Editing Pannonian Avars (section)

==Origins==
===Avars and pseudo-Avars===
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| image1            = Grave goods from the Avar cemetery of Gyenesdiás, Hungary - saber and sheath.jpg
| image2            = Grave goods from the Avar cemetery of Gyenesdiás, Hungary - harness mountings.jpg
| image3            = Grave goods from the Avar cemetery of Gyenesdiás, Hungary - rings.jpg
| image4            = Grave goods from the Avar cemetery of Gyenesdiás, Hungary - reflex bow.jpg
| footer            = Grave goods (saber and sheath, harness mountings, rings, reflex bow) from the Avar cemetery of [[Gyenesdiás|Gyenesdiás, Hungary]]
}}

The earliest clear reference to the Avar ethnonym comes from [[Priscus|Priscus the Rhetor]] (420s–after 472), who recounts that in c. 463 the [[Saragurs|Šaragurs]] and [[Onogurs]] were attacked by the [[Sabir people|Sabirs]], who had been attacked by the Avars. In turn, the Avars had been driven off by people fleeing "man-eating [[griffin]]s" coming from "the ocean" (''Priscus Fr 40'').{{sfn|Maenchen-Helfen|1976|p=436}} Whilst Priscus' accounts provide some information about the ethno-political situation in the [[Don (river)|Don]]-[[Kuban]]-[[Volga Delta|Volga]] region after the demise of the [[Huns]], no unequivocal conclusions can be reached. [[Denis Sinor]] has argued that whoever the "Avars" referred to by Priscus were, they differed from the Avars who appear a century later, during the time of [[Justinian]] (r. 527–565).{{sfn|Dobrovits|2003}}

The next author to discuss the Avars, [[Menander Protector]], appeared during the 6th century and wrote of [[Göktürk]] embassies to [[Constantinople]] in 565 and 568. The [[Turkic peoples|Turks]] appeared angry at the Byzantines for having made an alliance with the Avars, whom the Turks saw as their subjects and slaves. [[Tamgan|Turxanthos]], a Turk prince, calls the Avars "Varchonites" and "escaped slaves of the Turks", who numbered "about 20 thousand" (''Menander Fr 43'').{{sfn|Whitby|Whitby|1986|p=226, footnote 48}}

Many more, but somewhat confusing, details come from [[Theophylact Simocatta]], who in c. 629, describes the final two decades of the 6th century. In particular, he claims to quote a triumph letter from Turxanthos:

{{blockquote|text=For this very [[Khagan|Chagan]] had in fact outfought the leader of the nation of the [[Durrani|Abdali]] (I mean indeed, of the [[Hephthalites]], as they are called), conquered him, and assumed the rule of the nation. Then he […] enslaved the Avar nation.

But let no one think that we are distorting the history of these times because he supposes that the Avars are those barbarians neighbouring on Europe and [[Pannonian Basin|Pannonia]], and that their arrival was prior to the times of the [[emperor Maurice]]. For it is by a misnomer that the barbarians on the Ister have assumed the appellation of Avars; the origin of their race will shortly be revealed.

So, when the Avars had been defeated (for we are returning to the account) some of them made their escape to those who inhabit [[Tuoba|Taugast]]. Taugast is a famous city, which is a total of one thousand five hundred miles distant from those who are called Turks, ... Others of the Avars, who declined to humbler fortune because of their defeat, came to those who are called Moukri ([[Goguryeo]]); this nation is the closest neighbour to the men of Taugast;

Then the Chagan embarked on yet another enterprise, and subdued all the Ogur, which is one of the strongest tribes on account of its large population and its armed training for war. These make their habitations in the east, by the course of the Til, which Turks are accustomed to call Melas. The earliest leaders of this nation were named [[khingila|Var]] and [[xionites|Chunni]]; from them some parts of those nations were also accorded their nomenclature, being called Var and Chunni.

