Sargatka cultural horizon encompassed northern forest steppe zone between the Tobol and Irtysh rivers, which is currently located in Russia and Kazakhstan.

Archeological and genetic evidence suggest that Sargatka culture was a potential zone of intermixture between native Ugrian and/or Siberian populations and steppe peoples from the south, possibly of early Iranian or Indo-Iranian stock.

Metallographic examination of Sargatka material shows that objects made of malleable iron and steel of average and high quality were prevalent.

[2][3] According to a 2021 study that examined genome-wide data of various ancient Central Asian steppe peoples, the northern sedentary Sargatka-related cultures show a close genetic proximity with the eastern nomadic Scythians, the Sakas.

The examined Sargatka individuals also display additional affinity not found in the Scythian groups, ultimately related to a northern Siberian lineage.