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Scythian cultures
Krakkos:
'''Scythian cultures''', also referred to as '''Scythic cultures''' or '''Scytho-Siberian cultures''', were a group of similar archaeological cultures which flourished across the entire [[Eurasian Steppe]] during the [[Iron Age]] from approximately the 9th century BC to the 2nd century AD. Its peoples were of diverse origins. Mostly speakers of [[Iranian languages]], they are sometimes collectively referred to as ''Scythians'' or ''Scytho-Siberians''. }}
==Origins and spread==
The Scythian cultures emerged on the [[Eurasian Steppe]] at the dawn of the [[Iron Age]] in the early [[1st millenium BC]]. The origins of the Scythian cultures has long been a source of debate among archaeologists. The [[Pontic–Caspian steppe]] was initially thought to have been their place of origin, until the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] archaeologist [[:ru:Тереножкин, Алексей Иванович|Aleksey Terenozhkin]] suggested a [[Central Asia]]n origin.
Recent excavations at [[Arzhan]] in [[Tuva]], [[Russia]] have uncovered the earliest Scythian-style [[kurgan]] yet found. Similarly the earliest examples of the [[animal style]] art which would later characterize the Scythian cultures have been found near the upper [[Yenisei River]] and [[North China]], dating to the 10th century BC. Based on these finds, it has been suggested that the Scythian cultures emerged at an early period in southern [[Siberia]]. It is probably in this area the equastrian way of life for which the Scythians later became famous initially developed.
The Scythian cultures quickly came to stretch from the [[Pannonian Basin]] in the west to the [[Altai Mountains]] in the east. Over time they came in contact with other ancient civilizations, such as [[Assyria]], [[ancient Greece|Greece]] and [[ancient Persia|Persia]]. The end of the Scythian period in archaeology has been set at approximately the 2nd century AD.
==Peoples==
The peoples of the Scythian cultures are mentioned by contemporary [[Persian Empire|Persian]] and [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] historians. They were mostly speakers of [[Iranian languages]]. }} Peoples associated with the Scythian cultures include speakers of the [[Scythian languages]], such as [[Massagetae]], [[Sarmatians]], [[Saka]] and [[Scythians]], and the [[Cimmerians]]. The peoples of the [[Forest steppe]] were also part of the Scythian cultures. The origins of those peoples are obscure. There might have been [[Balts]] and [[Finno-Ugric peoples]] among them. The settled population in Scythian cultural areas also included [[Thracians]].
The Scythians are the most famous, due to the reports on them published by the 5th century Greek historian [[Herodotus]]. For this reason the name ''Scythians'' is sometimes applied to all the peoples associated with the Scythian cultures. Within this terminology it is often distinguished between "western" Scythians living on the Pontic–Caspian steppe, and "eastern" Schythians living on the [[Eurasian Steppe#Eastern Steppe|Eastern Steppe]].
==Characteristics==
The Scythian cultures are characterized by similar, yet not identical, shapes for horses' bridles, weapons, and art-types. Their art was made in the so-called animal style, and is referred to as [[Scythian art]]. The three characteristics are known as the ''Scythian trias''. }}
Its peoples were excellent craftsmen with complex cultural traditions. [[Horse sacrifice]]s are common in Scythian graves, and several of the sacrificed horses were evidently old and well-kept, indicating that the horse played a prominent role in Scythian society.
==Finds==
In the beginning of the 18th century, [[Russian Empire|Russian]] explorers began uncovering Scythian finds throughout their newly acquired territories. Significant Scythian archaeological finds have been uncovered up to recent times. A major find are the [[Pazyryk burials]], which were discovered on the [[Ukok Plateau]] in the 1940s. The finds are notably for revealing the form of [[mummification]] practiced by the Scythians. Another important find is the [[Issyk kurgan]].
==Warfare==
Numerous archaeological finds have revealed that the Scythians led a warlike life. The competition for territory much have been fierce, and the numerous weapons placed in graves are indicative of a highly militarized society. Scythian warfare was primarily conducted through mounted archery. They were the first great power to perfect this tactic. The Scythians developed a new powerful type of bow known as the Scythian bow. Sometimes they would poison their arrows.
==Genetics==
In 2017, a genetic study of various Scythian cultures was published in [[Nature Communications]]. The study suggested that the Scythian cultures on the Pontic-Caspian steppe and the Eastern Steppe emerged independently of each other, and were a mixture of [[Yamnaya culture]]-related and [[East Asian]] ancestry. Much of this admixture probably happened during the earlier expansion of the [[Afanasievo culture]] and [[Andronovo culture]] onto the Eastern Steppe. The peoples of the areas of the Scythian cultures were more closely related to each other than modern populations in the same areas, and there appears to have been significant gene flow between them, mostly mitochondrial lineages from east to west. It was suggested that the source of this gene flow may have contributed to the uniformity of the Scythian cultures. Modern populations with a close genetic relationship to the peoples of the Scythian cultures were found to be those living in close proximity to the remains examined, suggesting genetic continuity.
==Notes==
==References==
==Bibliography==
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* Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)
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==Further reading==
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[[Category:Archaeological cultures of Central Asia]]
[[Category:Archaeological cultures of Eastern Europe]]
[[Category:Archaeological cultures of Northern Asia]]
[[Category:Iron Age cultures of Asia]]
[[Category:Iron Age cultures of Europe]]
September 22, 2019 at 04:08AM
