George wrote:
<<And there is an interesting paper by Michail Turetskyi of Samara which
tells us that the latest calibrated radiocarbon dates for the "developed"
Yamna culture on the Middle Volga point to the period 3250-2750 BC. Thus
"Early Yamna"
would begin ca. 3500 BC.>>
But I think Turetskyi is saying something else in the abstract about "early
Yamna" that is more significant. One thing he does is identify the earliest
Yamna ("Kurgan") materials with Repinskaya materials found in the "North
Sub-Caspian". He originates these early stages of Yamna not with the Volga,
but it would seem with points east, and apparently with no evidence of
metallurgy.
This is from the piece you mention:
"The earliest graves of ancient-Yamnaya culture in the Middle-Volga region
can be dated by the first half of the III mill. B.C. ≠ middle part of the III
mill. B.C. At this time separated sites or elements of traditions of
Repinskaya culture appears on the broad territory from the Dnieper to the
Volga including the steppe Trans-Volga region as a result of migrations and
diffusions. Material of Repinskaya culture from sites of North Sub-Caspian
and funeral complexes of Yamnaya culture of north-steppe Samara Trans-Volga
can be with great degree of confidence interpreted AS OF THE SAME CULTURE.
(my caps)
"This resemblance is revealed by typological proximity of ceramics,
settlement and funeral sites. It is the clearest indicator of belonging to
the early stage of Yamnaya culture.
"There are no metal tools in numerous interments of this period. Scanty
number of early Yamnaya burials means that Yamnaya tribes in the Middle-Volga
region are not native. ... Predominant part of Yamnaya funerals of Samara
Trans-Volga belongs to the late stage."
Steve