Why are consonant clusters especially notable in Nivkh and Itelmen?

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Paleo-Siberian languages Distribution of Paleo-Siberian languages.

In the study of Paleo-Siberian languages, the presence of complex consonant clusters is a defining phonological characteristic for most of the group, with the exception of Yukaghir.1

These clusters are considered especially notable in Nivkh and Itelmen because they allow for a high density of consonants within a single word, often resulting in sequences that are phonetically dense. Examples of this complexity include:1

Nivkh: tfyfř (hammer)1
Itelmen: ktxam (bone)1

These clusters, alongside other features like postvelar consonants and vowel harmony, distinguish the phonological systems of these languages.1