Canadian and Russian scientists are trying to unravel the mystery of what happened to a population of hunters and gatherers who lived thousands of years ago at Lake Baikal in Siberia.

The researchers say their work could provide an understanding of possible impacts of climate change in the north today.

The research is centred on a small valley nestled between two mountains on Lake Baikal. Its shores have attracted hunters and gatherers over thousands of years.

Andrzej Weber, an associate professor of archeology at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, has created a multi-disciplinary team to find out why people living there suddenly stopped using formal cemeteries between 7000 and 6000 BC.

When cemeteries began to be used again, the hunters and gatherers buried there belonged to a different cultural group.

"What we are seeing here, with this gap of 1,000-1,200 years in the use of formal cemeteries, is a profound culture change. It's something that is unique to this area and I haven't seen anything of this kind elsewhere in the world," said Weber.

Climate change may have affected culture

Scientists theorize climate change could be a key factor in the disappearance of people from the area, as it might have dramatically affected culture, diet and migration.

Weber said his team's work might help modern humans understand possible impacts of climate change today.

While archeologists have been studying ancient gravesites in the valley, they are turning their attention to where the prehistoric people hunted, ate and camped.

"Looking at the mortuary record is a pretty small picture of what people are actually doing, an important part of it but a pretty small part of it," said Hugh McKenzie, a Canadian doing research at the University of Sheffield in England.

"So we want to get the broader picture of what people are doing every day."

The project is being financed with a $2.5-million grant from the federal Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.