Rasho Rashev and the Sarmatian theory for the origin of Protobulgarians – new archaeological and genomic data in support of the theory
Rasho Rashev and the Sarmatian theory for the origin of Protobulgarians – new archaeological and genomic data in support of the theory

Summary/Abstract: The present study builds on the research of Prof. Rasho Rashev, connecting the Protobulgarians with the Sarmatian communities in Eastern Europe. In view of the growing importance of the numerous finds on the northeastern coast of the Caspian Sea, today Mangastau, Kazakhstan, we analyze the archaeological and genomic data on landmark sites such as the Aigirli-2 cult facility of the "Baitinian type", finds from the Kabakarak trading settlement (3rd-5th century), as well as finds from the Altankazgan cult center of the late Sarmatian and Hunnic eras. Significant parallels have been drawn between the Protobulgarian cult facilities on the Lower Danube and what was observed in the temples of the mentioned complexes, both in terms of the shape of some cult structures, but also the presence of stone altars with a rectangular shape (sacrificial altars). Finds from Altankazgan and Karakabak are associated with the Hunnic necropolis of Novogrigorievka, the North Caucasus and other areas related to Protobulgarian history and culture. The available genomic data from the considered area along the northeastern shores of the Caspian Sea confirm these observations, linking individuals from the studied sites in the area to the population of Danube Bulgaria and the Saltovo-Mayaki culture.

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