Convergence in situ: the formation of the Indo-European branches and the Bronze–Iron transition

Koch, John T. (2025) Convergence in situ: the formation of the Indo-European branches and the Bronze–Iron transition. In: Presenting counterpoints to the dominant terrestrial narrative of European prehistory, Maritime Encounters 1. Maritime Encounters, 1 (1). Oxbow Books, Oxford, pp. 203-219. ISBN 979-8-88857-184-2

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Abstract

The archaeogenetic support for the steppe hypothesis of the Indo-European homeland leads to re-assessments of unresolved issues of historical linguistic theory. This study argues that the shorter time depth of the Steppe Hypothesis and what we now know about the relatively rapid and massive spread of steppe ancestry is more consistent with a ‘convergence in situ’ model for the formation of Indo-European branches. In this theory, the primary process is that of a geographically over-extended dialect continuum of shallow differentiation in which the branches formed amongst adjacent dialects within emerging socio-cultural networks during the Bronze Age. The separated branches then decisively crystalized during the Bronze–Iron transition.

Item Type:	Book Section
Additional Information:	MARITIME ENCOUNTERS 1 PRESENTING COUNTERPOINTS TO THE DOMINANT TERRESTRIAL NARRATIVE OF EUROPEAN PREHISTORY is the first in the multi-author series Maritime Encounters, outputs of the major six-year (2022–28) international research initiative, funded by Riksbankens Jubileumsfond (grant ref. M21–0018). This major new series examines the contribution and significance of maritime transport, movement, and trade in the shaping of Bronze Age communities and social complexity in north-west Europe. Our research programme is based on a maritime perspective, as a counterpoint to prevailing land-based vantages on Europe’s prehistory. It includes a far-ranging, research-led reconsideration of the role of mining and source areas of metals and metal exchange networks in the Bronze Age along the seaboard between Iberia, Ireland, Britain, and Scandinavia, and models a maritime mode of production. Full open-access book download available: https://www.wales.ac.uk/cawcs/research/maritime-encounters
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Indo-European studies, Bronze Age, archaeogenetics, Celtic languages, Germanic languages
Subjects:	D History General and Old World > DA Great Britain D History General and Old World > DL Northern Europe. Scandinavia D History General and Old World > DP Spain P Language and Literature > P Philology. Linguistics P Language and Literature > PB Modern European Languages > PB1501 Gaelic (Scottish Gaelic, Erse) P Language and Literature > PD Germanic languages Q Science > QH Natural history > QH426 Genetics
Divisions:	Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies
Related URLs:	Organisation Organisation
Depositing User:	John Koch
Date Deposited:	20 Nov 2025 13:14
Last Modified:	20 Nov 2025 13:14
URI:	https://repository.uwtsd.ac.uk/id/eprint/3999

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