The Iranian Chapter in the History of the Chuvash //Archaeology, Ethnology and Anthropology of Eurasia. Novosibirsk, 2013. N 3: 122-129.
The Iranian substrate formed the basis of the language and culture of the people of the Caucasus up to the 9th century. In addition, the Armenian and Turkic languages also had some influence. Direct, active contact between the Savirs and the Iranian tribes (in addition to the Persians, these were the Aorses, Alans, Massagets, Basils, and the Burtases) existed at least from the 2nd to the 9th century. In the Caucasus, the Savirs established close relations with the Persian world and during this period of history they developed common religious beliefs. The very self-name of the Savirs is derived from the Persian sävar ‒ “rider,” “horseman,” “skilled.” A portion of the Alans and the Savirs who lived there for a long time in close proximity, which inevitably affected their ethnic culture.