When did the Slavs Originate? The Case of the Antes

Abstract

The article analyzes the historical and linguistic roots of the ethnogenesis of the Slavs, focusing in particular on the Antes tribe and their relations with the Goths in the 4th century. The author confronts the source accounts of Jordanes and Ammianus Marcellinus to argue that the 4th-century Antes were an Iranian-speaking Alan tribe rather than proto-Slavs, later assimilating into the Slavic population and giving rise to the 6th-century Pen'kivka culture. For further assistance with academic translation or additional excerpts, let me know if you would like to proceed with a more formal style.