Stretching across the lower Dnieper floodplain, communities of the Dnieper–Mariupol horizon emerged in the late Mesolithic and continued into the Chalcolithic. Radiocarbon dates associated with human remains studied here span c. 5766–3986 BCE. Excavated cemeteries such as Mamai‑Gora and Lysa Gora, and settlement or burial loci like Vovnihy‑2 and Vilnianka, reveal large, often collective burial complexes placed close to river channels. Archaeological data indicates a cultural emphasis on riverine resources and negotiated territorial use of floodplain landscapes.
Material culture — shell beads, flint tools, and distinctive burial treatments — ties these groups to the broader Dnieper‑Mariupol tradition. Limited evidence suggests varying degrees of interaction with neighboring farmer and steppe groups, reflected in both artifacts and emerging genetic signals. The 14 ancient genomes sampled provide a window into population processes but remain a partial record of a dynamic, millennia‑long history. Continued excavation and additional radiocarbon and genomic sampling are needed to refine models of origin and migration.