Danuta Żurkiewicz

Mitochondrial genomes reveal an east to west cline of steppe ancestry in Corded Ware populations

From around 4,000 to 2,000 BC the forest-steppe north-western Pontic region was occupied by people who shared a nomadic lifestyle, pastoral economy and barrow burial rituals. It has been shown that these groups, especially those associated with the Yamnaya culture, played an important role in shaping the gene pool of Bronze Age Europeans, which extends into present-day patterns of genetic variation in Europe. Although the genetic impact of these migrations from the forest-steppe Pontic region into central Europe have previously been addressed in several studies, the contribution of mitochondrial lineages to the people associated with the Corded Ware culture in the eastern part of the North European Plain remains contentious. In this study, we present mitochondrial genomes from 23 Late Eneolithic and Bronze Age individuals, including representatives of the north-western Pontic region and the Corded Ware culture from the eastern part of the North European Plain. We identified, for the first time in ancient populations, the rare mitochondrial haplogroup X4 in two Bronze Age Catacomb culture-associated individuals. Genetic similarity analyses show close maternal genetic affinities between populations associated with both eastern and Baltic Corded Ware culture, and the Yamnaya horizon, in contrast to larger genetic differentiation between populations associated with western Corded Ware culture and the Yamnaya horizon. This indicates that females with steppe ancestry contributed to the formation of populations associated with the eastern Corded Ware culture while more local people, likely of Neolithic farmer ancestry, contributed to the formation of populations associated with western Corded Ware culture.

Status of Animals in Funerary Rituals of Founders and Users of Ceremonial Centres of the Yampil Barrow Cemetery Complex(4th/3rd-2nd Millenium BC). A Zooarchaeological Perspective

Abstract This study discusses the issue of ‘animal deposits’ in funerary practices of early barrow communities settling the Black Sea steppe and forest-steppe in the 4rd/3nd-2nd millennium. The focus of analytical studies is directly on the Yampil Barrow Cemetery Complex situated along the left bank of the Dniester, between the Murafa and Markivka rivers, or what is the Yampil Region (Vinnitsa Oblast) now. The chorological system developed by N.Ya. Merpert in his “Yamnaya Cultural-Historical Area” places this area within the Southwestern Variant (between the Southern Bug and Danube rivers) as the Yampil (Podolia) territorial centre. From the perspective of the research programme exploring the ‘bio-cultural border land between the West and East of Europe’, the Yampil Barrow Cemetery Complex is of special scholarly interest because of its western most location on the Dniester route of exchange for cultural patterns developed by communities settling the drainage basins of the Black and Baltic seas. The investigations followed the excavations of 23 barrows between 1984 and 2014.

Ritual position and “tattooing ” techniques in the funeral practices of the “barrow cultures” of the Pontic-Caspian steppe / forest steppe area. Porohy 3A, Yampil Region, Vinnytsia Oblast : specialist analysis research perspectives

Abstract The present paper discusses the results of an interdisciplinary study of human remains in the form of two ulnae from a female skeleton found in grave 10, Porohy 3A site (Middle Dniester Area), dated to Early Bronze Age: 2650-2500 BC. The paper describes the technical aspects of applying the decorations revealed in the examination of the aforementioned bones.

Builders and Users of Ritual Centres, Yampil Barrow Complex: Studies of Diet Based on Stable Carbon and Nitrogen Isotope Composition

Abstract The paper presents δ13C and δ15N isotope content measurements in human bones from 16 graves, being part of the Yampil Barrow Complex. From the results, conclusions may be drawn about the diet of barrow builders and users. It was based on vegetable foodstuffs and characterised by a varied share of terrestrial animal meat, depending on the period. High δ13C values suggest a share of C4-type plants in the diet, possibly millet.

The Eneolithic Ritual Barrow Complex in Prydnistrianske, Vinnystia Oblast: Magnetometric Surveys

Abstract The article presents the results of magnetometric surveys carried out in the village of Pridnistryanske on two barrow sites. In the site 1, the principal objectives were to capture the course of barrow ditches - not covered by the excavations - and investigate the space between the mounds. On site 2 relying on photographs was a group of nearby barrows selected for geophysical investigations.

Preservation of ancient DNA in human bones from the eneolithic and Bronze Age kurgan cemeteres in Yampil region, Ukraine

Abstract Ancient DNA was analyzed in altogether 28 Late Eneolithic and Bronze Age human skeletons form 4 sites in southern Ukraine. More than 0,3% of human DNA was preserved only in 13 skeletons. The results of our analyses provide evidence that recovery of DNA molecules suitable for genetic analyses is more dependent on the specificity of the archaeological site and is not strongly correlated with particular environmental factors.

Tripolye (Gordineşti Group), Yamnaya and Catacomb Culture Cemeteries, Prydnistryanske, Site 1, Yampil Region, Vinnitsa Oblast: An Archaeometric and Chronometric Description and a Taxonomic and Topogenetic Discussion

Abstract The paper presents the results of excavations and analytical studies regarding the taxonomic classification of a unique funeral site associated with the societies of early ‘barrow cultures’ of the north-western Black Sea Coast in the 4th-3rd millennium BC. The study discusses the ceremonial centres of the Tripolye culture-Gordineşti group, as well as Yamnaya and Catacomb cultures.

Eneolithic, yamnaya and noua culture cemeteries from the first half of the 3rd and the middle of the 2nd Millennium BC, Porohy, Site 3a, Yampil Region, Vinnitsa oblast: archaeometric and chronometric description, ritual and taxonomic-topogenetic identification

Abstract The paper presents the results of excavations and analytical studies regarding the taxonomic classification of a funeral site associated with the societies of ‘barrow cultures’ of the north-western Black Sea Coast in the first half of the 3rd and the middle of the 2nd millennium BC. The study discusses the ceremonial centres of the Eneolithic, Yamnaya and Noua cultures.

ENEOLITHIC, BABYNO AND NOUA CULTURE CEMETERIES, KLEMBIVKA, SITE 1, YAMPIL REGION, VINNITSA OBLAST: ARCHAEOMETRY, TAXONOMY AND TOPOGENETICS

Abstract The paper presents excavation results and analytical studies concerning the taxonomic classification of a funerary site identified with the communities of the ‘barrow cultures’ settling the north-western Black Sea Coast in the first half of the 3rd and the middle of the 2nd millennia BC. The study focuses on the ceremonial centres of the Eneolithic communities of the Babyno and Noua cultures.

Eneolithic, Yamnaya, Catacomb and Babyno culture cemeteries, Pidlisivka, Barrow 1, Yampil region, Vinnitsa oblast: archaeometry, chronometry and taxonomy

Abstract The paper presents excavation results and analytical studies concerning the taxonomic classification of a funerary site identified with the communities of the early ‘barrow cultures’ settling the north-western Black Sea Coast in the 4th/3rd-2nd millennium BC. The study focuses on the ceremonial centres of the Eneolithic, Yamnaya, Catacomb and Babyno cultures.