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Botai culture – the archaeological culture allocated with V.F. Zaybert (1983) on the basis of materials of the studied monuments of Northern Kazakhstan of an eneolit era. During the research of the eneolit settlements in the area of the rivers Tobol and Irtysh it became clear that at that time in this territory there was an original archaeological culture with peculiar lines of economic way. Botai civilization was the first to domesticate horses. This research has set back the date of domestication, ~1,000 years earlier than previous research unveiled (about 5,500 years ago). This site is an optimal case for study because the Botai sites are located within the geographic range of the Tarpan, the European wild horse. The Botai culture existed from 3700-3100 b.c., in current Kazakhstan. Horses were a large part of the culture, with the occupations of the Botai people closely connected to their horses.

The Botai people based their whole economy on the horse, with their huge, permanent settlements yielding large collections of concentrated horse remains. They may have also been the earliest known horse riders, this would have allowed the Botai people to move longer and faster than on foot. The analysis of bone remains using a technique to search for ‘bit damage», researchers have discovered wears on the teeth, suggesting the horses were harnessed or bridled. The Botai people also used horses as their main source of food and drink, as well as a resource to further technology. Pottery fragments have been analyzed to identify fat from horses milk that used to be stored in those containers, horse milk was even fermented into a kind of alcohol. Research has uncovered that the Botai were similar in shape and disposition (shown through ancient bones) to a Bronze Age domestic horse, with a significant difference from the wild horses found in that region. This also suggests that they were selecting wild horses and enhancing their physical characteristics through breeding.

The pottery of the culture had simple shapes, most examples being gray in color and unglazed. The decorations are geometric, including hatched triangles and rhombs as well as step motifs. Punctates and circles were also used as decorative motifs.

Asko Parpola believes that the language of the Botai culture cannot be identified with any known language or language family. He speculatively suggests that the Proto-Ugric word *lox for «horse», reconstructed on the basis of Hungarian ló, Mansi lū and Khanty law, all meaning «horse», whose origin is unclear and which might be related to german Ross, is a borrowing from the language of the Botai culture.

Current research is being conducted by Alan Outram of Exeter University in association with other institutes, the Bristol (UK), Winchester (UK), and Kokshetau (Kazakhstan) universities, and the Carnegie Museum. Along with students, Outram conducted a magnetometer survey of the Botai site in 2008, and is looking into conducting further research into the Botai culture's role into the development of horse domestication.

Essential Vocabulary

Tasks:

1. Read the text «Botai archaeological culture». Write and memorize unknown words and word combinations.

2. Translate the text into Russian.

Answer the following questions:

1. What was the main feature of the Botai culture?

2. What region was Botai culture found in?

3. What period of time did Botai culture exist?

4. How did the researchers discover that Botai people had domesticated horses?

5. Which era does this culture belong to?