High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Assyrian continuity claim deals with the claims made by modern Assyrians that they are the direct descendants of the largely Akkadian inhabitants of ancient Assyria. These claims have seen considerable support among prominent Assyriologists such as Simo Parpola, Richard N. Frye, H.W.F. Saggs, Robert D. Biggs, Giorgi Tsereteli, George Percy Badger, Eden Naby and Geoffrey Khan. Nineteenth century orientalists such as Austen Henry Layard, Horatio Southgate and Hormuzd Rassam (himself an Assyrian) also supported this view. Geneticists such as Cavalli-Sforza also clearly endorse this position. Other scholars such as John Joseph, and David Wilmshurst have voiced their various degrees of criticism against this claim.