Agree, traders who traveled long distances brought their idols and artifacts with them. I.e., in Palmyra, a caravan town in Syria, temples to ancient gods from farflung places were built so caravaneers could worship when they arrived at this transshipment and rest stop. Wealthy Palmyrenes had villas in Rome and at least one temple dedicated to Palmyrene Baal has been unearthed in Roman ruins.
I don't know what it would take to prove that Hindu culture originated in or dominated this Russian area. Its always fun to see archeologists changing history with every find.
Finding an artifact in a location doesn’t mean the ancient people living in that area adhered to the culture the artifact belonged to.
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It does if the current head of the cult of personality in the department of archeology or anthropology specializing in that particular area decides the favored narrative needs it to.