Then, while the emperor Justinian was in possession of the royal power, a small section of these Var and Chunni fled from that ancestral tribe and settled in Europe. These named themselves Avars and glorified their leader with the appellation of Chagan. Let us declare, without departing in the least from the truth, how the means of changing their name came to them.&nbsp;[…]

When the [[Barsils]], [[Onogurs]], [[Sabir people|Sabirs]], and other Hun nations in addition to these, saw that a section of those who were still Var and Chunni had fled to their regions, they plunged into extreme panic, since they suspected that the settlers were Avars. For this reason they honoured the fugitives with splendid gifts and supposed that they received from them security in exchange.

Then, after the Var and Chunni saw the well-omened beginning to their flight, they appropriated the ambassadors' error and named themselves Avars: for among the Scythian nations that of the Avars is said to be the most adept tribe. In point of fact even up to our present times the Pseudo-Avars (for it is more correct to refer to them thus) are divided in their ancestry, some bearing the time-honoured name of Var while others are called Chunni.}}

[[File:Coins of the Avars 6th-7th centuries CE imitating Ravenna mint types of Heraclius.jpg|thumb|Coins of the Avars 6th–7th centuries AD, imitating [[Ravenna]] mint types of [[Heraclius]]{{sfn|CNG|2009}}]]
[[File:Avaric - Drinking Bowl - Walters 57565 - Profile.jpg|thumb|Gold Avar bowl, found in modern [[Albania]], c. 700]]

According to the interpretation of Dobrovits and Nechaeva, the Turks insisted that the Avars were only "pseudo-Avars", so as to boast that they were the only formidable power in the Eurasian steppe. The Göktürks claimed that the "real Avars" remained loyal subjects of the Turks, farther east.{{sfn|Dobrovits|2003}}{{sfn|Nechaeva|2011}} A political name *''(A)Par'' 𐰯𐰻 was indeed mentioned in inscriptions honoring [[Kul Tigin]] and [[Bilge Qaghan]], yet in Armenian sources ([[Elishe|Egishe Vardapet]], [[Ghazar Parpetsi]], and [[Sebeos]]) ''Apar'' seemingly indicated "a geographical area ([[Greater Khorasan|Khorasan]]), which might also intimate a political formation once there"; additionally, "'Apar-shar', that is, ''the country of the Apar''" was named after possibly [[Hephthalites]], who were known as 滑 [[Middle Chinese|MC]] *''ɦˠuɛt̚'' > [[standard Chinese|Ch.]]''Huá'' in Chinese sources. Even so, *''Apar'' could not be linked to the European Avars, notwithstanding any link, if there were, between the Hephthalites and [[Rourans]].{{sfn|Tezcan|2004}}{{page needed|date=August 2022}} Furthermore, Dobrovits has questioned the authenticity of Theophylact's account. As such, he has argued that Theophylact borrowed information from Menander's accounts of Byzantine–Turk negotiations to meet political needs of his time–i.e. to castigate and deride the Avars during a time of strained political relations between the Byzantines and Avars (coinciding with Emperor Maurice's northern Balkan campaigns).{{sfn|Dobrovits|2003}}

===Paul the Deacon===
[[Paul the Deacon]] in his ''[[History of the Lombards]]'' insisted that Avars were known previously as [[Huns]] and he conflated the two groups.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bak |first1=János M. |last2=Veszprémy |first2=László |title=Studies on the Illuminated Chronicle |date=1 July 2018 |publisher=Central European University Press |isbn=978-963-386-262-9 |page=128 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ufiZDwAAQBAJ |language=en}}</ref>

===Uar, Rouran and other Central Asian peoples===
{{Continental Asia in 500 CE|right|{{center|The Rouran Khaganate and contemporary Asian polities c. 500 CE}}||Map of Rouran.png||{{Annotation|0|0|[[File:Map of Rouran.png|300px]]}}}}  

According to some scholars, the Pannonian Avars originated from a confederation formed in the [[Aral Sea]] region, by the Uar (also known as the ''Ouar'', ''Warr'' or ''Var'') and the [[Xionites]].{{sfn|Gulyamov|1957}}{{page needed|date=August 2022}}{{sfn|Muratov|2008}} The Xionites had likely been speakers of [[Iranian languages|Iranian]] and/or [[Turkic languages|Turkic]] languages.{{sfn|Golden|2006|p=19}} The Hephthalites, affiliated previously to the Uar and Xionites, had remained in [[Central Asia|Central]] and northern [[South Asia]]. The Pannonian Avars were also known by names including ''Uarkhon'' or ''Varchonites''{{snd}}which may have been a [[portmanteau]] combining ''Var'' and ''Chunni''.

