Social and Cultural Dynamics in the Neolithic of Baikal-Yenisey Siberia: problems, hypotheses and facts

An assessment was made of the possibilities of using burial complexes to study social and cultural dynamics in the Neolithic of Baikal-Yenisey Siberia (~8.6–5 ka cal BP). The cultural-chronological scheme developed for the Middle Holocene of the Cis-Baikal as a result of the implementation of the Ba...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ivan M. Berdnikov, Natalia B. Sokolova
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: State institution «Tatarstan Аcademy of Sciences» 2023-08-01
Series:Археология евразийских степей
Subjects:
Online Access:https://evrazstep.ru/index.php/aes/article/view/1067
_version_ 1797351453431431168
author Ivan M. Berdnikov
Natalia B. Sokolova
author_facet Ivan M. Berdnikov
Natalia B. Sokolova
author_sort Ivan M. Berdnikov
collection DOAJ
description An assessment was made of the possibilities of using burial complexes to study social and cultural dynamics in the Neolithic of Baikal-Yenisey Siberia (~8.6–5 ka cal BP). The cultural-chronological scheme developed for the Middle Holocene of the Cis-Baikal as a result of the implementation of the Baikal Archaeological Project (BAP) is analyzed. It is concluded that the selective geographical coverage and insufficient attention to the materials of the campsites limited the possibilities of interpreting the BAP results and led to the creation of not quite correct periodization and the artificial phenomenon of hiatus, characterized by the absence of formal burials in the Middle Neolithic. The evolutionist approach of the BAP determined the nature of the concept, which implies a predominantly endogenous development of the Cis-Baikal cultures and does not take into account external factors. Based upon the correlation data of materials from burials and campsites of Baikal-Yenisey Siberia (which in the Neolithic was a single cultural area), the authors propose an alternative view of the dynamics of societies and cultures of local hunter-gatherers. According to it, there are four events that led to significant changes and three transitions, during which one or another cultural pattern was formed, have been identified. At the same time, the authors call for abandoning the use of the concept of “Late Mesolithic” for the beginning of Middle Holocene and propose to combine it with the Early Neolithic and we also make our proposals for filling the Middle Neolithic hiatus.
first_indexed 2024-03-08T13:00:40Z
format Article
id doaj.art-c1ab5850499544b9847f311bea7f7212
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2587-6112
2618-9488
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-08T13:00:40Z
publishDate 2023-08-01
publisher State institution «Tatarstan Аcademy of Sciences»
record_format Article
series Археология евразийских степей
spelling doaj.art-c1ab5850499544b9847f311bea7f72122024-01-19T10:57:43ZengState institution «Tatarstan Аcademy of Sciences»Археология евразийских степей2587-61122618-94882023-08-01417419310.24852/2587-6112.2023.4.174.191Social and Cultural Dynamics in the Neolithic of Baikal-Yenisey Siberia: problems, hypotheses and factsIvan M. Berdnikov0Natalia B. Sokolova1Irkutsk State University. Karl Marx St., 1, Irkutsk, 664003, Russian FederationIrkutsk State University. Karl Marx St., 1, Irkutsk, 664003, Russian FederationAn assessment was made of the possibilities of using burial complexes to study social and cultural dynamics in the Neolithic of Baikal-Yenisey Siberia (~8.6–5 ka cal BP). The cultural-chronological scheme developed for the Middle Holocene of the Cis-Baikal as a result of the implementation of the Baikal Archaeological Project (BAP) is analyzed. It is concluded that the selective geographical coverage and insufficient attention to the materials of the campsites limited the possibilities of interpreting the BAP results and led to the creation of not quite correct periodization and the artificial phenomenon of hiatus, characterized by the absence of formal burials in the Middle Neolithic. The evolutionist approach of the BAP determined the nature of the concept, which implies a predominantly endogenous development of the Cis-Baikal cultures and does not take into account external factors. Based upon the correlation data of materials from burials and campsites of Baikal-Yenisey Siberia (which in the Neolithic was a single cultural area), the authors propose an alternative view of the dynamics of societies and cultures of local hunter-gatherers. According to it, there are four events that led to significant changes and three transitions, during which one or another cultural pattern was formed, have been identified. At the same time, the authors call for abandoning the use of the concept of “Late Mesolithic” for the beginning of Middle Holocene and propose to combine it with the Early Neolithic and we also make our proposals for filling the Middle Neolithic hiatus.https://evrazstep.ru/index.php/aes/article/view/1067archaeologybaikal-yenisey siberianeolithichunter-gatherersburial traditionspotteryradiocarbon datingsocial and cultural dynamics
spellingShingle Ivan M. Berdnikov
Natalia B. Sokolova
Social and Cultural Dynamics in the Neolithic of Baikal-Yenisey Siberia: problems, hypotheses and facts
Археология евразийских степей
archaeology
baikal-yenisey siberia
neolithic
hunter-gatherers
burial traditions
pottery
radiocarbon dating
social and cultural dynamics
title Social and Cultural Dynamics in the Neolithic of Baikal-Yenisey Siberia: problems, hypotheses and facts
title_full Social and Cultural Dynamics in the Neolithic of Baikal-Yenisey Siberia: problems, hypotheses and facts
title_fullStr Social and Cultural Dynamics in the Neolithic of Baikal-Yenisey Siberia: problems, hypotheses and facts
title_full_unstemmed Social and Cultural Dynamics in the Neolithic of Baikal-Yenisey Siberia: problems, hypotheses and facts
title_short Social and Cultural Dynamics in the Neolithic of Baikal-Yenisey Siberia: problems, hypotheses and facts
title_sort social and cultural dynamics in the neolithic of baikal yenisey siberia problems hypotheses and facts
topic archaeology
baikal-yenisey siberia
neolithic
hunter-gatherers
burial traditions
pottery
radiocarbon dating
social and cultural dynamics
url https://evrazstep.ru/index.php/aes/article/view/1067
work_keys_str_mv AT ivanmberdnikov socialandculturaldynamicsintheneolithicofbaikalyeniseysiberiaproblemshypothesesandfacts
AT nataliabsokolova socialandculturaldynamicsintheneolithicofbaikalyeniseysiberiaproblemshypothesesandfacts