A man buried in Russia in the Copper Age era

I6268

Disclaimer: The portrait shown is a speculative reconstruction and not the actual face of the ancient sample. It represents an artistic interpretation based on archaeological data.

Specimen Details

Sample ID:

I6268

Date:

3516 BCE - 3370 BCE

Biological Sex:

Male

mtDNA:

R1a

Y-DNA:

J2a1

Cultural Period:

Maikop-Novosvobodnaya Culture, Caucasus, Russia

Location

Country:

Russia

Locality:

Klady. Dlinnaya Polyana

Coordinates:

44.3850, 40.3946

Map Location

Historical Timeline

Description

The Maikop-Novosvobodnaya culture, existing during the Early Bronze Age approximately from 3700 to 3000 BCE, is a noteworthy archaeological and cultural phenomenon located in the northwestern Caucasus region of present-day Russia. This culture coincides with the broader horizon of the Proto-Indo-European expansions and interactions, contributing to our understanding of early Indo-European cultural formations and their wide-reaching influences.

Geographical and Environmental Context

The Maikop-Novosvobodnaya culture primarily spans the fertile steppe and lowland areas of the northwestern Caucasus, encompassing present-day regions like Adygea, Krasnodar Krai, and parts of Stavropol Krai. This region provided a unique environment characterized by its diverse landscape ranging from mountainous zones to open plains. Such diversity likely supported a mixed economy of pastoralism, agriculture, and perhaps even some early forms of trade and craft specialization.

Archaeological Evidence

Settlements and Architecture: The evidence for Maikop-Novosvobodnaya settlements is relatively sparse but indicates semi-permanent or seasonal camps likely involving both nomadic and sedentary components. Domestic structures when identified were simple, likely constructed from wood or perishable materials, congruent with the seminomadic lifestyle suggested by some scholars.

Burials and Kurgans: The Maikop-Novosvobodnaya culture is predominantly recognized for its burial practices, featuring prominent kurgan (burial mound) constructions. These kurgans vary in size but often contain single or multiple burials and are rich in grave goods, suggesting a society with hierarchical social structures. The presence of metal weapons, ornaments, and utilitarian objects within these graves denotes early metallurgy skills and a stratified society with emerging \chieftain-like" elites.

Art and Artifacts: One of the culture's distinct facets is its sophisticated metalwork, particularly in copper and gold. Artifacts such as daggers, axes, jewelry, and small statuettes exhibit advanced metallurgical techniques and aesthetic sensibilities, indicating connections or parallels with other contemporary cultures of the early Bronze Age world, possibly including the Maykop's southern contacts with Transcaucasian and more distant Mesopotamian spheres.

Socio-Economic Aspects

Economy: The Maikop-Novosvobodnaya economy was likely blended, consisting of settled agricultural communities and mobile pastoralism. The fertile lands of the Kuban steppe and adjacent areas would have supported grain cultivation, while the extensive pastures were well-suited for livestock, including cattle, sheep, and goats.

Trade and Interaction: Trade and exchange networks were vital to the Maikop-Novosvobodnaya culture. The material evidence suggests the movement of both raw material and finished goods over significant distances, and the culture's advanced metallurgy hints at knowledge exchanges with technologically advanced neighbors, perhaps facilitating the spread of metallurgical expertise throughout the region.

Cultural and Linguistic Context

While direct linguistic evidence is lacking, the Maikop-Novosvobodnaya culture is often discussed within the context of Proto-Indo-European studies, particularly given its chronological and geographical setting. Some theories propose that the Maikop interactions with neighboring cultures could reflect early language and cultural exchanges that eventually spread Indo-European languages across vast areas.

The Maikop-Novosvobodnaya culture's importance lies not only in its distinctive archaeological features but also in its role as a cultural bridge between the steppe traditions and the ancient civilizations to the south and west. Through its advanced metallurgy, elaborate burials, and potential trade links, the culture represents a pivotal point in the prehistoric landscape of Eurasia, influencing and interacting with the formative societies that paved the path for the historical Indo-European world.

In conclusion, the Maikop-Novosvobodnaya culture remains a crucial area of study for understanding the transition from Neolithic societies to the complexities of early Bronze Age stratified societies and the intricate mosaic of Proto-Indo-European cultural dynamics."

