Tajiks

The Tajiks are one of the principal ethnic groups of Central Asia, and are primarily found in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Iran, and the Xinjiang province of China.

Physical characteristics

Physically, most Tajiks belong to the Mediterranean subgroup of the Caucasian race. While the average Tajik has dark hair and eyes with medium to fair skin, light hair and eyes are not uncommon, particularly in mountainous regions such as Badakhshan. Some speculate that this may be due to intermingling with the generally light-complexioned Nuristanis (Kafirs) as well as remote Pashtun tribes, but it is more likely that Tajiks living in remote areas are simply more closely related to ancient Iranian tribes that retreated to the mountains during various invasions and have mingled less with other groups as a result. Some Tajiks in Central Asia show definite Turkic-Mongol admixture, while remote Mountain Tajiks appear to more closely resemble the populations that existed before Turkic and Mongol invasions. A minority of Tajiks in Afghanistan also show traces of Turkic-Mongol ancestry (possibly derived from the Hazara and/or Uzbeks) as well as some Indian phenotypes (a result of Islamic invasions of South Asia). In addition, Tajiks are often distinguished from the related Farsiwan by religion as opposed to appearance. The Tajiks, as a whole, are an eclectic population genetically and display a wide range of phenotypes.

Related Topics:
Mediterranean - Caucasian - Nuristani - Pashtun - Turkic - Mongol - Hazara - Uzbek - South Asia - Farsiwan

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