A woman buried in Russia in the Early Iron Age era

I7349
Portrait reconstruction
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:
I7349
Date:
640 CE - 980 CE
Biological Sex:
Female
mtDNA:
A2a
Y-DNA:
Not applicable
Cultural Period:
Old Bering Sea Culture Ekven, Russia
Location
Country:
Russia
Locality:
Chukotka. Bering Strait. Ekven
Coordinates:
66.1611, -169.8223
Map Location
Historical Timeline
Description

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.

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I7333 Old Bering Sea Culture Ekven, Russia 510 CE Chukotka. Bering Strait. Ekven, Russia View
I7347 Old Bering Sea Culture Ekven, Russia 1050 CE Chukotka. Bering Strait. Ekven, Russia View
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I7621 Old Bering Sea Culture Ekven, Russia 480 CE Chukotka. Bering Strait. Ekven, Russia View
I7348 Old Bering Sea Culture Ekven, Russia 630 CE Chukotka. Bering Strait. Ekven, Russia View
I7331 Old Bering Sea Culture Ekven, Russia 720 CE Chukotka. Bering Strait. Ekven, Russia View
I7339 Old Bering Sea Culture Ekven, Russia 690 CE Chukotka. Bering Strait. Ekven, Russia View
I7340 Old Bering Sea Culture Ekven, Russia 810 CE Chukotka. Bering Strait. Ekven, Russia View
I7338 Old Bering Sea Culture Ekven, Russia 1210 CE Chukotka. Bering Strait. Ekven, Russia View
I7343 Old Bering Sea Culture Ekven, Russia 970 CE Chukotka. Bering Strait. Ekven, Russia View
I7344 Old Bering Sea Culture Ekven, Russia 730 CE Chukotka. Bering Strait. Ekven, Russia View
I7337 Old Bering Sea Culture Ekven, Russia 620 CE Chukotka. Bering Strait. Ekven, Russia View
I20756 Old Bering Sea Culture Ekven, Russia 970 CE Chukotka. Bering Strait. Ekven, Russia View
I7332 Old Bering Sea Culture Ekven, Russia 690 CE Ekven. Chukotka. Bering Strait, Russia View
I7346 Old Bering Sea Culture Ekven, Russia 620 CE Ekven. Chukotka. Bering Strait, Russia View
I7341 Old Bering Sea Culture Ekven, Russia 710 CE Chukotka. Bering Strait. Ekven, Russia View
I7342 Old Bering Sea Culture Ekven, Russia 348 BCE Chukotka. Bering Strait. Ekven, Russia View
Ancient Genetic Admixture

Ancient genetic admixture analysis compares the DNA profile of this individual (I7349) with present-day reference populations. These results show what percentage of the individual's genetic makeup resembles ancient populations from different geographic regions.

Ancient Asians 76%
Ancient Native Americans 24%
Modern Genetic Admixture

Modern genetic admixture analysis compares the DNA profile of this individual (I7349) 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 56%
Northern Asian 41%
Siberian 40.6%
Japanese & Korean 9%
Japanese 8.9%
Chinese & Southeast Asian 7%
Tibetan 3.7%
Chinese 3.2%
America 41%
America 41%
Native American 41.0%
Oceania 3%
Melanesian 3%
Papuan 2.5%
G25 Coordinates

The G25 coordinates for the sample I7349 are as follows. You can analyze its admixture using G25 Studio.

I7349,0.04783286,-0.35851426,0.11229574,0.04619456,-0.11512932,-0.03346908,-0.12478962,-0.14384152,0.00583598,-0.01095766,0.02243582,-0.0066503,0.00688766,-0.0174763,-0.03129724,-0.01581016,0.0006642,0.01712754,0.03352116,0.01725746,0.0237906,-0.04194076,0.00824596,0.02393862,0.03388821
Analyze it in G25 Studio
Scientific Papers References
Palaeo-Eskimo genetic ancestry and the peopling of Chukotka and North America
Authors:
Flegontov P, Altınışık NE, Changmai P
Abstract:

Much of the American Arctic was first settled 5,000 years ago, by groups of people known as Palaeo-Eskimos. They were subsequently joined and largely displaced around 1,000 years ago by ancestors of the present-day Inuit and Yup'ik1-3. The genetic relationship between Palaeo-Eskimos and Native American, Inuit, Yup'ik and Aleut populations remains uncertain4-6. Here we present genomic data for 48 ancient individuals from Chukotka, East Siberia, the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, and the Canadian Arctic. We co-analyse these data with data from present-day Alaskan Iñupiat and West Siberian populations and published genomes. Using methods based on rare-allele and haplotype sharing, as well as established techniques4,7-9, we show that Palaeo-Eskimo-related ancestry is ubiquitous among people who speak Na-Dene and Eskimo-Aleut languages. We develop a comprehensive model for the Holocene peopling events of Chukotka and North America, and show that Na-Dene-speaking peoples, people of the Aleutian Islands, and Yup'ik and Inuit across the Arctic region all share ancestry from a single Palaeo-Eskimo-related Siberian source.

Link:
View Publication
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