A woman buried in Russia in the Mesolithic era

Sidelkino
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:
Sidelkino
Date:
9649 BCE - 9284 BCE
Biological Sex:
Female
mtDNA:
U5a2
Y-DNA:
Not applicable
Cultural Period:
Hunter-Gatherer Sidelkino, Russia
Location
Country:
Russia
Locality:
Sidelkino-Mayak (Samara Oblast, Chelno-Vershinskiy District, Sidel'kino)
Coordinates:
54.5300, 51.1100
Map Location
Historical Timeline
Description

The Hunter-Gatherer Sidelkino culture of Circum-Arctic Russia is an archaeological and anthropological framework that represents a fascinating glimpse into the lives of prehistoric communities in the northernmost reaches of Eurasia. This era, though not precisely defined in historical texts, reflects a period when human populations adapted to the challenging environments of the Arctic and Subarctic regions during and after the last Ice Age. Below is a detailed exploration of this culture:

Environment and Geography

The Sidelkino region, situated in the vast expanse of what is now northern Russia, lies within the Circum-Arctic zone. This area is characterized by its stark, icy landscapes, tundra, taiga forests, and a climate marked by long, harsh winters and short, cool summers. The landscape is dotted with numerous rivers and lakes, which would have been vital sources of water and food for the hunter-gatherer groups.

Subsistence Lifestyle

The Sidelkino hunter-gatherers subsisted primarily through a combination of hunting terrestrial and marine animals, fishing, and foraging for edible plants and roots. The faunal assemblage of the era includes large mammals such as mammoth, reindeer, elk, and occasionally bear, which provided not only meat but also hides for clothing and shelter. Fishing in the abundant waterways yielded species like salmon and trout, while the gathering of berries, nuts, and tubers supplemented their diet.

Tools and Technology

The Sidelkino people developed a sophisticated toolkit to exploit their environment effectively. Stone tools were the most prevalent, with flint and chert being commonly used materials. These included scrapers, blades, and projectile points, indicating practices of hunting and butchering. Bone and antler were also fashioned into tools and implements such as needles for sewing hides, harpoons, and fishing hooks. The technological sophistication is evidence of their adaptation to the demands of Arctic living.

Social Structure and Community Life

The social organization of the Sidelkino culture is hypothesized to have been small, mobile bands or family groups. These groups likely followed seasonal migration patterns aligned with the movement of game animals and the availability of other resources. Kinship ties and cooperative hunting and gathering would have been integral for survival.

The limited archaeological evidence suggests that communal activities, possibly linked to familial or tribal rituals, were important. The discovery of sites with hearths indicates the central role of fire in daily life, serving as a focal point for warmth, cooking, and social gatherings.

Art and Symbolism

While the Sidelkino culture might not have left behind elaborate artistic expressions, simple carvings on bone and antler and personal adornments like pendants and beads speak to a symbolic or ritualistic aspect of their culture. These artifacts hint at the cognitive and cultural dimensions of the hunter-gatherers, indicating a desire for self-expression and possibly spiritual beliefs.

Challenges and Survival Strategies

Life in the Circum-Arctic would have presented significant challenges, including extreme cold, limited daylight during winter months, and food scarcity. The Sidelkino hunter-gatherers developed survival strategies, including efficient clothing made from animal hides, temporary shelters like lean-tos or semi-subterranean dwellings, and food storage techniques to preserve their hunting and gathering surplus.

Overall, the Hunter-Gatherer Sidelkino culture of Circum-Arctic Russia represents a remarkable period of human adaptation and resilience. Their ability to thrive in such a formidable environment speaks to their ingenuity and the complex interplay of technology, social organization, and cultural practices they developed in response to their surroundings.

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Sidelkino Hunter-Gatherer Sidelkino, Russia 9649 BCE Sidelkino-Mayak (Samara Oblast, Chelno-Vershinskiy District, Sidel'kino), Russia View
Sample ID Culture/Period Date Location Action
I8743 Hunter-Gatherer Sidelkino, Russia 9649 BCE Sidelkino, Russia View
Sidelkino Hunter-Gatherer Sidelkino, Russia 9649 BCE Sidelkino-Mayak (Samara Oblast, Chelno-Vershinskiy District, Sidel'kino), Russia View
Ancient Genetic Admixture

Ancient genetic admixture analysis compares the DNA profile of this individual (Sidelkino) 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 68%
European Hunter-Gatherers 15%
Ancient Asians 10%
Ancient Native Americans 7%
Modern Genetic Admixture

Modern genetic admixture analysis compares the DNA profile of this individual (Sidelkino) 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 86%
Eastern European 48%
Eastern European 47.5%
Northwestern European 38%
English 17.1%
Scandinavian 13.0%
Finnish 8.1%
America 11%
America 11%
Native American 10.9%
Asia 3%
Central Asian, Northern Indian & Pakistani 3%
Indian 2.9%
Africa 1%
African Hunter-Gatherer 0%
West African 0%
G25 Coordinates

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

Sidelkino,0.11751528,0.03547124,0.09006236,0.07798954,0.00711514,0.01977482,-0.01541364,-0.01399002,-0.00354484,-0.03297592,0.0036321,-0.00906162,0.01919712,0.01221206,-0.00632116,0.00320908,-0.00255812,0.0011678,0.00101996,0.00532386,0.00537004,0.000526,0.0022857,-0.00106528,0.00645155
Analyze it in G25 Studio
Scientific Papers References
The first horse herders and the impact of early Bronze Age steppe expansions into Asia
Authors:
de Barros Damgaard P, Martiniano R, Kamm J
Abstract:

The Yamnaya expansions from the western steppe into Europe and Asia during the Early Bronze Age (~3000 BCE) are believed to have brought with them Indo-European languages and possibly horse husbandry. We analyzed 74 ancient whole-genome sequences from across Inner Asia and Anatolia and show that the Botai people associated with the earliest horse husbandry derived from a hunter-gatherer population deeply diverged from the Yamnaya. Our results also suggest distinct migrations bringing West Eurasian ancestry into South Asia before and after, but not at the time of, Yamnaya culture. We find no evidence of steppe ancestry in Bronze Age Anatolia from when Indo-European languages are attested there. Thus, in contrast to Europe, Early Bronze Age Yamnaya-related migrations had limited direct genetic impact in Asia.

Link:
View Publication
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