The Advent of Nomadic Pastoralism in Northeast Asia: An Evolving Synthesis — IAAS Lecture Series

The advent of nomadic pastoralism in Eurasia has long been dominated by migration models in which fully developed economic and ideological systems wash across the vast and empty landscapes of Eurasia.

An increasing amount of archaeological data focused on these early periods of food production and social change is adding local
detail, nuance, and perhaps paradox to the grand narrative.

This talk synthesizes the increasing amount of data on early nomadic pastoralism available from recent research in Mongolia. These data include biomolecular, zooarchaeological, paleoenvironmental, and art historical details, along with regional surveys, excavations, and the changing typology of material culture. The concluding argument is that given the length of time for these processes to develop, the variable local impact of change and adaptation, and the mechanisms available for maintaining orthodoxy, that a model of primarily autochthonous change in early Eurasian societies can be developed.