An Integrated Multi-Scalar Study of Bronze Age Sintashta Lifeways: Evidence from the Stepnoye Settlement and its Hinterland

Archaeological research has revealed far more diversity among Bronze Age pastoralist societies in the Eurasian steppe than past uniform models of socioeconomic development have accommodated. The Sintashta phenomenon (early 2nd millennium b.c.) has figured prominently in these reassessments, with traditional views of settlement hierarchy, political centralization, domesticated cereal use, and intensive copper production increasingly challenged. This article presents a multi-scalar study of the Stepnoye enclosed settlement (1938–1747 cal b.c.) and its 165 km2 hinterland in the Uy River Valley, Russia, integrating pedestrian survey, geophysical prospection, excavation, and soil chemistry with faunal, botanical, and metallurgical studies. Results document sedentary, aggregated settlement and a multi-resource pastoralist economy combining livestock herding with wild plant and animal use. Copper production was smaller in scale than previously proposed, yet remained an important, widespread regional craft. These findings question uniform models of Sintashta complexity and demonstrate the value of integrated research on ancient pastoralist communities.