Pre-Indo-European

The Pre-Indo-European population of Europe included an unknown number of ethnic groups that dwelt on the continent before the coming of the speakers of Indo-European languages (though some scholars dispute the Indo-European invasion theory: see Paleolithic Continuity Theory). It is difficult to ascertain whether and how those groups were related to each other. Some scholars state some of these Pre-Indo-European languages show some similiarities.

The Pelasgians, Minoans, Leleges, Etruscans, Iberians, Hurrians, Urartians, and Basques were (and, in the case of the Basques, still are) generally considered Pre-Indo-European peoples. The Dravidians were Pre-Indo-European inhabitants of India (see also Aryan Invasion).

See also

• Germanic substrate hypothesis
• Old European cultures