Karasuk culture

The Karassuk culture ( also Karasuk culture russian Карасукская культура, after Karassuk, a left tributary of the Yenisei River ) was about the end of the second millennium BC to the middle Yenisei, distributed around Minusinsk and in Khakassia in southern Siberia. In a broader sense, simultaneous discoveries from the area between the Yenisei and the Aral Sea are grouped under this name. The Karassuk culture is commonly associated with the proto -Altaic language group. It is believed also that the Karasuk culture could have been the starting point of the first westward migration of some proto- Turkic.

Geographical location

The Karassuk culture replaced the local shape of the Andronovo culture, from which it clearly differs especially in the metal goods, which was marked by influences from Mongolia and northern China. The knives are those of Anyang related type standard in China.

Culture

The ceramic is more in the tradition of the Andronovo culture. It is unclear at present, the inclusion of some too late Bronze Age sites, possibly formed a synchronous, independent culture. The characteristic pottery shows references to the West Siberian cultures as the Irmen - culture and consists of bowl - to topartigen vessels with rounded wall and the remote edge of the hopper. They have as an ornament on horizontal grooves encircling impression series and is reminiscent of the Andronovo culture complex incised lines.

The settlements of the Karassuk culture usually comprise less than ten pit houses that were located in the southwestern Torgaschak Khakassia around a central square. It can not be excluded that the settlements were partially used only seasonally. The economy was probably dominated by livestock; this show animal bone finds from settlements. Findings from settlements show, moreover, that the bronze and copper metallurgy was operated.

The mass of the sites consists of necropolis. The grave sites included each with up to three stone boxes, which were covered with wooden planks and stone slabs and surrounded by a square stone enclosure. Partially flat kurgans were heaped over the graves. The dead were buried in a crouched position; the head pointing to the northwest. One or two vessels, bronze products, and bone combs were the grave goods. The grave goods show no social differences as in the preceding time.

On the Karassuk culture was followed by the Tagar culture whose support further used necropolis of Karassuk culture, which could indicate a population continuity.