A man buried in Russia in the Early Bronze Age era

RISE546
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:
RISE546
Date:
3300 BCE - 2500 BCE
Biological Sex:
Male
mtDNA:
U5a1d2b
Y-DNA:
R-M269
Cultural Period:
Early Bronze Age Yamnaya Culture, Kalmykia, Russia
Location
Country:
Russia
Locality:
Temrta IV
Coordinates:
46.5390, 43.6990
Map Location
Historical Timeline
Description

The Early Bronze Age Yamnaya culture, particularly in the region of what is now Kalmykia, Russia, represents a significant era in the development and spread of Proto-Indo-European languages and cultures. The Yamnaya culture, existing approximately between 3300 and 2600 BCE, is renowned for its role in the dissemination of Indo-European languages across Europe and parts of Asia, thanks to its highly mobile populations and innovative advancements.

Geographical Context

Kalmykia, situated in the southern part of European Russia, provides a geographically significant area where the steppes meet the semi-desert landscapes. During the Yamnaya period, this region was characterized by vast open grasslands that facilitated the mobility of pastoralist populations. The expansive and predominantly flat terrain offered an ideal environment for the herding and movement of cattle and horses, which were central to the economic and social system of the Yamnaya people.

Economic Practices and Lifestyle

The Yamnaya economy predominantly revolved around pastoralism. They were among the early cultures to extensively utilize horse domestication, which granted them enhanced mobility and facilitated the widespread exchange of goods and cultural practices. This equestrian advantage likely contributed to the extensive territorial reach and influence of the Yamnaya across the Eurasian steppes.

Apart from horses, the Yamnaya also reared cattle, sheep, and goats. Their subsistence practices included some agriculture, although it was secondary to pastoralism. There is evidence suggesting that the Yamnaya engaged in rudimentary farming practices, cultivating grains likely to supplement their diet of dairy and meat.

Burial Practices and Social Structure

The Yamnaya are particularly noted for their distinctive burial practices. They constructed kurgans, or burial mounds, which served as grave sites. These mounds could be quite large and often contained a pit grave with wooden chambering. The deceased were typically laid in a supine position with bent knees, covered with ochre, a red pigment, which has become a signature of Yamnaya burials.

Grave goods were an integral part of the Yamnaya burials, often including pottery, weapons, and ornaments made of precious materials. The sophistication and variety of these grave goods provide insights into a stratified society with emerging social hierarchies. Males often received more lavish burials, reflecting potentially patriarchal societal structures.

Innovations and Cultural Contributions

The Yamnaya culture is credited with a number of technological and cultural innovations. Besides horse domestication, they are believed to have developed and used wheeled vehicles, possibly facilitating transport and trade over long distances. Their ceramic and metallurgical skills also advanced, with artifacts often exhibiting intricate designs and craftsmanship.

Linguistically, the Yamnaya are considered pivotal in the spread of Proto-Indo-European languages, as their migrations and interactions with other cultures fostered the linguistic diffusion that laid the foundation for many modern European and South Asian languages.

Genetic Legacy and Migration

Modern genetic studies have shown that the Yamnaya people had a significant genetic influence on subsequent European populations. Their migrations throughout Europe have left a distinct genetic marker, evidenced by the presence of Steppe ancestry in various European gene pools. This dramatic demographic shift suggests the Yamnaya played a key role in shaping the genetic landscape of Western Eurasia.

Conclusion

The Yamnaya culture in Kalmykia, Russia, encapsulates a transformative period during the Early Bronze Age. Their innovations in mobility, social organization, and economic practices, combined with their influential linguistic and genetic legacy, highlight the Yamnaya as a cornerstone culture in Proto-Indo-European history. The evidence points to a dynamic society that forged connections across vast distances, leaving a lasting impact on the course of European and Asian prehistoric and historic developments.

