Abashevo

Abashevo culture was a Bronze Age archaeological culture which flourished in the Volga-Ural region of present-day Russia during the 3rd and 2nd millennia BC (approximately 2500-1900 BC). It is generally considered to have been located in the forest-steppe zone.

The Abashevo culture is characterized by its distinctive pottery, often decorated with geometric patterns. They are also known for their metallurgy, particularly bronze tools and weapons. Settlement patterns suggest a semi-nomadic lifestyle, with evidence of both settled villages and seasonal camps. Their economy was based on animal husbandry and agriculture.

Abashevo is associated with the Sintashta culture to the east and the Potapovka culture to the south. It is considered by some scholars to be ancestral to the Indo-Iranian language family, contributing to the Indo-Iranian migration theory into Central Asia and beyond. The culture's influence can be seen in later cultures of the region. Archaeological excavations of burial mounds (kurgans) have yielded important information about their burial rituals and social organization.