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Sample ID	Culture/Period	Date	Location	Action
ARM001	Early Bronze Age Armenia	3625 BCE	South Caucasus mountains. Kaps, Armenia	View
ARM002	Early Bronze Age Armenia	3356 BCE	South Caucasus mountains. Kaps, Armenia	View
AY2001	The Maikop Culture	3514 BCE	Kaspi steppe. Aygurskij 2, Russia	View
AY2003	The Maikop Culture	3630 BCE	Kaspi steppe. Aygurskij 2, Russia	View
BU2001	North Caucasus Culture, Russia	2866 BCE	Piedmont. Belij Ugol 2, Russia	View
GW1001	North Caucasus Culture, Russia	2883 BCE	Piedmont. Gorjačevodskij 1, Russia	View
I1722	Eneolithic Caucasus, Russia	4539 BCE	Unakozovskaya, Russia	View
I2051	Late Bronze Age Dolmen Culture, Caucasus, Russia	1450 BCE	North Caucasus. Marchenkova Gora, Russia	View
I2055	Eneolithic Caucasus, Russia	4676 BCE	Unakozovskaya, Russia	View
I2056	Eneolithic Caucasus, Russia	4607 BCE	Unakozovskaya, Russia	View
I6266	Maikop-Novosvobodnaya Culture, Caucasus, Russia	3504 BCE	Klady. Dlinnaya Polyana, Russia	View
I6267	Maikop-Novosvobodnaya Culture, Caucasus, Russia	3625 BCE	Klady. Dlinnaya Polyana, Russia	View
I6268	Maikop-Novosvobodnaya Culture, Caucasus, Russia	3516 BCE	Klady. Dlinnaya Polyana, Russia	View
I6272	Maikop-Novosvobodnaya Culture, Caucasus, Russia	3318 BCE	Klady. Dlinnaya Polyana, Russia	View
IV3002	The Maikop Culture	3617 BCE	North Caucasus steppe. Ipatovo 3, Russia	View
KBD001	Middle Bronze Age North Caucasus, Russia	2197 BCE	North Caucasus mountains. Kabardinka, Russia	View
KBD002	Middle Bronze Age North Caucasus, Russia	2192 BCE	North Caucasus mountains. Kabardinka, Russia	View
KDC001	Middle Bronze Age North Caucasus, Russia	1950 BCE	Piedmont/mountains. Kudachurt, Russia	View
KDC002	Middle Bronze Age North Caucasus, Russia	1900 BCE	Piedmont/mountains. Kudachurt, Russia	View
LYG001	North Caucasus Culture, Russia	2866 BCE	Piedmont. Lysogarskaya, Russia	View
MK3003	Catacomb Culture, Russian Steppe	2580 BCE	Piedmont. Mar'inskaja 3, Russia	View
MK5001	Late Maikop Culture, Caucasus, Russia	3400 BCE	Piedmont. Mar'inskaja 5, Russia	View
MK5004	Late Maikop Culture, Caucasus, Russia	3400 BCE	Piedmont. Mar'inskaja 5, Russia	View
MK5008	Late Maikop Culture, Caucasus, Russia	3369 BCE	Piedmont. Mar'inskaja 5, Russia	View
MK5009	North Caucasus Culture, Russia	2879 BCE	Piedmont. Mar'inskaja 5, Russia	View
NV3001	Lola Culture, Russian Steppe	2127 BCE	North Caucasus steppe. Nevinnommiskij 3, Russia	View
OSS001	Maikop Culture, Caucasus, Russia	3704 BCE	Piedmont. Ossetia, Russia	View
PG2001	Eneolithic Russian Steppe	4994 BCE	Piedmont. Progress 2, Russia	View
PG2002	North Caucasus Culture, Russia	2476 BCE	Piedmont. Progress 2, Russia	View
PG2004	Eneolithic Russian Steppe	4240 BCE	Piedmont. Progress 2, Russia	View
RK1001	Early Bronze Age Yamnaya Culture, Caucasus, Russia	2881 BCE	Kuban steppe. Rasshevatskij 1, Russia	View
RK1003	North Caucasus Culture, Russia	2899 BCE	Kuban steppe. Rasshevatskij 1, Russia	View
RK1007	Early Bronze Age Yamnaya Culture, Caucasus, Russia	3331 BCE	Kuban steppe. Rasshevatskij 1, Russia	View
RK4001	Catacomb Culture, Russian Steppe	2451 BCE	Kuban steppe. Rasshevatskij 4, Russia	View
RK4002	Catacomb Culture, Russian Steppe	2662 BCE	Kuban steppe. Rasshevatskij 4, Russia	View
SA6001	The Maikop Culture	3520 BCE	Kaspi steppe. Šarachalsun 6, Russia	View
I11133	Late Maikop Culture, Russia	3332 BCE	Sinjucha. Kuban steppe, Russia	View
SA6003	Catacomb Culture, Russian Steppe	2470 BCE	Kaspi steppe. Šarachalsun 6, Russia	View
SA6004	The Maikop Culture	3359 BCE	Kaspi steppe. Šarachalsun 6, Russia	View
SA6010	Russian Yamnaya	2886 BCE	Kaspi steppe. Šarachalsun 6, Russia	View
SA6013	The Maikop Culture	3360 BCE	Kaspi steppe. Šarachalsun 6, Russia	View
I11131	Late Maikop Culture, Russia	3349 BCE	Sinjucha. Kuban steppe, Russia	View
I11132	Late Maikop Culture, Russia	3350 BCE	Sinjucha. Kuban steppe, Russia	View
VEK006	Kura-Araxes Culture, Caucasus, Russia	3000 BCE	Caspian sea shore. Velikent, Russia	View
VEK007	Kura-Araxes Culture, Caucasus, Russia	3000 BCE	Caspian sea shore. Velikent, Russia	View
VJ1001	Eneolithic Russian Steppe	4337 BCE	Piedmont. Vonjucka 1, Russia	View
ZO2002	Early Bronze Age Yamnaya Culture, Caucasus, Russia	3300 BCE	North Caucasus steppe. Zolotarjëvka 2, Russia	View
OSS002	The Maikop Culture	3932 BCE	Ossetia'. Piedmont, Russia	View
MK5005	The Maikop Culture	3650 BCE	Mar'inskaja 5. Piedmont, Russia	View
I1723	North Caucasus Culture, Russia	2877 BCE	Goryachevadskiy, Russia	View
I1720	Maikop Culture, Caucasus, Russia	3700 BCE	Baksanyonok, Russia	View
ARM002		3356 BCE	South Caucasus mountains. Kaps, Armenia	View
VEK007		3000 BCE	Caspian sea shore. Velikent, Russia	View
I1720		3700 BCE	Baksanyonok, Russia	View
I1723		2877 BCE	Goryachevadskiy, Russia	View
SA6002	Late Maikop Culture, Russia	3332 BCE	Sinyukha (Republic of Adygea, Krasnogvardeysky District), Russia	View
SIJ002	Late Maikop Culture, Russia	3349 BCE	Sinyukha (Republic of Adygea, Krasnogvardeysky District), Russia	View
SIJ003	Late Maikop Culture, Russia	3350 BCE	Sinyukha (Republic of Adygea, Krasnogvardeysky District), Russia	View