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RISE471 1687 BCE Untermeitingen, Germany View
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RISE480 1700 BCE Erd 4, Hungary View
RISE483 2000 BCE Erd 4, Hungary View
RISE484 2000 BCE Erd 4, Hungary View
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RISE487 3485 BCE Lombardy. Remedello di Sotto, Italy View
RISE489 2909 BCE Lombardy. Remedello di Sotto, Italy View
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RISE495 1400 BCE Arban 1, Russia View
RISE496 1416 BCE Arban 1, Russia View
RISE497 1400 BCE Arban 1, Russia View
RISE499 1400 BCE Bystrovka, Russia View
RISE500 1700 BCE Kytmanovo, Russia View
RISE502 1497 BCE Bystrovka, Russia View
RISE503 1731 BCE Kytmanovo, Russia View
RISE504 709 CE Kytmanovo, Russia View
RISE505 1862 BCE Kytmanovo, Russia View
RISE510 2848 BCE Bateni, Russia View
RISE511 2909 BCE Bateni, Russia View
RISE512 1488 BCE Kytmanovo, Russia View
RISE523 1531 BCE Kapova cave, Russia View
RISE524 1300 BCE Kapova cave, Russia View
RISE525 1300 BCE Kapova cave, Russia View
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RISE547 2886 BCE Temrta IV, Russia View
RISE548 3300 BCE Temrta IV, Russia View
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Sample ID Culture/Period Date Location Action
RISE552 Early Bronze Age Yamnaya Culture, Kalmykia, Russia 2846 BCE Ulan V, Russia View
RISE548 Early Bronze Age Yamnaya Culture, Kalmykia, Russia 3300 BCE Temrta IV, Russia View
RISE547 Early Bronze Age Yamnaya Culture, Kalmykia, Russia 2886 BCE Temrta IV, Russia View
RISE550 Early Bronze Age Yamnaya Culture, Kalmykia, Russia 3335 BCE Peshany V, Russia View
RISE240 Early Bronze Age Yamnaya Culture, Kalmykia, Russia 2879 BCE Sukhaya Termista I, Russia View
RISE546 Early Bronze Age Yamnaya Culture, Kalmykia, Russia 3300 BCE Temrta IV, Russia View
Ancient Genetic Admixture

Ancient genetic admixture analysis compares the DNA profile of this individual (RISE546) with present-day reference populations. These results show what percentage of the individual's genetic makeup resembles ancient populations from different geographic regions.

Western Steppe Pastoralists 55%
European Hunter-Gatherers 27%
Ancient Asians 6%
Ancient Africans 6%
Neolithic Farmers 6%
Modern Genetic Admixture

Modern genetic admixture analysis compares the DNA profile of this individual (RISE546) 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.

Europe 63%
Northwestern European 47%
Finnish 21.0%
English 18.0%
Scandinavian 7.9%
Eastern European 16%
Eastern European 16.4%
Asia 31%
Northern West Asian 31%
Caucasian 31.3%
America 5%
America 5%
Native American 4.6%
Africa 1%
West African 1%
Senegambian & Guinean 0.8%
G25 Coordinates

The G25 coordinates for the sample RISE546 are as follows. You can analyze its admixture using G25 Studio.

RISE546,0.11462956,0.06852146,0.0415439,0.04361748,-0.00636702,0.01504072,0.00629542,0.0025489,-0.0234414,-0.0334016,0.00470722,-0.00339398,0.00702324,-0.00038988,-0.00238502,-0.00444986,-0.00384176,-0.00118144,-0.00300182,-0.0057642,0.0002257,0.00148884,-0.00561654,0.00853898,-0.00151337
Analyze it in G25 Studio
Scientific Papers References
Population genomics of Bronze Age Eurasia
Authors:
Allentoft ME, Sikora M, Sjögren KG
Abstract:

The Bronze Age of Eurasia (around 3000-1000 BC) was a period of major cultural changes. However, there is debate about whether these changes resulted from the circulation of ideas or from human migrations, potentially also facilitating the spread of languages and certain phenotypic traits. We investigated this by using new, improved methods to sequence low-coverage genomes from 101 ancient humans from across Eurasia. We show that the Bronze Age was a highly dynamic period involving large-scale population migrations and replacements, responsible for shaping major parts of present-day demographic structure in both Europe and Asia. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesized spread of Indo-European languages during the Early Bronze Age. We also demonstrate that light skin pigmentation in Europeans was already present at high frequency in the Bronze Age, but not lactose tolerance, indicating a more recent onset of positive selection on lactose tolerance than previously thought.

Link:
View Publication
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