Srubnaya 16 samples in 23andme format

The Srubnaya culture, also known as the Timber-Grave culture, emerged during the late Bronze Age (approximately 19–12 centuries BCE) across the Pontic-Caspian steppe, primarily in what is now southern Russia, Ukraine, and parts of Kazakhstan. This culture is considered a successor to earlier steppe cultures like the Yamnaya and Catacomb cultures, representing a continuation of the Indo-European presence in the region. The name "Srubnaya" is a russian word that derives from the distinctive practice of constructing log-lined timber graves, or "srub," which were dug into the ground and covered with wooden beams before being buried under earth mounds, or kurgans.

The Srubnaya people were primarily pastoralists, with a strong emphasis on cattle, sheep, and horse herding. Their nomadic or semi-nomadic lifestyle was shaped by the expansive, grassy steppe environment, which provided the ideal conditions for grazing livestock. Although they were mostly pastoral, they also practiced some agriculture, growing cereals such as wheat and barley. They lived in small, dispersed settlements that often consisted of pit houses or structures partially dug into the ground for insulation. The Srubnaya culture was notable for its mobility, and horses played a key role in their way of life, used both for transport and in warfare, which was likely an essential part of their society as they defended their territories or expanded them.

In terms of burial customs, the Srubnaya people continued the steppe tradition of burying the deceased in kurgans, with the wooden "timber" lining being a characteristic feature. Graves typically contained single or multiple burials, and individuals were interred in a crouched position, often on their back or side. The graves included personal items like pottery, tools, and sometimes weapons, suggesting a belief in an afterlife where these items would be useful.

For this video, I gathered the raw genomes of 16 academic srubnaya samples, and used my trait predictor tool for DNA analysis to analyze them, predicting their appearance, health predispositions, and traits.