groups developed distinct languages, cultural practices, and genetic profiles.