The Occupation History of the Southern Eurasis Steppe During the Holocene: Chronology, the Calibration Curve and Methodological Problems of the Scythian Chronology

Abstract

This article is devoted to the chronology of the occupation of the Southern steppe regions of Eurasia during the Holocene based on radiocarbon data. The steppe regions of the European and Asian steppe are compared. The main attention is given to the southern Siberia and Central Asia regions. These areas are typical inner regions not influenced by the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans. These locations and their environment impact on the development of ancient populations. On the contrary, for the European steppe the occupation of these regions in the Holocene began only in the Eneolithic epoch when the first ancient nomads penetrated from other territories and the more intensive occupation was seen during the Scythian time. Such phenomenon can be connected to the environmental changes which made the territories very attractive for a nomadic economy. The character of the calibration curve confirms the abruptness of the environment changes about 4600 BP and 2600 BP.