The Russian Far East: Sources?

I am in need of some aid.

So recently I realized that I know little to nothing of this region's history and culture, and I'd like to know more. Right now, I'm especially interested in prehistoric and historic studies and narratives of the region, along with cultural studies.

To define the area I'm talking about, I suppose Wikipedia's demarcation of the Russian Far East is good enough, although to get really specific I'd like to learn about the cultures surrounding the sea of Okhotsk, and to some extent the northernmost part of the Sea of Japan and the western Bering Sea as well. By extension, I'm also fairly interested in the northern-most Japanese islands, such as Hokkaido, as well as the parts of this region that lie within China, namely Manchuria.

As for subject matter, I'm willing to accept anything, but I'm especially interested in the cultural exchanges in this part of the world. What are the indigenous cultures like? Do China and Japan have records of historic contact with these people? What kind of cultural exchanges occurred between the indigenous peoples and the Russians who conquered and settled the region in early modern times? What kind of pre-modern and early-modern trade filtered through this region?

I'll try and keep updating this thread to share with you any materials I may find regarding the history of this area of the world. And I hope you'll share anything you think might be helpful to me. Thanks!

The people living there are probably Mongoloid in appearance, given the region's proximity to Mongolia, China and the Eskimos in Alaska

Native people of northern coast of sea of Okhotsk are mostly Lamut and Evenks. They are closely related to Manchu.

Originally posted by baydlag Native people of northern coast of sea of Okhotsk are mostly Lamut and Evenks. They are closely related to Manchu.

Closely related but how (genetically)? Your Evenk is slightly different than Ewenki (Evenk) in China
What do you say, if I comment with autosomal STR (12 loci/85 tribes) as follows:
- Evenk is genetically closest to Seoul/Korea and Jilin (Han),
- next after one more step is Zhejiang?

Maybe I am highly interested because my roots before Tofalar and Altai are in Yakut, Even and Yukaghir.


Edited by Hukumari - 05-Jun-2013 at 14:42

Originally posted by baydlag Northern Evenks are called Tunguses and living eastern Siberia. Southern ones living between lake Baikal and great and lesser Khingan Mountains. Evenks in China are called Solon and Khamnigans. Solons were warlike people in Manchu Qing empire. So spreaded many places in all over China. For example some Solons still in Ili valley in Xingjiang. I think there is no wonder to find Evenkish element in Chinese people in Jilin.

Thanks a lot. It seems that you know more than me about  the reality. Congratulations to you my friend!
I was surprised to see Kahminigan by autosomal STR in Ecuador and Mexico.
I am not writing bullshit. With my another computer I have more info.
Saludo
Seppo

Originally posted by Hukumari  I as100 % pure Finn (Finnish)  from eastern tribes like Carelia and Savo, I am not surprised about my autosomal DNA : My real results are: 8 LOCI = D3S1358, vWA, FGA, D8S1179, D21S11, D18S51, D5S818, D7S820: 34.3 % - Tofalar 33.5 % - Altai 32.6 % - Kichwa (Ecuador) 31.01 % - Puebla (Meksiko) 30.7 % - Puna (Luoteis-Argentiina) 29.97 % - Salta (Luoteis-Argentiina) 29.44 % - La Paz (Aymara), Bolivian pääkaupunki 28.9 % - Lima, Peru 27.61 % - Tuva

Some reindeer herder people in northern Mongolia they calling themselves and their language Uugar. They separated by Tuvans by just border. May any finnish or samoed person can understand them.

Originally posted by ConradWeiser I am in need of some aid. By extension, I'm also fairly interested in the northern-most Japanese islands, such as Hokkaido...

They told before that Ainus of Hokkaido linguistically and genetically are isolate. Not any more now.

Originally posted by benzin Originally posted by baydlag Some reindeer herder people in northern Mongolia they calling themselves and their language Uugar. They separated by Tuvans by just border. May any finnish or samoed person can understand them. Ugor languages are hungarian, mansi and chanti, but Id be very surprised if anyone speak a finno-ugrian language in northern mongolia :)