Political economic reorganization among non-state societies: A case study using Middle Holocene mortuary data from the Cis-Baikal, Russia

Growing Up in the Cis-Baikal Region of Siberia, Russia

“…Potentially an earlier cessation of weaning (three years) negatively affected the health of these individuals. Nonetheless, a difference in the cessation of weaning between the LN and EBA Ust'-Ida I individuals was not entirely surprising as previous studies have suggested the two groups are culturally distinct (Bazaliiskii 2010;Shepard 2012).…”

“…The Isakovo and Glazkovo graves were parallel to the Angara River with Isakovo individuals buried with their head pointing upstream, and Glazkovo individuals buried with their head pointing downstream. Grave goods belonging to either mortuary tradition included green nephrite knives, harpoons, bone composite tools, pendants, anthropomorphic figurines, needle boxes, lithic and bone harpoons, clay vessels, bifacial stone knives as well as bronze and copper objects in Glazkovo graves (Bazaliiskii 2010;Shepard 2012;Weber et al 2002).…”

“…Exchange and food sharing in Cis-Baikal Shepard (2012) studied changes in political strategies among the Middle Holocene Cis-Baikal hunter-gatherers by examining burial treatments. His findings imply a connection between funerary treatment and political life through the display of grave goods.…”

Prehistoric Mongolian Archaeology in the Early 21st Century: Developments in the Steppe and Beyond

“…Small bronze and copper objects entered the repertoire of these communities as tools, but more frequently as objects of body adornment such as earrings, buttons, or clothing decorations. This is perhaps a new style linked to political display in the early Bronze Age (Shepard 2012), which is seen in many regions of Eurasia.…”

“…Northern Mongolia contains little evidence for the elaborate adornments and extensive cemeteries that are found in the river valleys of the Baikal region of Siberia (Bazaliiskii 2003). One can only assume that the combination of infrequent contact between major watersheds and lower population densities along Mongolia's relatively smaller rivers meant that those populations were not drawn into the body and burial social displays of the Baikal region (Shepard 2012) until the Bronze Age.…”