Volosovo culture

The Volosovo culture was discovered in the 1900s. Like other groups with forest origin such as the Garino-Bor and other northern cultures, the Volosovo lived in the forest steppes of the Volga-Ural region, particularly the area of the present-day Samara oblast. Specific sites include those in central Russia, the Middle and Lower Oka, Lower Kama, and Middle Volga. . == Characteristics ==

Excavated remains show that the morphological characteristics of the people of the Volosovo culture are craniologically related to the Lapponoid group. The stone and ceramic artifacts that are used to describe the Volosovo culture were from the semi subterranean dwellings, which are often situated in river floors and within the area of lakes. According to this theory, bears were worshiped for their power while dogs and pigs were revered for their economic value. Experts identify a Volosovo-Garino cultural province, which is characterized by a distinct comb-ware ceramic tradition. According to the archaeologist V.V. Sedov, the names of rivers that end in -sha and -xa, particularly those situated in the right bank of the Oka and the White and Barents Seas originated in the Volosovo culture. == Cultural contacts ==

There is evidence that the Volosovo culture had extensive contacts with other cultures such as the Balanovo culture, a group considered to be the metal-working aspect of the eastern Fatyanovo. There are sources, however, that cite how the Volosovo hunters and fishers competed with the Fatyanovo people in the lower Oka and Kljazma river basins. Evidence showed that the late Volosovo phase also had extensive contact with the Abashevo population, helping spread cattle-breeding economies as well as metallurgy among the northern forest cultures. There were also Volosovo populations that were absorbed into the Abashevo culture before 2500 BCE while others were moving north. It is speculated that the Volosovo people maintained contacts with linguistic relatives (Proto-Baltic speakers) who settled in Finland and Russian Karelia and were later absorbed into the culture. == References ==