The 18th-century historian [[Joseph de Guignes]] postulates a link between the Avars of European history with the [[Rouran Khaganate]] of [[Inner Asia]] based on a coincidence between Tardan Khan's letter to Constantinople and events recorded in Chinese sources, notably the ''[[Book of Wei|Wei Shu]]'' and ''[[History of the Northern Dynasties|Bei Shi]]''.{{sfn|Harmatta|2001|pp=109–118}} Chinese sources state that [[Bumin Qaghan]], founder of the [[First Turkic Khaganate]], defeated the Rouran, some of whom fled and joined the [[Western Wei]]. Later, Bumin's successor [[Muqan Qaghan]] defeated the Hephthalites as well as the Turkic [[Tiele people|Tiele]]. Superficially these victories over the Tiele, Rouran and Hephthalites echo a narrative in the ''Theophylact'', boasting of Tardan's victories over the Hephthalites, Avars and Oghurs. However, the two series of events are not synonymous: the events of the latter took place during Tardan's rule, c. 580–599, whilst Chinese sources referring to the Turk defeat of the Rouran and other Central Asian peoples occurred 50 years earlier, at the founding of the First Turkic Khaganate. It is for this reason that the linguist [[János Harmatta]] rejected the identification of the Avars with the Rouran on this basis.

According to [[Edwin G. Pulleyblank]], the name Avar is the same as the prestigious name [[Wuhuan]] in the Chinese sources.{{sfn|Pulleyblank|1999|pp=35, 44}} Several historians, including Peter Benjamin Golden, suggest that the Avars are of Turkic origin, likely from the Oghur branch.{{sfn|Golden|1992}} Another theory suggests that some of the Avars were of [[Tungusic peoples|Tungusic]] origin.{{sfn|Helimski|2004|pp=59–72}} A study by Emil Heršak and Ana Silić (2002) suggests that the Avars were of heterogeneous origin, including mostly Turkic (Oghuric) and Mongolic groups. Later in Europe some Germanic and Slavic groups were assimilated into the Avars. Heršak and Silić concluded that their exact origin is unknown but stated that it is likely that the Avars were originally mainly composed of Turkic (Oghuric) tribes.{{sfn|Silić|Heršak|2002}}{{page needed|date=August 2022}}

Increasing evidence supports a relationship between the elite of the Pannonian Avars and the Inner Asian [[Rouran Khaganate]]; however it remains unclear to what extent the European Avars descent from the Rouran population. It is argued that the initial elite core of the Pannonian Avars spoke a [[Para-Mongolic languages|Para-Mongolic language]] (Serbi-Avar), which is a sister lineage to contemporary [[Mongolic languages]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Gnecchi-Ruscone |first1=Guido Alberto |last2=Szécsényi-Nagy |first2=Anna |last3=Koncz |first3=István |last4=Csiky |first4=Gergely |last5=Rácz |first5=Zsófia |last6=Rohrlach |first6=A. B. |last7=Brandt |first7=Guido |last8=Rohland |first8=Nadin |last9=Csáky |first9=Veronika |last10=Cheronet |first10=Olivia |last11=Szeifert |first11=Bea |last12=Rácz |first12=Tibor Ákos |last13=Benedek |first13=András |last14=Bernert |first14=Zsolt |last15=Berta |first15=Norbert |date=14 April 2022 |title=Ancient genomes reveal origin and rapid trans-Eurasian migration of 7th century Avar elites |journal=Cell |volume=185 |issue=8 |pages=1402–1413.e21 |doi=10.1016/j.cell.2022.03.007 |pmid=35366416 |pmc=9042794 |issn=0092-8674 |quote=While we can conclude that the Rouran most likely called themselves Avars, to what extent the European Avars were descended from them has been debated (Dobrovits, 2003; Pohl, 2018). ... Striking genetic similarity between early Avar elites and the Rouran in Mongolia|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="Shimunek, Andrew 2017">Shimunek, Andrew (2017). ''Languages of Ancient Southern Mongolia and North China: a Historical-Comparative Study of the Serbi or Xianbei Branch of the Serbi-Mongolic Language Family, with an Analysis of Northeastern Frontier Chinese and Old Tibetan Phonology''. [[Wiesbaden]]: Harrassowitz Verlag. {{ISBN|978-3-447-10855-3}}. [[OCLC (identifier)|OCLC]] 993110372.</ref>