Sample ID	Culture/Period	Date	Location	Action
I6266	Maikop-Novosvobodnaya Culture, Caucasus, Russia	3504 BCE	Klady. Dlinnaya Polyana, Russia	View
I6267	Maikop-Novosvobodnaya Culture, Caucasus, Russia	3625 BCE	Klady. Dlinnaya Polyana, Russia	View
I6268	Maikop-Novosvobodnaya Culture, Caucasus, Russia	3516 BCE	Klady. Dlinnaya Polyana, Russia	View
I6272	Maikop-Novosvobodnaya Culture, Caucasus, Russia	3318 BCE	Klady. Dlinnaya Polyana, Russia	View

Ancient Genetic Admixture

Ancient genetic admixture analysis compares the DNA profile of this individual (I6268) with present-day reference populations. These results show what percentage of the individual's genetic makeup resembles ancient populations from different geographic regions.

Neolithic Farmers 71%

European Hunter-Gatherers 16%

Western Steppe Pastoralists 8%

Ancient Asians 5%

Modern Genetic Admixture

Modern genetic admixture analysis compares the DNA profile of this individual (I6268) with present-day reference populations. These results show what percentage of the individual's genetic makeup resembles modern populations from different geographic regions.

These results complement the ancient ancestry components shown in the previous section, offering a different perspective on the individual's genetic profile by comparing it with modern reference populations rather than prehistoric ancestral groups.

Asia 99%

Northern West Asian 93%

Caucasian 47.1%

Mesopotamian 36.5%

Cypriot 6.7%

Anatolian 2.5%

Arab, Egyptian & Levantine 6%

Levantine 5.9%

Central Asian, Northern Indian & Pakistani 1%

Pakistan 0.7%

Oceania 1%

Melanesian 1%

Papuan 0.5%

G25 Coordinates

The G25 coordinates for the sample I6268 are as follows. You can analyze its admixture using G25 Studio.

I6268,0.10652572,0.11073084,-0.05106996,-0.03802708,-0.04671796,-0.00856464,0.01156856,-0.00534868,-0.06282536,-0.0274248,-0.0036722,0.00788964,-0.02002608,0.00612436,0.00895656,-0.01915324,0.019098,-0.00695744,-0.00953556,0.01674208,0.01213876,-0.00062244,0.00744616,-0.00964548,-0.00578061

Analyze it in G25 Studio

Scientific Papers References

Ancient human genome-wide data from a 3000-year interval in the Caucasus corresponds with eco-geographic regions

Authors:

Wang CC, Reinhold S, Kalmykov A

Abstract:

Archaeogenetic studies have described the formation of Eurasian 'steppe ancestry' as a mixture of Eastern and Caucasus hunter-gatherers. However, it remains unclear when and where this ancestry arose and whether it was related to a horizon of cultural innovations in the 4th millennium BCE that subsequently facilitated the advance of pastoral societies in Eurasia. Here we generated genome-wide SNP data from 45 prehistoric individuals along a 3000-year temporal transect in the North Caucasus. We observe a genetic separation between the groups of the Caucasus and those of the adjacent steppe. The northern Caucasus groups are genetically similar to contemporaneous populations south of it, suggesting human movement across the mountain range during the Bronze Age. The steppe groups from Yamnaya and subsequent pastoralist cultures show evidence for previously undetected farmer-related ancestry from different contact zones, while Steppe Maykop individuals harbour additional Upper Palaeolithic Siberian and Native American related ancestry.

Link:

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