looks like the wave of Indo-Iranians had moved along the Oxus
(Amu Darya River), then ran into the Pamir Mountains where it
split into the Proto-Iranians and Proto-Dardo-Nuristano-Indo-
Aryans. Also see the the map of Indo-European migration for
additional description. area with the yellow border indicates
the region of present-day maximum Indo-Iranian language
diversity (not necessarily a homeland). Red dot lines show
mountain ranges which serve as migration barriers. was the area
of Proto-Iranian Urheimat probably located along the Oxus?
Because people need water to live, and this is the main water
artery in the area. The ancient Oxus seemed to have changed its
course several times because of the instability of the river bed
flowing through the sands. Consequently, the Aral Sea seems to
be a recent formation (most likely after the beginning of the
CE), and presently it is almost gone again. Why not the Yaxartes
(Syr Darya River)? Because if the main migration route coincided
with the Yaxartes, we'd had a com