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Archaeology of the Eurasian Steppes and Mongolia

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Archaeology of the Eurasian Steppes and Mongolia AN39CH28-Hanks ARI 8 September 2010 14:54 Archaeology of the Eurasian Steppes and Mongolia Bryan Hanks Department of Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260; email: [email protected] Annu. Rev. Anthropol. 2010. 39:469–86 Key Words First published online as a Review in Advance on pastoralism, horse domestication, warfare, steppe empires, complex June 21, 2010 societies The Annual Review of Anthropology is online at anthro.annualreviews.org Abstract This article’s doi: by University of Sheffield on 04/28/11. For personal use only. International interest in the prehistory and archaeology of the Eurasian 10.1146/annurev.anthro.012809.105110 steppes and Mongolia has increased dramatically since the collapse of Copyright c 2010 by Annual Reviews. the Soviet Union in 1991. This article surveys important new evi- All rights reserved dence and interpretations that have emerged from several collaborative Annu. Rev. Anthropol. 2010.39:469-486. Downloaded from www.annualreviews.org 0084-6570/10/1021-0469$20.00 projects in the past two decades. A particular emphasis is placed on is- sues that are crucial to regional studies in the steppe ecological zone; however, it also is suggested that steppe prehistory must come to play a more significant role in developing more comprehensive understand- ings of world prehistory. Key developments connected with the steppe include the diffusion of anatomically modern humans, horse domestica- tion, spoke-wheeled chariot and cavalry warfare, early metal production and trade, Indo-European languages, and the rise of nomadic states and empires. In addition to these important issues, thoughts are offered on some of the current challenges that face archaeological scholarship in this region of the world. 469 AN39CH28-Hanks ARI 8 September 2010 14:54 INTRODUCTION and other regional languages. This situation has changed substantially in the past two It is an unfortunate fact that, of the numerous decades as important new publications in other introductory textbooks published on world pre- languages have been produced. Many of these history and archaeology in the Anglo-American have stemmed from productive international market, few if any provide any detail on the conferences held in the territories of the former Eurasian steppe region. In fact, if one glances Soviet Union, Europe, Asia, and the United at the world maps in any of these books it States (e.g., Boyle et al. 2002, Bemmann et al. would seem that nothing significant to pre- 2009, Hanks & Linduff 2009, Jones-Bley & history had ever occurred in the northern Zdanovich 2002, Levine et al. 1999, Mei & Eurasian region, including the vast steppe zone. Rehren 2009, Peterson et al. 2006b, Popova Notable exceptions to this include well-known et al. 2007). What has emerged from this new Upper Paleolithic sites in Eastern Europe such scholarship is a clear sign that the archaeology as Mezhirich and Kostenki and sites in north- of the Eurasian steppe zone contributes in eastern Eurasia such as Mal’ta and Dyuktai significant ways to both regional scholarship Cave (Figure 1. Although this limited view of and broader anthropological interpretations of the archaeology and prehistory of the steppe re- human change and development in the past. As gion may have been acceptable at the height of we enter the twenty-first century, the steppe re- the Cold War era, we have, since 1991, been liv- gion and adjacent territories must figure more ing in a very different geo-political atmosphere. prominently in the pursuit of refined models Archaeological field work in the regions of the and theories for the human past and contribute former Soviet Union has been a distinct reality more visibly to the development of global for many international scholars, and their col- heritage. One important, recent contribution laborative programs of research have produced to this literature has been the publication of significant new discoveries. Nevertheless, the Eurasian steppe developments within com- data, theories, and models stemming from such parative discussions on early social complexity work have circulated primarily among special- and the emergence of early states (Grinin ists of these regions and have infrequently en- et al. 2004, 2008). These publications, part of tered the mainstream consciousness of archae- a series titled, “Social Evolution and History ologists working in other parts of the world. Monographs,” have been published in Russia One need only turn to the textbooks used in in English and have included chapter contribu- survey courses on world prehistory for clear ev- tions by several international scholars. Other idence of this notion. by University of Sheffield on 04/28/11. For personal use only. publications, notably those by Nikolai Kradin, Regrettably, this problem extends beyond have emphasized the importance of steppe pas- the classroom and is of more serious concern toralist sociopolitical developments and offered in terms of comparative understandings of Annu. Rev. Anthropol. 