http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/24/science/indo-european-languages-originated-in-anatolia-analysis-suggests.html?src=me&ref=general
This article reports on another article (in "Science") about a study on the origins of Indo-European languages. Using "evolutionary linguistics" to determine the rate at which language changes and spreads, the study concludes that Indo-European origins must be placed in Anatolia (southern/central Turkey) between 9500 and 8000 years ago. (Or 8000-9500. As a classicist, I think backwards.) This is a purely computer-modeled conclusion. It is not based on archaeology or culture. The rival theory is really different: 4000 years ago, from southern Russia. A nice slice of the nasty back-and-forth argument between the rival camps is illustrated in the article.
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