Disentangling Yamnaya through time and space: a multivariate approach for the definition of regional groups and chronological phases in the Yamnaya cultural horizon (3400-2300 cal BC)

• Applicant: Stefano Palalidis, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Prehistory and World Archaeology
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 547670969

This research project focuses on the Yamnaya cultural horizon, which emerged in the Pontic-Caspian steppe in the late 4th millennium BC and extended eastward and westward until its disappearance in the second half of the 3rd millennium BC. The absolute dating of this culture is debated, with Bayesian modelling suggesting a range of 3400-2300 cal BC. The Yamnaya people practiced mobile pastoralism, and their remains, found in kurgans (burial mounds) and few settlements, offer insight into their way of life. This study primarily relies on analysing their funerary practices, which include single inhumations in simple pits and supine depositions with legs flexed upwards, often marked by ochre. The burial practices, while initially homogeneous, exhibit regional and chronological differentiation. Scholars proposed different models for regional subdivision and periodization, leading to ongoing debates. Regional and chronological differentiations are generally recognised in grave construction elements, burial position and orientation of the deceased, sex ratios, and grave inventory composition. This research project aims to address the lack of agreement in existing models by applying a quantitative approach. It utilizes a large database of 5704 Yamnaya graves, the most extensive to date, to explore spatial and chronological variations. The goal is to develop reliable statistical models through multivariate statistical methods, addressing issues of regional and chronological subdivision. This study challenges the notion of a monolithic Yamnaya cultural horizon and emphasizes differentiation in burial customs. The methodology proposed involves measuring the differentiation in the burial customs using Gower distance and employing spatial and chronological constraints for ordination and hierarchical clustering. The spatial analysis implicates relating geographical and cultural distance between graves, while chronological clustering relies on calibrated radiocarbon dates. The project includes the submission of additional samples for radiocarbon dating to enhance the dataset. The results aim to provide a new understanding of the Yamnaya cultural horizon's transformation over time and space. The overarching objectives of this project include defining and describing regional and chronological groups within the Yamnaya cultural horizon, comparing and assessing the reliability of models. The study expects to offer valuable insights into the Yamnaya culture's complexity and provide a foundation for future interdisciplinary research and archaeological applications. The innovative statistical approach used in this project has the potential to advance archaeological research methodologies and may find applications in studying other cultural contexts.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants