In Search of the Indo-Europeans: Language, Archaeology and Myth

Historical evidence show that the Proto-Indo-Europeans extended from “Northern Europe on the west across the Pontic-Caspian and possibly into Southern Siberia.” According to Mallory, Proto-Indo-Europeans may have occupied the “region between the Dneiper river on the west and the Ural on the east” around fifth-third millennia BC. Pontic-Caspian settlements were found along river valleys and lakes for the purpose of fishing. Various cultures such as the Bug-Dneister, Sursko-Dneister and the Dneiper-Donets are evidence of Neolithic expansionism seen with hunting, fishing and domestic animals for farm communities. During the Eneolithic Period, Neolithic technology through the use of copper appeared along the west Pontic-Caspian. Eneolithic cultures evolved into the Early Bronze Age around 2500 BC and coincide with the existence of the Indo-Europeans. At the end of the period, the Yamnaya culture occupied the area, thus the emergence of the Indo-Europeans. This culture is the “final Eneolithic culture of the Pontic-Caspian region.” Burials are evidence for the Yamnaya culture seen along the entire Pontic-Caspian in the west. Stockbreeding, as well as horseriding, assisted in the expansion of settlements in the Yamnaya culture.