Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Migrations of Early Nomads of the Eurasian Steppe in a Context of Climatic Changes

  • Conference paper
Impact of the Environment on Human Migration in Eurasia

Part of the book series: NATO Science Series: IV: Earth and Environmental Sciences ((NAIV,volume 42))

Abstract

This article is devoted to the periodic migrations of Asian nomads (Saka - Scythians, Hsiung-nu - Huns, Turks and Mongols), which can be traced from the beginning of the first millennium BC up to the 13th century AD according to archaeological and written sources. This correlates with periods of increasing humidity in the steppes during ancient times. While it is difficult to define the reasons for these migrations, it is possible, that climatic changes may have promoted them.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Alekseev, A.Yu. Scythian chronic (Scythian in the 7th-the 4th century BC: historical archaeological review). St.Petersburg: The Hermitage Publishing House, 1992. (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bokovenko, N.A. The Beginning Stage of the Early Nomads Culture: The Sayan-Altai. Leningrad: Nauka, 1986. (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bokovenko, N.A. “To the question about eastern pulses in early scythian culture of the North Black Sea region”. In Scythian and Bosporus. The archeological materials to conferences of memories M.I. Rostovstev. Novocherkassk: 1989. (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bokovenko, N.A. “Scythians in Siberia.” In Nomads of the Eurasian Steppers in the Early Iron Age. Berkeley: Zinat Press, 1995: 253–314.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bokovenko, N.A. “Asian influence on European Scythia.” In Ancient civilizations from Scythia to Siberia. Leiden/ New York: E.J. Brill 1996; 3,1: 97–122.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bokovenko, N.A. The Origin of Horse Riding and the Development of Central Asian Nomadic Riding Harnesses. Kurgans, Ritual Sites, and Settlemens Eurasian Bronze and Iron Age. BAR Interenational Series 890. 2000: 304–310.

    Google Scholar 

  • Borovka, G. Scythian Art. London, 1928.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chlenova N.L., The Karasuk daggers. Moscow: Science, 1976. (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chugunov K., Parzinger H., Nagler A. The elite burial mound of the nomads of the early Scithian time in Tuva. The preliminary results of the field research of the Russian-Germany expedition in 2001. Archaeology, Ethnology and Anthropology of Eurasia. Novosibirsk 2001; 115–124 (in Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Grjaznov, M.P., Arzhan. Leningrad: Science, 1980. (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Grjaznov, M.P., Der Großkurgan von Aran in Tuva, Südsibirien. München: Verlag C.H. Beck 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gumilev L.N., The ancient Turks. Moscow: Science, 1967. (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gumilev L.N. Changes of a climate and migration of nomads. Moscow: Nature, 1967; 4: 44–52. (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Habdulina M.K. “The funeral customs of the population of early iron age of Northern Kazakhstan”. In Early Iron Age and middle ages between Ural and Irtysh. Chelyabinsk: University Press, 1987. (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Iľinskaya, V.A., Terenozhkin, A.I., Scythia 7th-4th centuries BC. Kiev: Science, 1983. (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jettmar, K., Ľart des Steppes. Paris. 1964.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jettmar K. Cross-dating in Central Asia. The Chronology of the Karasuk and the scythian periods. Wiesbaden. Central Asiatic Journal 1970; XIV, 4;.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kilian, M.R., van der Plicht, J. and van Geel, B., 1995. Dating raised bogs: new aspects of AMS 14C wiggle matching, a reservoir effect and climatic change. Quaternary Science Reviews 14: 959–966.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kilunovskya M., Semenov V., The land in the heart of Asia. St.Petersburg: Ego Publ. 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klochko V.M., Murzin V.Ju. “About interaction of a local and import elements of Scythian culture.” In Scythians of the North Black Sea. Kiev, Science, 1987. (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kossak, G. “Von den Anfangen des skytho-iranischen Tierstils. Skythika.” In Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Philosophisch-istorische Klasse. München, 1987; 98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koulkova M.A., Bokovenko N.A., van Geel B., Dergachev V.A., Dirksen V.G., Zaitseva G.I., van der Plicht J. The development of the archaeological cultures and the climatic changes in the Eurasian steppes in the Holocene (Minusinsk hollow). International Conference devoted by the memory of V.A.Gorodtsov;. Moscow 2003; State Historical Museum, 2003: 185–187. (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kovpanenko G.T. “Chervona mogila“at Flyarovka.” In Antiquities of Europe in Scyth-Sarmatian time. Moscow, Science 1984. (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kovpanenko G.T., Gupalo N.D. “Military burial place at Kvitki.” In Arms of Scythians and Sarmatians. Kiev, Science, 1984. (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kulemzin A.M. “About evolution of Tagar daggers”. In News of archaeological laboratory. Kemerovo 1974; 5. (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kurochkin G.N., Subbotin A.V. “The battle socketed-axe with the head of a predatory bird in the Asian and European parts of the Scythian world.” In An antique civilization and barbarous world. Novocherkassk, 1993; 2: 59–64. (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kyzlasov L.R. The Uyuk Kurgan Arzhan and Question of Origin of the Saka Culture. The Soviet archaeology 1977; 2:69–86. (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Levina T.P., Orlova L.A. Climatic rhythms of Holocene of the south of Western Siberia. Geology and geophysics. 1993; 3:38–55. (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Medvedskaya I.N. Chronology of Scythian time and Ancient East. The Soviet archaeology 1992; 3: 86–107. (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mordkovich V.G., Giljarov A.M., Tishkov A.A., Balandin S.A., Destiny of steppes. Novosibirsk: Mangazeja, 1997. (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Murzin V.Yu., Anchient Scythia of Northern Black Sea. Kiev, Science 1984. (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Makhortikh, S.V. Scythians in the Northern Caucasus. Kiev: Science, 1991. (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Majdar M., Monuments to a history and cultures of Mongolia. Moscow: Art, 1981. (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rostovtzeff M., The Animal Style in South Russia and Chine. Princeton Monographs in Art and Archaeology 29. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1929.

