The Corded Ware culture, which flourished between 2900 and 2350 BCE across much of Northern and Central Europe, represents a significant phase in the spread of Indo-European languages and cultural practices. This culture is named after the distinctive corded decoration on their pottery, often made by pressing twisted cords into the clay before firing. The Corded Ware people are considered to be descendants of the Yamnaya culture from the Pontic-Caspian steppe, who migrated into Europe, bringing with them not only their genes but also innovations in metallurgy, pastoralism, and perhaps early forms of Indo-European languages.
The Corded Ware culture is notable for its widespread adoption across a vast area, including parts of present-day Germany, Poland, the Baltic states, and Scandinavia. This culture is characterized by its burial practices, typically involving single graves under small mounds, where the dead were often buried with weapons, tools, and pottery. The Corded Ware people were highly mobile pastoralists, with a lifestyle centered around horse domestication and cattle herding, reflecting their steppe ancestry. Genetically, they carried significant Yamnaya ancestry, particularly the paternal haplogroup R1a, which suggests a strong link to the Indo-European migrations. The Corded Ware culture played a crucial role in shaping the genetic and linguistic landscape of Northern and Central Europe, with its legacy still detectable in the genetic makeup and languages of modern European populations.
Link to G25 animator here:
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