The Evolution of the Yamnaya Culture

The ultimate range of the peoples considered to belong to Yamnaya culture in the archaeological record, cover such a vast distance of land that we cannot standardise all kurgen pit graves as having uniform characteristics. For example, there are differences in the specific natures of the pit graves in the eastern reaches when compared to the western reaches. Many Yamnaya burials saw the deceased covered in Oka - ground minerals and rocks which is often a vivid red colour. It is possible that those individuals covered with Oka were significant members of society or that the Oka is spiritually significant.