The Iron Age Steppe and the Emergence of the Scythians
Tides of History
Cultural Shifts and Depopulation in the Pontic Caspian Steppe
The expansion of the Sintashta culture brought upheaval and violence to regions far beyond the steppe, leading to a shift in settlement patterns with the emergence of permanent settlements for horse riding pastoralists. This change was fueled by climatic shifts, warmer and wetter conditions that allowed for more intensive exploitation of favored areas, resulting in population visibility. However, around 1200 BC, a dramatic depopulation wave swept the Pontic Caspian steppe, forcing people to abandon settlements due to unfavorable conditions like flooding and disappearing woodlands. This prompted pastoralists to turn to domesticated crops or move in search of viable pastures, increasing competition for resources in optimal areas.
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