Origin of the Alans

[Alanus]

Correction on the Status of Baifu M3 (not M2... but the male in M3)

In the above post, I described the presumably rushed burial of the military officer in Baifu M3. Most unusual was the position of the body-- lying face down in an extended prone position. Such a position could indicate the body was simply tossed into the burial pit, or might signify "disrespect." In the case of Baifu M3, the "prostrate" position of the interred was a cultural marker. Although unorthodox, other prone-position burials have been found within the Zhou polity.

The military individual in Baifu 3 appears to be a descendant of the Tevsh culture (1,400-1,200BC), a tribe discovered in southern Mongolia who buried their dead in a prone position. At some point, the Tevsh tribe (tentatively identified to Siberian haplogroup Q1a1) continued south and entered Shang China. They became members of the Zhou polity, particularly, it would appear, in military positions. I'm in the process of documenting the "Andronovo Trail" from Minusinsk Siberia to Zhou China and will post the results in the near future. Thank you for following this thread.