Korgantas culture
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| Geographical range | South Central Siberia |
|---|---|
| Period | Iron Age |
| Dates | ca. 400–113 BCE |
| Preceded by | Tasmola culture |
| Followed by | Xiongnu Empire |
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The Korgantas culture (c. 400-113 BCE) replaced the Tasmola culture in central Kazakhstan.[2][3][4] It is sometimes termed as the "Korgantas period" of the Tasmola culture.[3]
The tombs of the Korgantas period differ significantly from those of the earlier Tasmola, lacking dromos passageways, and being smaller, with animal sacrifices arranged near the head.[3] The burials are often covered with a chaotic assemblage of stones, and the dead were oriented to the East or the Northeast.[4] Many characteristics of these burials, especially the heads of sacrificed animals, are similar to those of early Hunnic burials.[4] In a recent study, various Korgantas period graves were carbon-dated to between 400 and circa 100 BCE cal.[4]
Genetically, the Korgantas period seems to mark an influx of Ancient Northeast Asians (Devils_Cave_N profile) in Central Asia.[5] Of four Korgantas individuals analysed in a recent study, three had about 50% Ancient Northeast Asians (Devils_Cave_N) ancestry combined with about 50% Central Saka ancestry (Tasmola_Pazyryk), while only one had a traditional Central Saka profile.[6] The Korgantas people may have resulted from immigrations from the eastern regions of Central Asia, and may have come from the Ordos region of northern China.[7]
The end of the Korgantas period is marked by the expansion of the Xiongnu. The Korgantas period is sometimes presented as the "later Korgantas phase of the early Hun period".[4]