Connections of the Yamna Culture Population of the Black Sea Region According to Anthropological Data

An Intergroup Analysis of Male Series

Bibliographic Data

ID20353918
AuthorsYulia Ushkova (Human Growth Foundation, corresponding author), Yu V Ushkova (0000-0002-1549-8679)
Year2024
Issue3
Pages16-39
Publication date2024-09-26
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueArheologia (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0235-3490 • E-ISSN: 2616-499X
PublisherNational Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (Co. LTD Ukrinformnauka) (Publications) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.15407/arheologia2024.03.016
OpenAlexW4403328954
LanguageEN
References cited20

The objective of this paper is to examine the population history of the North Pontic Yamna groups through an analysis of phenotypic variation in cranial morphology. To investigate this issue, an intergroup analysis of male craniological samples from Eastern, Central, South-Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Southern Siberia was carried out using the multidimensional scaling method. The analysis suggests that migrations were a significant factor in the formation of the Yamna culture phenomenon in the vast steppe areas of Eurasia. This can explain the anthropological continuity of Yamna-related groups and the central position of the Volga steppe region within it. While there is a variability in anthropological characteristics, most Yamna-related series share a number of common features. The morphological variability observed in Yamna populations can be attributed to the extensive geographical distribution of the Yamna horizon and its interaction with local and neighbouring tribes in various regions. The Yamna horizon likely originated from steppe Eneolithic groups, particularly those with morphological similarities to the Repin and Serednii Stih populations. The Maikop-Novosvobodnaia groups may have also played a role in the formation of the Yamna horizon. The origin of the broad-faced dolichomesocranial craniocomplex, found in Yamna material from the North Pontic region, can be linked to the eastern Yamna groups. A different leptene hyperdolichocranial craniocomplex can be associated with the later groups of the Ural and Cis-Caucasian regions, such as the Tamar-Utkul group and possibly the Novotitorovka culture. However, it can also be assumed that the North Pontic Yamna population was influenced by Central European groups (Funnelbeaker, Globular Amphora, Corded Ware cultures) as well as the Kemi-Oba population, whose origin can also be linked to the Central European cultural circle

Biology · Genealogy · Geography · Population · Sociology · Cultural and Sociopolitical Studies · Demography · Eurasian Exchange Networks · History · Linguistics and Cultural Studies

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