| Pyatigorsk, North Caucasus, Russia |
As one might suspect there have been many things written about the origin of the Russian people, but very little is actually known. For instance, the origin of the name “Russia” is unclear. The first people that came to Russia were called Rus, but their origins are unknown. There are several theories about the origin of these early Russians. One theory is that the first Russians were Slavs that came to Russia from the coast of the Baltic Sea. Another theory that Soviets scholars have proposed, based on extensive archaeological investigation, is that the Slavs didn’t originate from Scandinavia. Instead, it is thought that the ancestors of the Slavs came from Central and Eastern Europe as early as 3000 B.C.
Despite the vagueness of the beginning of the Russian people, the people and civilizations of Russia are very rich in culture. For example, the ancient Eskimos of northeast Russia were great hunters of reindeer, seal, birds, and walruses. Archeologist have found harpoon heads, stone knives, and numerous bones. They have also found many sites with ancient dwellings and homes. Broken clay pots found at various sites indicate that Eskimo women were skilled at pottery. Pottery allowed food to be stored so that little went to waste.
Image donated by: Igor Temirov
Written by: Joe Gehrke
Bibliography
Spector, Ivar. An Introduction to Russian History and Culture. Canada: D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., 1949
Rudenko, S.I. The Ancient Culture on the Bering Sea and the Eskimo Problem. Canada: University of Toronto Press,1961