===Steppe empire dynamics and ethnogenesis===
[[File:Pontic steppe region around 650 AD.png|thumb|The [[Pontic steppe]], c. 650, showing the early territories of the [[Khazars]], [[Bulgars]], and Avars]]

In 2003, [[Walter Pohl]] summarized the formation of [[nomadic empire]]s:{{sfn|Jarnut|Pohl|2003|pp=477–478}}

1. Many steppe empires were founded by groups who had been defeated in previous power struggles but had fled from the dominion of the stronger group. The Avars were likely a losing faction previously subordinate to the {{clarify|text=(legitimate)|date=November 2022}} [[Ashina tribe|Ashina clan]] in the [[Western Turkic Khaganate]], and they fled west of the [[Dnieper]].

2. These groups usually were of mixed origin, and each of its components was part of a previous group.

3. Crucial in the process was the elevation of a khagan, which signified a claim to independent power and an [[expansionist]] strategy. This group also needed a new name that would give all of its initial followers a sense of identity.

4. The name for a new group of steppe riders was often taken from a repertoire of prestigious names which did not necessarily denote any direct affiliation to or descent from groups of the same name; in the [[Early Middle Ages]], [[Huns]], Avars, [[Bulgars]], and Ogurs, or names connected with -(o)gur ([[Kutrigur]]s, [[Utigurs]], [[Onogurs]], etc.), were most important. In the process of name-giving, both perceptions by outsiders and self-designation played a role. These names were also connected with prestigious traditions that directly expressed political pretensions and programmes, and had to be endorsed by success. In the world of the steppe, where agglomerations of groups were rather fluid, it was vital to know how to deal with a newly-emergent power. The symbolical hierarchy of prestige expressed through names provided some orientation for friend and foe alike.

Such views are mirrored by {{ill|Bálint Csanád|hu|Bálint Csanád|lt=Csanád Bálint}}. "The [[ethnogenesis]] of early medieval peoples of steppe origin cannot be conceived in a ''single linear'' fashion due to their great and constant mobility", with no ethnogenetic "point zero", theoretical "proto-people" or proto-language.{{sfn|Bálint|2010|p=150}}{{page needed|date=August 2022}} Moreover, Avar identity was strongly linked to Avar political institutions. Groups who rebelled or fled from the Avar realm could never be called "Avars", but were rather termed "[[Bulgars]]". Similarly, with the final demise of Avar power in the early 9th century, Avar identity disappeared almost instantaneously.{{sfn|Pohl|1998}}{{page needed|date=August 2022}}

Savelyev and Jeong (2020) in "''Early nomads of the Eastern Steppe and their tentative connections in the West''" concluded that the initial Pannonian Avars formed in Central Asia from various ethno-linguistic groups, including [[Iranian peoples]], [[Ugrians]], [[Oghur-Turkic|Oghur-Turks]], and [[Rouran Khaganate|Rouran]] tribes. They further note that "the broadly East Asian component in the archaeological record of the European Avars is limited even in the earlier period of their history; elements originating from West Asia, the Caucasus, the Southern Russian steppes and the local Central European cultures can be traced alongside each other".<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Savelyev |first1=Alexander |last2=Jeong |first2=Choongwon |date=2020 |title=Early nomads of the Eastern Steppe and their tentative connections in the West |journal=Evolutionary Human Sciences |language=en |volume=2 |page=e20 |doi=10.1017/ehs.2020.18 |pmid=35663512 |pmc=7612788 |hdl=21.11116/0000-0007-772B-4 |issn=2513-843X}}</ref>

