THE LATE SCYTHIANS AND SARMATIANS: ALLIES OR VANQUISHED?
THE LATE SCYTHIANS AND SARMATIANS: ALLIES OR VANQUISHED?

Summary/Abstract: Among the Late Scythian noble graves at Lower Dnieper basin (Chervony Mayak burial ground) and Crimea (Ust-Alma burial ground) some graves with a lot of objects, often occurred in the Sarmatian noble burials, have been discovered. These finds could indicate the establishment in the second half of the 1st century AD the political domination of the Sarmatians in Late Scythian society. The appearance of Sarmatian elements in the culture of Late Scythians coincides in time with the appearance of the Alans in the Northern Pontic region. From the borders of the Han Empire the Alans brought with them native sacral items and exotic Chinese ones. The combination of Late Scythian funeral rite and Sarmatian equipment and dress accessories in the Late Scythian noble graves could point to the certain political dependence of Late Scythians from Sarmatians (Alans) in the late 1st – early 2nd century AD.

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