Shirenzigou culture

The Shirenzigou culture, dating from approximately 410 BCE to 190 BCE, is an archaeological culture located in Barkol County, east of the Tarim Basin in Xinjiang, China. This site is significant for its evidence of horseback riding and mounted archery by the fourth century BCE. Genetic studies of individuals from the Iron Age at this site have revealed a balanced admixture of West and East Eurasian genetic components, linking the population to the Yamnaya and Northeast Asian lineages. This genetic data suggests ties to the Afanasievo culture, which may have been Indo-European-speaking and potentially connected to the origins of the Tocharians. The Shirenzigou culture also exhibits cultural affinities with neighboring Yanbulake and Pazyryk cultures, with evidence of trade, such as imported beads from China. These findings highlight the site's importance in understanding the movement of peoples and cultural exchanges along China's northwest frontier during the Iron Age.