Srubnaya culture in the context of "Sakas"

The Catacomb culture (Russian: Катакомбная культура, romanized: Katakombnaya kul'tura, Ukrainian: Катакомбна культура, romanized: Katakombna kul'tura) was a Bronze Age culture which flourished on the Pontic steppe in 2,500–1,950 BC.

Originating on the southern steppe as an outgrowth of the Yamnaya culture, the Catacomb culture came to cover a large area. It was probably Indo-European-speaking, with some linguists associating it with Tocharian. Influences of the Catacomb culture have been suggested to be found as far as Italy, Greece, and Syria. It spawned the Multi-cordoned ware culture and was eventually succeeded by the Srubnaya culture.

The Saka were a group of nomadic Eastern Iranian peoples who lived in the Eurasian Steppe and the Tarim Basin from the 9th century BC to the 5th century AD. The Saka were closely related to the Scythians, and both groups formed parts of the wider Scythian cultures. However, both groups have differing specific geographical and cultural traits. The Saka languages formed part of the Scythian phylum, a branch of the Eastern Iranian languages.

Derived from the earlier Andronovo, Sintashta and Srubnaya cultures, the Saka were later influenced by the Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Culture and Iron-Age East Asian genetic influx. The ancient Persians, ancient Greeks, and ancient Babylonians respectively used the names "Saka," "Scythian," and "Cimmerian" for all the steppe nomads. However, the name "Saka" is used specifically for the ancient nomads of the eastern steppe, while "Scythian" is used for the related group of nomads living in the western steppe.

Vasily Alekseyevich Gorodtsov (Russian: Василий Алексеевич Городцов; 23 March (O.S. 11 March), 1860, village of Dubrovichi, Ryazan Oblast — 3 February 1945, Moscow) was a leading Russian and Soviet archaeologist of the first half of the 20th century.

In 1903, Gorodtsov identified three stages of the Bronze Age in Southern Russia: the Yamnaya, Catacomb, and Srubnaya cultures. He also assigned names to the Fatyanovo, Volosovo, Gorodets, and other cultures of the forest zone.

The Abashevo culture (Russian: Абашевская культура, romanized: Abashevskaya kul'tura) is a late Middle Bronze Age archaeological culture, c. 2200–1850 BC, found in the valleys of the middle Volga and Kama River north of the Samara bend and into the southern Ural Mountains. It receives its name from the village of Abashevo in Chuvashia.

Tracing its origins in the Fatyanovo–Balanovo culture, an eastern offshoot of the Corded Ware culture of Central Europe, the Abashevo culture is notable for its metallurgical activity and evidence for the use of chariots in its end phase. It eventually came to absorb the Volosovo culture. The Abashevo culture is often viewed as pre-Indo-Iranian-speaking or Proto-Indo-Iranian-speaking. It played a major role in the development of the Sintashta culture and Srubnaya culture.