Subsequent analyses from 2022 on Avar remains however confirmed their [[Ancient Northeast Asian]] origin, and support a possible ethnogenesis of the Avar Elite from the former [[Rouran Khaganate]].<ref name="GAGR" /><ref name=":0" />

===Anthropology===
{{multiple image
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| image1            = 2008.09.26.Szolnok 045.jpg
| image2            = 2008.09.26.Szolnok 064.jpg
| footer            = Skeleton and grave goods from the Avar cemetery of [[Szolnok]], János Damjanich Museum
}}

In the [[Stuttgart Psalter]] there is an image of mounted archers riding backwards on their horses, a noted "Asian" tactic, which may depict the Avars.{{sfn|Golden|1984|pp=11–12, 26}} According to mid-20th century [[Biological anthropology|physical anthropologists]] such as [[Pál Lipták]], human remains from the early Avar (7th century) period had mostly "[[Caucasian race|Europoid]]" features, while [[grave goods]] indicated cultural links to the [[Eurasian Steppe]].{{sfn|Fóthi|2000|pp=87–94}} Cemeteries dated to the late Avar period (8th century) included many human remains with physical features typical of [[East Asian people]] or Eurasians (i.e., people with both East Asian and European ancestry).{{sfn|Acta Archaeologica|1967|86}} Remains with East Asian or Eurasian features were found in about one third of the Avar graves from the 8th century.{{sfn|Oshanin|1964|p=21}} According to Lipták, 79% of the population of the [[Danube–Tisza Interfluve|Danube-Tisza region]] during the Avar period showed Europoid characteristics.{{sfn|Fóthi|2000|pp=87–94}} However, Lipták used racial terms later deprecated or regarded as obsolete, such as "[[Mongoloid]]" for northeast Asian and "[[Turanid race|Turanid]]" for individuals of mixed ancestry.{{sfn|Lipták|1955}}{{page needed|date=August 2022}} Several theories suggest that the ruling class of the Avars were of Northern East Asian origin resembling the "Tungid type" (common among Tungusic speaking peoples).{{sfn|Helimski|2004|pp=59–72}}

===Archaeogenetics===
{{See also|Donghu people#Genetics|Rouran Khaganate#Genetics|Xianbei#Genetics|Xiongnu#Genetics|Huns#Genetics}}
[[File:Lamellar helmet from Niederstotzingen (reconstruction).jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Colour photograph of a reconstruction of the ''Lamellenhelm'' from Niederstotzingen|Reconstruction of a [[lamellar helmet]] from [[Niederstotzingen]]; dated 560–600 AD; it is considered to be an Avar lamellar helmet{{sfn|Kubik|2008|p=151}}]]
A genetic study published in ''[[Scientific Reports]]'' in September 2016 examined the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of 31 people buried in the Carpathian Basin between the 7th and 9th centuries.{{sfn|Csősz|Szécsényi-Nagy|2016|p=1}} They were found to be mostly carrying European haplogroups such as [[Haplogroup H (mtDNA)|H]], [[Haplogroup K (mtDNA)|K]], [[Haplogroup T (mtDNA)|T]] and [[Haplogroup U (mtDNA)|U]], while about 15% carried Asian haplogroups such as [[Haplogroup C (mtDNA)|C]], [[Haplogroup M (mtDNA)|M6]], [[Haplogroup D (mtDNA)|D4c1]] and [[Haplogroup F (mtDNA)|F1a]].{{sfn|Csősz|Szécsényi-Nagy|2016|pp=2–4}} Their mtDNA were found to be primarily characteristic of Eastern and Southern Europe.<ref>{{harvnb|Csősz|Szécsényi-Nagy|2016|p=1}}. "[T]he analyzed Avars represents a certain group of the Avar society that shows East and South European genetic characteristics..."</ref>

