Yamnaya Kalmykia *Jason* RISE550

The Yamnaya were a nomadic people who thrived on the vast Eurasian steppes between the Black and Caspian Seas during the Copper and Bronze Ages. Known for their distinctive pit graves, often filled with ochre, they were skilled horse riders and herders. Their culture is believed to have had a profound impact on the genetic makeup of modern Europeans, as their descendants spread across the continent and beyond. The Yamnaya are also considered strong candidates for the Proto-Indo-Europeans, the ancestral language family of many modern tongues.