The Scythians were a collection of nomadic warrior tribes that roamed Siberia between 900 and 200 BC. This major exhibition presents over 200 artefacts documenting their culture, astonishingly well preserved having been buried in frozen ground for centuries. A striking gold plaque depicts a spear-wielding warrior riding horseback – evidence of highly skilled craftsmanship as well as the importance of combat and horses to Scythian society. The tribes were some of the first to engage in mounted warfare; so revered were their equine comrades that warriors were often buried with their steeds.
Discoveries of ancient tombs have unearthed a wealth of Scythian treasures. Amazingly preserved in the permafrost, clothes and fabrics, food and weapons, spectacular gold jewellery – even mummified warriors and horses – are revealing the truth about these people’s lives. These incredible finds tell the story of a rich civilisation, which eventually stretched from its homeland in Siberia as far as the Black Sea and even the edge of China.
Many of the objects in this stunning exhibition are on loan from the State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg. Scientists and archaeologists are continuing to discover more about these warriors and bring their stories back to life.
Scythians: warriors of ancient Siberia. British Museum, London, till 14 January, 2018.
