Afanasyevskaya culture

The Afanasyevskaya culture was a prehistoric culture that existed in the 2nd millennium BCE, primarily identified in the Minusinsk Basin on the Yenisey River. This culture is characterized by its burials, which were initially marked by stone circles symbolizing the sun and later evolved into barrows (large earth mounds) also encircled by stone slabs.12

Key features of the Afanasyevskaya culture include:
* Pottery: Early graves contained elongated, spherical pottery vessels with pointed bases decorated with herringbone patterns. Later graves featured flat-bottomed pots, often associated with sedentary pastoralist lifestyles.2
* Material Culture: Numerous stone and bone objects were found. While copper objects were rare, their presence marked the beginning of the Metal Age in the region.2

The Afanasyevskaya culture was succeeded by the Andronovo culture in the 2nd and 1st millennia BCE.12