Deriivka

Deriivka is an archaeological site in Ukraine, renowned for its potential role in the early domestication of horses. Located on the right bank of the Dnieper River, the site is primarily associated with the Sredny Stog culture, dating from approximately 4500 to 3500 BCE. Evidence suggests the inhabitants may have relied heavily on horses for sustenance, as indicated by the substantial number of horse bones found. Although a horse burial once thought to indicate early horseback riding was later dated to a much later period, the site's significance in early equine domestication remains a topic of interest. Deriivka also features domestic structures such as houses and hearths, and it includes cemeteries linked to both the Dnieper-Donets and Sredny Stog cultures. Genetic studies have revealed a mix of haplogroups, indicating a diverse population over various periods, from the Mesolithic to the Chalcolithic.