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Which Caucasus languages are considered indigenous to the region?

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Snow-covered peaks and ridges of the Caucasus Mountains in Russia stretch across the landscape under a pale sky. — Caucasus Caucasus Mountains in Russia.

The languages considered indigenous to the Caucasus region are collectively known as the Caucasian languages (or Paleocaucasian languages). Unlike Indo-European, Turkic, or Semitic languages, which were introduced to the area during historical times, speakers of the Caucasian languages have occupied the region since the dawn of history.12

These indigenous languages are categorized into three distinct families:1

Northwest Caucasian (Abkhazo-Adyghian): This group includes Abkhaz, Abaza, Kabardian, Adyghian, and Ubykh.3
Northeast Caucasian (Nakho-Dagestanian): This family consists of the Nakh languages—such as Chechen and Ingush—and the Dagestanian languages, which include the Avar-Andi-Dido, Lak-Dargin, and Lezgian groups.3
South Caucasian (Kartvelian): This family includes Georgian, Svan, Mingrelian, and Laz.4

While these groups are often studied together, linguists have found no definitive proof of a genetic relationship between the North Caucasian and South Caucasian families, and they are currently viewed as separate language families.13