    Google Scholar 

  • Terenozhkin, A.I., The Cimmerians. Kiev: Science, 1976. (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • van Geel, B., Buurman, J. and Waterbolk, H.T. Archeological and paleoecological indications for an abrupt climate change in The Netherlands and evidence for climatological teleconnections around 2650 BP. Journal of Quaternary Science 11. 1996: 451–460.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Geel, B. and Renssen, H. Abrupt climate change around 2,650 BP in North-West Europe: evidence for climatic teleconnections and a tentative explanation. In: Water, Environment and Society in Times of Climatic Change. Dordrecht, 1998: 21–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Volkov, V.V., Deer Stones of Mongolia. Ulan-Bator: Science, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  • Werner, J., Beiträge zurArchologie des Attila Reiches. München, 1956.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zaitseva, G.I., Vasiliev S.S., Marsadolov L.S., J. van der Plicht, Sementsov A.A., Dergachev V.A. and Lebedeva L.M. A tree-ring and 14C chronology of the key Sayan-Altai monuments. Radiocarbon 40: 571–580, 1998.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zaseckaja I.P., Bokovenko N.A. “The Origin of Hunnish Cauldrons in East-Europe.” In The archaeology of the Steppes. Methods and strategies. Napoli: Instituto Universitaro Orientale, XLIV; 1994: 701–724.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Institute for the History of Material Culture Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia

    N. A. Bokovenko

Authors
  1. N. A. Bokovenko
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Glasgow, UK

    E. Marian Scott

  2. State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia

    Andrey Yu. Alekseev

  3. Institute of History of Material Culture, RAS, St. Petersburg, Russia

    Ganna Zaitseva

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2004 Kluwer Academic Publishers

About this paper

Cite this paper

Bokovenko, N.A. (2004). Migrations of Early Nomads of the Eurasian Steppe in a Context of Climatic Changes. In: Marian Scott, E., Alekseev, A.Y., Zaitseva, G. (eds) Impact of the Environment on Human Migration in Eurasia. NATO Science Series: IV: Earth and Environmental Sciences, vol 42. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-2656-0_3

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation