The Yamnaya Impact North of the Lower Danube

A Tale of Newcomers and Locals

Datos Bibliográficos

ID7528967
AutoresBianca Preda-Bălănică (0000-0002-2956-2336), Alin Frînculeasa (0000-0002-1694-911X), Volker Heyd (0000-0002-0889-6513)
Año2020
Volumen117
Número1
Páginas85-101
Fecha de publicación2020-01-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaBulletin de la Société préhistorique française (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0249-7638 • E-ISSN: 1760-7361
EditorialPERSEE Program (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.3406/bspf.2020.15079
OpenAlexW3022212743
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas13
Referencias citadas8

This paper aims to provide an overview of the current understanding in Yamnaya burials from north of the Lower Danube, particularly focussing on their relationship with supposed local archaeological cultures/ societies. Departing from a decades-long research history and latest archaeological finds from Romania, it addresses key research basics on the funerary archaeology of their kurgans and burials ; their material culture and chronology ; on steppe predecessors and Katakombnaya successors ; and links with neighbouring regions as well as the wider southeast European context. Taking into account some reflections from latest ancient DNA revelations, there can be no doubt a substantial migration has taken place around 3000 BC, with Yamnaya populations originating from the Caspian-Pontic steppe pushing westwards. However already the question if such accounts for the term of ’ Mass Migrations’ cannot be satisfactorily answered, as we are only about to begin to understand the demographics in this process. A further complication is trying to assess who is a newcomer and who is a local in an interaction scenario that lasts for c. 500 years. Identities are not fixed, may indeed transform, as previous newcomers soon turn into locals, while others are just visitors. Nevertheless, this well-researched region of geographical transition from lowland eastern Europe to the hillier parts of temperate Europe provides an ideal starting point to address such questions, being currently also at the heart of the intense discussion about what is identity in the context of the emerging relationship of Archaeology and Genetics

Aesthetics · Archaeology · Art · Chronology · Context (archaeology · Ethnology · Genealogy · Geography · Identity (music · Power (physics · Steppe · Ancient and Medieval Archaeology Studies · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · History · Marine and environmental studies