A genetic study published in the ''[[American Journal of Biological Anthropology|American Journal of Physical Anthropology]]'' in 2018 examined 62 individuals buried in the 8th and 9th centuries at an Avar-Slavic burial in Cífer‐Pác, [[Slovakia]].{{sfn|Šebest|Baldovič|2018|p=1}} Of the 46 samples of mtDNA extracted, 93% belonged to west Eurasian lineages, while 6% belonged to east Eurasian lineages.{{sfn|Šebest|Baldovič|2018|pp=1, 6}} The amount of east Eurasian lineages was higher than among modern European populations, but lower than what has been found in other genetic studies on the Avars.{{sfn|Šebest|Baldovič|2018|p=14}} The mtDNA of the examined individuals was found to be quite similar to medieval and modern [[Slavs]], and it was suggested that the mixed population examined had emerged through intermarriage between Avar males and Slavic females.<ref>{{harvnb|Šebest |Baldovič|2018|p=14}}. "The most probable explanation of our findings could be that the assimilation rate of Avars and Slavs was already relatively high in theanalyzed mixed ancient population, where a majority of the inter-ethnic marriages involved Avar men and Slavic women."</ref>
 
A genetic study published in ''Scientific Reports'' in November 2019 examined the remains of fourteen Avar males. Eleven of them were dated to the early Avar period, and three were dated to the middle and late Avar period.{{sfn|Neparáczki|Maróti|2019|p=3|loc=Figure 1}} The eleven early Avar males were found to be carrying the paternal haplogroups [[Haplogroup N-M231#N1a1a (M178)|N1a1a1a1a3]] (four samples), [[Haplogroup N-M231#N1a1a (M178)|N1a1a]] (two samples), [[Haplogroup R1a#R1a1a1b2 (R-Z93) (Asia)|R1a1a1b2a]] (two samples), [[Haplogroup C-M217|C2]], [[Haplogroup G-M201|G2a]], and [[Haplogroup I-M253|I1]].{{sfn|Neparáczki|Maróti|2019|p=3|loc=Figure 1}} The three males dated to the middle and late Avar period carried the paternal haplogroups C2, N1a1a1a1a3 and [[Haplogroup E-V68|E1b1b1a1b1a]].{{sfn|Neparáczki|Maróti|2019|p=3|loc=Figure 1}} In short, most carried "East Eurasian Y haplogroups typical for modern north-eastern Siberian and [[Buryats|Buryat]] populations". The Avars studied were all determined to have had dark eyes and dark hair, and the majority of them were found to be primarily of East Asian origin.<ref>{{harvnb|Neparáczki|Maróti|2019|pp=5–7}}. "All Hun and Avar age samples had inherently dark eye/hair colors... 8/15 Avar age individuals showed predominantly East Asian origin with both methods, 4 individuals were definitely European, while two showed evidence of admixture."</ref>

A genetic study published in ''Scientific Reports'' in January 2020 examined the remains of 26 individuals buried at various elite Avar cemeteries in the Pannonian Basin dated to the 7th century.{{sfn|Csáky|Gerber|2020|p=1}} The mtDNA of these Avars belonged mostly to East Asian haplogroups, while the [[Y chromosome|Y-DNA]] was exclusively of East Asian origin and "strikingly homogenous", belonging to haplogroups [[Haplogroup N-M231|N-M231]] and [[Haplogroup Q-M242|Q-M242]].{{sfn|Csáky|Gerber|2020|pp=1, 4}} The evidence suggests that the Avar elite were largely [[Patrilineality|patrilineal]] and [[Endogamy|endogamous]] for a period of around one century, and entered the Pannonian Basin through migrations from East Asia involving both men and women.{{sfn|Csáky|Gerber|2020|pp=1, 9–10}} Another 2020 study, but of Xiongnu remains in East Asia, found that the Xiongnu shared certain paternal (N1a, Q1a, R1a-Z94 and R1a-Z2124) and maternal haplotypes with the [[Huns]] and Avars, and says on this basis that they were descended from Xiongnu, who they in turn suggested were descended from [[Scythian cultures|Scytho-Siberians]].{{sfn|Keyser|Zvénigorosky|2020|ps=:[O]ur findings confirmed that the Xiongnu had a strongly admixed mitochondrial and Y-chromosome gene pools and revealed a significant western component in the Xiongnu group studied.... [W]e propose Scytho-Siberians as ancestors of the Xiongnu and Huns as their descendants... [E]ast Eurasian R1a subclades R1a1a1b2a-Z94 and R1a1a1b2a2-Z2124 were a common element of the Hun, Avar and Hungarian Conqueror elite and very likely belonged to the branch that was observed in our Xiongnu samples. Moreover, haplogroups Q1a and N1a were also major components of these nomadic groups, reinforcing the view that Huns (and thus Avars and Hungarian invaders) might derive from the Xiongnu as was proposed until the eighteenth century but strongly disputed since... Some Xiongnu paternal and maternal haplotypes could be found in the gene pool of the Huns, the Avars, as well as Mongolian and Hungarian conquerors.}}

