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The '''Andronovo culture''' is a cover term for a group of ] cultures of southern ] and ], ca. ]–]. It is probably better termed an archaeological complex or archaeological horizon. The name derives from the village of Andronovo ({{coor dm|55|53|N|55|42|E|}}), where in ], several graves were discovered, with skeletons in crouched positions, buried with richly decorated pottery. The '''Andronovo culture''' is a cover term for a group of ] cultures of southern ] and ], ca. ]–]. It is probably better termed an archaeological complex or archaeological horizon. The name derives from the village of Andronovo ({{coor dm|55|53|N|55|42|E|}}), where in ], several graves were discovered, with skeletons in crouched positions, buried with richly decorated pottery.


At least four sub-cultures are distinguished, during which the culture expands towards the south and the east: At least four sub-cultures have been since distinguished, during which the culture expands towards the south and the east:
*'''Sintashta-Petrovka-Arkaim''' (Southern ], northern ], 2200-1600 BC), after the ] fortification of ca. 1800 BC at the upper Ural (] province), the ] settlement dated to the 17th century *'''Sintashta-Petrovka-Arkaim''' (Southern ], northern ], 2200-1600 BC),
**the ] fortification of ca. 1800 BC at the ];
**the nearby ] settlement dated to the 17th century;
*'''Alakul''' (2100-1400 BC) *'''Alakul''' (2100-1400 BC);
*'''Fedorovo''' (1400-1200 BC) *'''Fedorovo''' (1400-1200 BC);
*'''Alekseyevka''' (1200-1000 BC) *'''Alekseyevka''' (1200-1000 BC).

In southern Siberia and Kazakhstan, the Andronovo culture was succeeded by the ].


The geographical extent of the culture is vast, and difficult to delineate exactly. On its western fringes, it overlaps with the approximately contemporaneous (but not too related) ] in the ]-] interfluvial; to the east it reaches into the ] depression, overlapping with the area of the earlier ]; additional sites are scattered as far south as the ] (]), the ] (]) and the ] (]). The northern boundary vaguely corresponds to the beginning the ]. The geographical extent of the culture is vast, and difficult to delineate exactly. On its western fringes, it overlaps with the approximately contemporaneous (but not too related) ] in the ]-] interfluvial; to the east it reaches into the ] depression, overlapping with the area of the earlier ]; additional sites are scattered as far south as the ] (]), the ] (]) and the ] (]). The northern boundary vaguely corresponds to the beginning the ].
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The Andronovo culture has been strongly associated with early ] culture. In particular, it is credited with the invention of the spoke-wheeled ] around ]; Di Cosmo (p. 903) referring to finds related to the Andronovo culture from "as early as 2026 B.C." The Andronovo culture has been strongly associated with early ] culture. In particular, it is credited with the invention of the spoke-wheeled ] around ]; Di Cosmo (p. 903) referring to finds related to the Andronovo culture from "as early as 2026 B.C."


Sintashta is a site on the upper ]. It is famed for its grave-offerings, particularly ] burials. These ]s were in ] and included all or parts of animals (horse and dog) deposited into the ]. Sintashta is often pointed to as the premier proto-] site, and that the language spoken was still in the Proto-Indo-Iranian stage. There are similar sites "in the Volga-Ural steppe" (Mallory). ] is a site on the upper ]. It is famed for its grave-offerings, particularly ] burials. These ]s were in ] and included all or parts of animals (horse and dog) deposited into the ]. Sintashta is often pointed to as the premier proto-] site, and that the language spoken was still in the Proto-Indo-Iranian stage. There are similar sites "in the Volga-Ural steppe" (Mallory).


In the northeast, its successor was the ] (1500-800 BC), which is sometimes asserted to be non-Indo-European, and at other times to be specifically proto-Iranian. In southern Siberia and Kazakhstan, the Andronovo culture was succeeded by the ] (1500-800 BC), which is sometimes asserted to be non-Indo-European, and at other times to be specifically proto-Iranian.


==References== ==References==

Revision as of 18:51, 8 September 2005

Map of the approximate maximal extent of the Andronovo culture. The formative Sintashta-Petrovka culture is shown in darker red. The location of the earliest spoke-wheeled chariot finds is indicated in purple. Adjacent and overlapping cultures (Afanasevo culture, Srubna culture, BMAC) are shown in green.

The Andronovo culture is a cover term for a group of Bronze Age cultures of southern Siberia and Central Asia, ca. 2300 BC–1000 BC. It is probably better termed an archaeological complex or archaeological horizon. The name derives from the village of Andronovo (55°53′N 55°42′E / 55.883°N 55.700°E / 55.883; 55.700), where in 1914, several graves were discovered, with skeletons in crouched positions, buried with richly decorated pottery.

At least four sub-cultures have been since distinguished, during which the culture expands towards the south and the east:

  • Sintashta-Petrovka-Arkaim (Southern Urals, northern Kazakhstan, 2200-1600 BC),
  • Alakul (2100-1400 BC);
  • Fedorovo (1400-1200 BC);
  • Alekseyevka (1200-1000 BC).

The geographical extent of the culture is vast, and difficult to delineate exactly. On its western fringes, it overlaps with the approximately contemporaneous (but not too related) Srubna culture in the Volga-Ural interfluvial; to the east it reaches into the Minusinsk depression, overlapping with the area of the earlier Afanasevo culture; additional sites are scattered as far south as the Koppet Dag (Turkmenistan), the Pamir (Tajikistan) and the Tian Shan (Kyrgyzstan). The northern boundary vaguely corresponds to the beginning the Taiga.

They mined deposits of copper ore in the Altai Mountains and lived in villages of as many as ten sunken log cabin houses measuring up to 30m by 60m in size. Burials were made in stone cists or stone enclosures with buried timber chambers.

In other regards, the economy was pastoral, based on horses and cattle, but also sheep and goats.

File:Arqaim.jpg
Arkaim in Russia is believed to have been constructed by Sintashta-Petrovka tribes some 4000 years ago.

The Andronovo culture has been strongly associated with early Indo-Iranian culture. In particular, it is credited with the invention of the spoke-wheeled chariot around 2000 BC; Di Cosmo (p. 903) referring to finds related to the Andronovo culture from "as early as 2026 B.C."

Sintashta is a site on the upper Ural River. It is famed for its grave-offerings, particularly chariot burials. These inhumations were in kurgans and included all or parts of animals (horse and dog) deposited into the barrow. Sintashta is often pointed to as the premier proto-Indo-Iranian site, and that the language spoken was still in the Proto-Indo-Iranian stage. There are similar sites "in the Volga-Ural steppe" (Mallory).

In southern Siberia and Kazakhstan, the Andronovo culture was succeeded by the Karasuk culture (1500-800 BC), which is sometimes asserted to be non-Indo-European, and at other times to be specifically proto-Iranian.

References

See also

External link

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