The Origin of the Indo-Iranians

Elena Efimovna Kuzʹmina

BRILL, 2007 - Social Science - 762 pages

Here then is the fruit of Elena Kuz'mina's life-long quest for the Indo-Iranians. Already its predecessor ("Otkuda prishli indoarii?," published in 1994) was considered the most comprehensive analysis of the origins of the Indo-Iranians ever published, but in this new, significantly expanded edition (edited by J.P. Mallory) we find an encyclopaedic account of the Andronovo culture of Eurasia. Taking its evidence from archaeology, linguistics, ethnology, mythology, and physical anthropology pertaining to Indo-Iranian origins and expansions, it comprehensively covers the relationships of this culture with neighboring areas and cultures, and its role in the foundation of the Indo-Iranian peoples.

Contents

• History of Research on the Andronovo Culture: 3
• Methodological Aspects of Ethnocultural Reconstruction: 9
• Classification of Sites and the Primary Features: 17
• Settlements and Domestic Architecture: 31
• Ceramics: 67
• Mining Metallurgy and the Metal Industry: 85
• Textiles and Dress: 101
• Transport: 107
• Economy: 141
• The Ethnogenesis of the IndoIranians: 163
• Verification of the Hypothesis: 169
• Mortuary Practice: 185
• IndoIranian Contacts with Other Linguistic Groups: 199
• Conclusions to Part One: 205
• Cultures of Central Asia in the 4th3rd Millennia BC: 211
• The IndoAryan Migration and the First Stage of: 217
• The Agricultural Tribes of South Central Asia: 225
• The Settlement of Pastoral Tribes in Central Asia: 237
• Relation of the Andronovans with the Population: 251
• Cultures of Northern Bactria in the Late Bronze Age: 267
• TransCaspia and Turkmenia: 291
• Modern State of the Problem of IndoIranian Origins: 297
• The Genesis of the Dards andNuristani: 307
• The Genesis of the IndoAryans: 321
• The Genesis of the Iranians: 349
• Conclusion: 451
• The Chronology of the Andronovo Culture: 459
• Radiocarbon dates: 467
• BIBLIOGRAPHY: 477
• INDEX: 731

About the author

Elena Efimovna Kuz'mina, Ph.D. (1964) in Archaeology, Moscow State University, is Professor of Archaeology since 1988, and is the Head scholar of the Russian Institute for Cultural Research (Moscow, Russia). She is also Academician of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, Corresponding Fellow of the German Archaeological Institute and Member of the Societą Iranologica Europea (Italy). She has published 300 articles and 9 books on the archaeology of Eurasian Steppes and origins of Indo-Iranians, including Otkuda prishli indoarii (Moscow, 1994) and Mifologiya i iskusstvo skifov i baktriytsev (Moscow, 2002).
J.P. Mallory, Ph.D. (1975) in Indo-European Studies (European Archaeology), University of California, Los Angeles, is Professor of Prehistoric Archaeology at Queen's University, Belfast.

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Origin of the Indo-Iranians; Volume 3 of Leiden Indo-European etymological dictionary series, v. 3
• Author: Elena Efimovna Kuzʹmina
• Editor: James P. Mallory
• Edition: illustrated, revised
• Publisher: BRILL, 2007
• ISBN: 900416054X, 9789004160545
• Length: 762 pages
• Subjects: History / Ancient / General; Social Science / General