Maikop culture

The Maikop culture was an ancient Bronze Age civilization that flourished around 3700–3000 BCE in the North Caucasus region of present-day Russia. Known for its rich burial mounds called kurgans, it played a key role in early Eurasian interactions. The Maikop people crafted sophisticated metalwork, including gold and silver items, and practiced distinctive pottery and ornamentation. Their society likely had social hierarchies and trade connections extending into Eurasia. The Maikop culture is significant for its contributions to early metallurgy and as a link between early steppe societies and later Bronze Age civilizations.