[[File:Genomic_evidence_from_Avar_period_human_remains.png|thumb|upright=1.75|Genomic evidence from human remains shows that Avar elites were essentially derived from [[Ancient Northeast Asians]] (ANA).<ref name="GAGR"/>]]
A genetic study published in scientific journal ''[[Cell (journal)|Cell]]'' in April 2022 analyzed 48 Pannonian Avar samples from the early, middle and late period, and found nearly all of them to have a high level of [[Ancient Northeast Asian]] (ANA) ancestry. The paternal lineage N1a1a1a1a3a-F4205 was most common (today highest percent of haplogroup N-F4205 was found in [[Dukha people]] of Mongolia with 52.2%<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Balinova |first1=Natalia |last2=Post |first2=Helen |last3=Kushniarevich |first3=Alena |last4=Flores |first4=Rodrigo |last5=Karmin |first5=Monika |last6=Sahakyan |first6=Hovhannes |last7=Reidla |first7=Maere |last8=Metspalu |first8=Ene |last9=Litvinov |first9=Sergey |last10=Dzhaubermezov |first10=Murat |last11=Akhmetova |first11=Vita |last12=Khusainova |first12=Rita |last13=Endicott |first13=Phillip |last14=Khusnutdinova |first14=Elza |last15=Orlova |first15=Keemya |date=September 2019 |title=Y-chromosomal analysis of clan structure of Kalmyks, the only European Mongol people, and their relationship to Oirat-Mongols of Inner Asia |journal=European Journal of Human Genetics |volume=27 |issue=9 |pages=1466–1474 |doi=10.1038/s41431-019-0399-0 |issn=1476-5438 |pmc=6777519 |pmid=30976109}}</ref>), with Q1a, Q1b, R1a, R1b and E1b subclades present in smaller numbers. The samples had a strong affinity with modern peoples inhabiting the region from [[Mongolia]] to the [[Amur]], with a historical [[Rouran Khaganate]] sample, and with samples from Xiongnu-Xianbei periods in the eastern Asian steppe.<ref name="GAGR">{{cite journal |last1=Gnecchi-Ruscone |first1=Guido Alberto |title=Ancient genomes reveal origin and rapid trans-Eurasian migration of 7th century Avar elites |journal=Cell |date=14 April 2022 |volume=185 |issue=8 |pages=1402–1413.e21 |doi=10.1016/j.cell.2022.03.007 |pmid=35366416 |language=en |issn=0092-8674|quote=All of these individuals, albeit variably mixed with other sources, have been shown to trace their eastern Eurasian ancestry component to a genetic profile referred to as the “ancient northeast Asians” (ANA) (...) All of the early-Avar-period individuals (DTI_early_elite), except for an infant and a burial with typical characteristics of the Transtisza group (Figure 2B), form a tight cluster with a high level of ANA ancestry.|pmc=9042794 }}</ref> The Avar individuals showed their highest genetic affinity with present-day Mongolic and Tungusic peoples, as well as [[Nivkh people|Nivkhs]].<ref name=":0">{{harvnb|Gnecchi-Ruscone et al.|2022|ps=:They are located between present-day Mongolic- (e.g., Buryats and Khamnigans) and Tungusic/Nivkh-speaking populations (e.g., Negidals, Nanai, Ulchi, and Nivkhs) together with the only available ancient genome from the Rouran-period Mongolia and are close to the three AR_Xianbei_P_2c individuals in the PCA}}</ref>
[[File:Prehistoric migration routes for Y-chromosome haplogroup N lineage.png|thumb|Migration routes for the Y-chromosome haplogroup N lineage, the dominant paternal haplogroup of Elite Avar remains.]]
A genetic study published in scientific journal ''[[Current Biology]]'' in May 2022 examined 143 Avar samples from various periods, including Avar elites and local commoners. It confirmed the [[Ancient Northeast Asian]] (ANA) paternal and maternal origin for the Avar elite, with N1a-F4205 being their predominant and characteristic paternal lineage, alongside incorporated Q1a2a1 and R1a-Z94 Hunnic-Iranian remnants, and the rest belonging to local haplogroups found among surrounding populations. Autosomally, the Elite Avar samples "''preserved very ancient Mongolian pre-Bronze Age genomes, with ca 90% [Ancient North-East Asian] ancestry''", shared deep ancestry with European Huns, but although since Early Avar period started mixing with local and immigrant Hunnic-Iranian related populations, "''people with different genetic ancestries were seemingly distinguished, as samples with Hun-related genomes were buried in separate cemeteries''". The majority of the Avar Khaganate general population consisted of local European peoples (EU_core) but did not display Northeast Asian admixture, supporting a model of [[elite dominance]] of arriving horse nomads over a large sedentary population, with at least some subsequent admixture events. Genetic data on later Avar elite samples showed continuity with earlier Avars and the long-term presence of Northeast Asian ancestry among the Avar elite, suggesting a possible [[endogamous]] social system. There was however an increase of Northeast Asian and [[Saka]] associated ancestry among the total population, suggesting either further migration from the Eurasian Steppe and admixture between local and Avar groups, or substructure among the overall population not observed before.{{sfn|Maróti|Neparáczki|Schütz|2022}}

