Pages: 277-284

The paper deals with cranial remains from the cemeteries of the Yamnaya (Pit-grave) and Sintashta archaeological cultures investigated in the areas directly adjacent to the fortified settlement Arkaim, which belongs to the Chelyabinsk State Historical and Cultural Reserve «Arkaim» and the Kizil Valley. Each sample has its unique morphological features. Based on the similarity of some features, the authors suggest a probable genetic link between the carriers of both cultures, however this relationship is not linear. These two groups of people belong to different archaeological cultures. Morphological differences indicate a chronological gap between the groups which was required for the formation of the specific image of the Sintashta residents. Trans-Urals’ steppe exploration by the people of the Yamnaya (Pit-grave) culture was apparently accompanied by a certain cross-breeding with indigenous inhabitants of the territory, i. e. Botai Late Copper Age culture.

Keywords: South Ural, Bronze Age, Arkaim, Yamnaya (Pit-grave) culture, Sintashta culture, morphological analysis, forensic facial reconstruction.

Information about authors:

Alexander Khokhlov (Samara, Russian Federation). Doctor of Historical Sciences. Samara State University of Social Sciences and Education. M. Gorky St., 65/67, Samara, 443099, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
Egor Kitov (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Lenin Ave., 32-A, Moscow, 119334, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
Aleksey Nechvaloda (Ufa, Russian Federation). Institute of History, Language and Literature, Ufa Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Oktyabr Ave., 71, Republic of Bashkortostan, Ufa, 450054, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]