Genetic Research Confirms Albanian Origins of Sanjak's Population

 For a long time, it has been claimed that the population of the Sanjak region, particularly in Novi Pazar, has Albanian roots. Today, science has confirmed this claim.

Photo from the late 19th century, Albanians of Sandzak, South Serbia

According to research conducted by poreklo.rs, genetic studies indicate that 70% of the residents of Sanjak have Albanian ancestry. This DNA testing, carried out in Bosnia and the Sanjak region, reveals significant differences between Bosniaks in Bosnia and Herzegovina and those in Sanjak. While Bosniaks in Bosnia have mixed genetic traits with Serbs and Croats, the residents of Sjenica, Tutin, and Novi Pazar share common genetic markers with Albanians.

Despite these genetic findings, historical and sociopolitical changes have led to the assimilation of Albanians in Sanjak into the Bosniak identity, resulting in the loss of the Albanian language among the local population.

This study sheds new light on the complex ethnic and historical landscape of the Western Balkans, reaffirming the deep Albanian roots in the Sanjak region.