A man buried in Russia in the Early Iron Age era
The Old Bering Sea culture, notably exemplified by the site at Ekven in Chukotka, Russia, is an archaeological manifestation of the Arctic cultures that thrived from approximately 200 BCE to 500 CE. This culture is integral to our understanding of the prehistoric peoples inhabiting the Bering Strait region, encompassing what is now parts of eastern Russia and western Alaska. The Ekven site offers rich insights due to its exceptionally preserved archaeological finds, which reveal aspects of the lifestyle, technology, art, and spirituality of its people.
Geographic and Environmental Context
Ekven is located on the Chukotka Peninsula in northeastern Siberia, an area characterized by its permafrost and tundra. The harsh Arctic climate influenced the adaptive strategies of its inhabitants, including their hunting, clothing, and architectural styles. The Bering Sea, rich in marine resources, played a central role in the subsistence and culture of the Old Bering Sea peoples.
Material Culture and Technology
The Old Bering Sea culture is renowned for its sophisticated use of ivory, bone, and stone. The people skillfully crafted tools and implements primarily from walrus ivory and bones of other marine mammals. These items include harpoons, knives, scrapers, and bowls, which were essential for hunting and daily life. Their tool technology demonstrates an intimate understanding of both their environment and the materials available to them.
One of the most remarkable aspects of this culture is its art: intricately carved ivory artifacts featuring complex geometric patterns and animal motifs. These designs are believed to hold symbolic or spiritual significance, possibly related to shamanistic practices. The artistic style of the Old Bering Sea culture is often regarded as one of the most distinctive in Arctic archaeology.
Subsistence and Economy
The economy of the Old Bering Sea culture was heavily reliant on marine resources. The people were skilled hunters of seals, walrus, and whales, which provided not only food but also raw materials for tools, clothing, and housing. They supplemented their diet with land-based resources like caribou, birds, and plants when available.
The Bering Sea peoples' seasonal movements likely mirrored the migratory patterns of the animals they depended on, showcasing a deep ecological knowledge and adaptability.
Social Structure and Settlement
Archaeological evidence suggests that settlements like Ekven were semi-permanent, with homes constructed from driftwood, sod, and whale bones. These structures were well-insulated against the Arctic cold. The layout and size of the settlements suggest a communal lifestyle, potentially reflecting a societal structure organized around extended family groups or clans.
Burial sites unearthed at Ekven and other locations provide valuable information about social stratification and beliefs. The presence of grave goods, including tools, jewelry, and carvings, indicates a belief in an afterlife and suggests a complex spiritual world.
Spirituality and Art
The depictions found in carvings and artifacts suggest the Old Bering Sea culture held a profound connection with the natural and spiritual world. Shamans likely played a significant role in mediating between humans, nature, and the spirit world. The emphasis on animal motifs in their art indicates that animals were central to their myths and rituals, possibly serving as totems or spiritual guides.
Significance and Legacy
The Old Bering Sea culture is a precursor to later Arctic cultures such as the Punuk and Thule, which eventually influenced the Inupiat and Yupik peoples. The innovations and traditions developed during this period laid the groundwork for future adaptations to the rigorous Arctic environment, illustrating a continuous thread of cultural evolution across millennia.
The study of the Old Bering Sea culture, especially through sites like Ekven, sheds light on the ingenuity and resilience of human populations in one of the world's most challenging environments. As climate change and modern developments impact the Arctic, understanding these ancient cultures provides valuable lessons in sustainability and adaptation.
Ancient genetic admixture analysis compares the DNA profile of this individual (I7341) with present-day reference populations. These results show what percentage of the individual's genetic makeup resembles ancient populations from different geographic regions.
Modern genetic admixture analysis compares the DNA profile of this individual (I7341) 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.
The G25 coordinates for the sample I7341 are as follows. You can analyze its admixture using G25 Studio.
I7341,0.05003348,-0.32989426,0.11176744,0.0511173,-0.11134392,-0.03125368,-0.1165295,-0.13293402,0.00603264,-0.01311782,0.02612434,-0.00801352,0.00873456,-0.02340334,-0.03267108,-0.01601448,0.0007291,0.01730734,0.03438698,0.01743564,0.02264346,-0.0415871,0.0105401,0.02538546,0.03488813
The population history of northeastern Siberia since the Pleistocene
Northeastern Siberia has been inhabited by humans for more than 40,000 years but its deep population history remains poorly understood. Here we investigate the late Pleistocene population history of northeastern Siberia through analyses of 34 newly recovered ancient genomes that date to between 31,000 and 600 years ago. We document complex population dynamics during this period, including at least three major migration events: an initial peopling by a previously unknown Palaeolithic population of 'Ancient North Siberians' who are distantly related to early West Eurasian hunter-gatherers; the arrival of East Asian-related peoples, which gave rise to 'Ancient Palaeo-Siberians' who are closely related to contemporary communities from far-northeastern Siberia (such as the Koryaks), as well as Native Americans; and a Holocene migration of other East Asian-related peoples, who we name 'Neo-Siberians', and from whom many contemporary Siberians are descended. Each of these population expansions largely replaced the earlier inhabitants, and ultimately generated the mosaic genetic make-up of contemporary peoples who inhabit a vast area across northern Eurasia and the Americas.