How Asian nomadic herders built new Bronze Age cultures

BIG MOVES  Ancient DNA indicates horse-riding pastoralists called the Yamnaya made two long-distance migrations around 5,000 years ago. One trip may have shaped Europe’s ancient Corded Ware culture, while the other launched central Asia’s Afanasievo culture. Mesa Schumacher

In wagons and on horses, Yamnaya pastoralists left their genetic mark from Ireland to China 

Nomadic herders living on western Asia’s hilly grasslands made a couple of big moves east and west around 5,000 years ago. These were not typical, back-and-forth treks from one seasonal grazing spot to another. These people blazed new trails.

A technological revolution had transformed travel for ancient herders around that time. Of course they couldn’t make online hotel reservations. Trip planners would have searched in vain for a Steppe Depot stocked with essential tools and supplies. The closest thing to a traveler’s pit stop was a mountain stream and a decent grazing spot for cattle. Yet, unlike anyone before, these hardy people had the means to move — wheels, wagons and horses.

Here’s how the journeys may have played out: [...] Science News


Actualización. Cómo los pastores nómadas asiáticos construyeron nuevas culturas en la Edad del Bronce 
El análisis de ADN antiguo indica que los pastores a caballo de la cultura Yamna hicieron dos migraciones de larga distancia hace unos 5.000 años. Un viaje pudo haber dado forma a la cultura de la Cerámica Cordada en Europa, mientras que el otro desarrolló la cultura Afanasievo en Asia central.

Los pastores nómadas que vivieron en las praderas montañosas de Asia occidental hicieron un par de grandes movimientos hacia el este y el oeste hace unos 5.000 años. Estas no eran las típicas caminatas de ida y vuelta desde un lugar de pastoreo estacional a otro. Estas gentes abrieron nuevos caminos...