Wang et al. 2025 analyzed 722 remains from the periphery of the Avar Khaganate in [[Austria]] dating to 650–800 CE, specifically from sites in present-day [[Leobersdorf]] and [[Mödling]], [[Lower Austria]]. Although both sites displayed a shared material culture, the remains from Leobersdorf displayed mostly [[East Asians|East Asian]] ancestry, while the remains from Mödling displayed mostly European-like ancestry. The archaeogenetic data revealed that even after 200 years since the arrival of the 'core Avars' from present-day [[Mongolia]], East Asian ancestry remained dominant among their elite, but apparently also among non-elite groups in periphery areas, as is the case for Leobersdorf. According to the authors, this can primarily be explained via "systematically choosing partners with similar ancestry from other sites in the Avar realm", until the assimilation of the Avar Khaganate into the [[Frankish empire]] starting at 800 CE, with the last Avar prince being mentioned in 822 CE. The male Avar remains from Leobersdorf carried primarily the paternal [[haplogroup C-M217]], while a minority carried [[haplogroup O-M175]] and [[haplogroup R1a]], in contrast, the male remains from Mödling displayed a more heterogeneous variation, including mostly local haplogroups, and only a minority carrying haplogroup C-M217 or N1a. The authors note that "what the evidence from Leobersdorf crucially shows is that entire groups of mostly Asian ancestry did not display elite or warrior status any more in the 8th century, and had moved out of the core area of the Avar realm", beyond that, non-Asian locals were fully assimilated into 'Avar culture', indistinguishable in terms of material culture.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Wang |first1=Ke |last2=Tobias |first2=Bendeguz |last3=Pany-Kucera |first3=Doris |last4=Berner |first4=Margit |last5=Eggers |first5=Sabine |last6=Gnecchi-Ruscone |first6=Guido Alberto |last7=Zlámalová |first7=Denisa |last8=Gretzinger |first8=Joscha |last9=Ingrová |first9=Pavlína |last10=Rohrlach |first10=Adam B. |last11=Tuke |first11=Jonathan |last12=Traverso |first12=Luca |last13=Klostermann |first13=Paul |last14=Koger |first14=Robin |last15=Friedrich |first15=Ronny |date=15 January 2025 |title=Ancient DNA reveals reproductive barrier despite shared Avar-period culture |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08418-5 |journal=Nature |language=en |pages=1–8 |doi=10.1038/s41586-024-08418-5 |issn=1476-4687|doi-access=free |pmid=39814885 |pmc=11864967 }}</ref>