Final answer:
The Anatolian Hypothesis is a theory regarding the origin of Indo-European languages, proposed by Colin Renfrew in 1987, which posits that the spread of these languages is tied to early agricultural practices starting from Anatolia around 8000 BC.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Anatolian Hypothesis is a historical theory related to the origins of the Indo-European languages. It was formulated by the British archaeologist Colin Renfrew in 1987. According to this hypothesis, the dispersal of Indo-European tongues is associated with the spread of agriculture from Anatolia (present-day Turkey) around 8000 BC. This stands in contrast to the Kurgan Hypothesis, which suggests a later spread from the steppes above the Black and Caspian seas.
The cores of the hypothesis lie in the spread of farming cultures from Anatolia which eventually reached as far west as Ireland and as far east as the Indus Valley, hence carrying what would become the Indo-European languages. The timeline is largely grounded on the earliest farming settlements, such as those in Giazentep near the Euphrates River in southeastern Turkey, dating back to approximately 8000 BC, and other archaeological sites throughout the region that support early agrarian societies.