2010.39:469-486. Downloaded from www.annualreviews.org important new models that contribute produc- the various trajectories of development that tively to comparative discussions on anthro- have shaped the human past and more recent pological archaeology (Kradin 2002, Kradin present. For example, anthropological archae- et al. 2003). Such publications are forcing the ology in North America, which has favored door open to broader theoretical discussions global comparative study, has rarely enlisted of Eurasian steppe archaeology and history. case studies from the vast steppe region in the As a specific aim, this article offers a concise study of the evolution of village and urban life, chronological survey of several recent projects the emergence of complex societies, innovation and publications in Eurasian steppe prehistory, and diffusion of new technologies, conflict starting with anatomically modern human set- and warfare, and the rise of early states. This tlement in the Upper Paleolithic (∼40,000 B.P.) exclusion has occurred for various reasons; one and extending through to the Xiongnu of the most significant reasons is the earlier lack confederation (∼155 A.D.) (Table 1). The of publications in languages other than Russian 470 Hanks AN39CH28-Hanks ARI 8 September 2010 14:54 Table 1 General chronology of periods and archaeological sites discussed in text Archaeological period Approximate date range Key developments discussed Upper Paleolithic 46,000 to 10,000 B.P. Peopling of northern Eurasia, accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) dating Mesolithic-Early Neolithic 10,000 to 6000 B.C. Complex hunter-gatherer adaptations Neolithic-Eneolithic 10,000 to 3500 B.C. Horse domestication, Indo-European Languages Bronze Age 3500 to 1200 B.C. Metallurgy, spoke-wheeled chariots, inter-regional trade, stone monuments Final Bronze–Early Iron 1200 to 300 B.C. Mobile pastoralism, large-scale kurgans, cavalry warfare Age Xiongnu Polities 500 B.C.toA.D. 155 Regional surveys, China-steppe interaction, elite tombs selected topics and sites covered are restricted tional projects are based there. Thus, a variety to the grassland steppe and adjacent arid steppe of new evidence is emerging that is having and forest-steppe ecological zones. Owing to a clear impact on how prehistoric and early space limitations, it is not possible to discuss historic developments in the Mongolian region more than two or three case studies for each relate to adjacent territories and developments defined chronological phase. Therefore, all the in China, Central Asia, and Russia. The article case studies chosen represent important recent concludes with a more personal reflection research undertaken in the steppe region by in- on the changing nature of scholarship in the ternational teams and an overview of new data steppe region and outlines some of the critical and interpretations emerging from such work. issues that continue to challenge research in More specifically, projects that are relatively the region. well published in English have been selected to be useful to nonregional specialists. Unfor- THE EURASIAN STEPPES tunately, presenting such a broad chronological Upper Paleolithic overview severely limits the space available for (∼46,000 to 10,000 B.P.) more detailed discussion of one or more of the periods; however, the aim here is to provide a Archaeological evidence from the vast steppe point of departure for nonspecialists and an up- territory has played an important role in our to-date outline of the current state of archae- understanding of late glacial environmental by University of Sheffield on 04/28/11. For personal use only. ological research in the steppe region that is change and the spread of anatomically mod- international in scope. Scholars seeking more ern humans throughout northern Eurasia. Up- in-depth theoretical treatments and culture his- per Paleolithic habitation sites in the East- tory overviews should consult the numerous ern European plain associated with the Eastern Annu. Rev. Anthropol. 2010.39:469-486. Downloaded from www.annualreviews.org conference volumes and other more recent Gravettian complex (e.g., Mezhirich, Kostenki, publications that focus on specific regions and DolnıV´ estonice)ˇ have become well known to time periods cited throughout the article. foreign scholarship (Hoffecker 2002). Archae- The first part of the following discussion ological evidence from these sites has indi- chronicles recent discoveries in the greater cated an amazing adaptation to the inhospitable
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