Syalakh culture


Syalakh culture is an early Neolithic culture of Yakutia and Eastern Siberia. It formed in the middle Lena river basin in the V — IV millenniums BCE as a result of the migration of tribes from Transbaikalia, which assimilated the local Sumnagin culture that was preceramic.
The culture got its name from Lake Syalakh, located 90 km from the town of Zhigansk in Yakutia. The first archaeological excavations in this area were conducted under the direction of A. P. Okladnikov in the 1940s.
The sites of the carriers of Syalakh culture are marked by the first appearance of polished stone tools, as well as the earliest ceramics. Bone harpoons, and bow and arrows have also been found.
More than 50 sites of the Syalakh culture are known. In the decorative arts, a central place is occupied by the images of moose, which reflect mythological representation.
The Syalakh culture was followed by the Belkachi culture.
According to the linguists, the most likely hypothesis is that representatives of this culture spoke one of the Dené–Yeniseian languages.
According to Pavel Flegontov et al.,
The ancient Paleo-Eskimo peoples were probably involved in these migrations.

Literature