Swords and Daggers of the Scythian Forest-Steppe

Table of Contents:
Abstract Introduction 1. Historiography and source base 1.1 Source base 1.1.1 Written sources 1.1.2 Antique art traditions 1.1.3 Scythian anthropomorphic sculpture 1.1.4 Anthropological sources 1.1.5 Archaeological sources 1.2 Historiography of research into the Scythian bladed weapon 1.2.1 Initial period 1.2.2 Advanced period 1.2.2.1 The origin of the Scythian bladed weapon 1.2.2.2 Examining the production of swords and daggers 1.2.2.3 Outlining of the functional groups 1.2.2.4 Experience in the systematisation 1.2.2.5 Studying the dissemination of bladed weapons 1.2.2.6 Examining the decoration of the swords and daggers 1.2.2.7 The bladed weapon in ethnic and social research 1.2.2.8 Recent comprehensive works 2. Systematisation of the Scythian bladed weapons from the Forest-Steppe 2.1 General considerations 2.1.1 Terminological questions 2.1.2 Functional groups 2.2 Typology 2.2.1 Common grounds for typological research 2.2.2 Typology of single-bladed swords and daggers 2.2.3 Typology of double-edged swords and daggers 2.2.4 Equipment and accessories 3. Chronology of the Scythian bladed weapon 3.1. Common grounds for chronological research 3.2. The chronology of the Early-period bladed weapon 3.3. The Chronology of the Middle-period bladed weapon 3.4. Chronology of the Late-period bladed weapon 3.5 General development of the Scythian bladed weapon in the Forest-Steppe 4. Spatial analysis 4.1 Common grounds for the spatial analysis 4.2 Mapping of the burial finds 4.3 Mapping of those finds without archaeological context 4.4 Mapping of the settlement finds 4.5 General patterns of the spreading of Scythian bladed weapon in the Forest-Steppe 5. Warrior burials with swords and daggers 5.1 Common grounds for social stratification 5.2 First social group (common warriors) 5.3 Second social group (professional warriors) 5.4 Third social group (elite warriors) 5.5 Fourth social group (war aristocracy) 5.6 Main features of the social and cultural patterns 5.6.1 Age and sex characteristics 5.6.2 The bladed weapon as a source in Scythian history Conclusions Bibliography List of abbreviations Appendix 1. Catalogue of Scythian-time bladed weapons from the East-European Forest-Steppe Appendix 2. Measurements of examined blade weaponry Appendix 3. Short description of examined graves with blade weapons

About the Author :
Oleksandr Shelekhan is a research fellow at the Institute of Archaeology at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. He is interested in Iron Age archaeology, Scythian weaponry, fortification and warfare and is the author and co-author of more than 80 papers.

Review :
'Oleksandr Shelekhan's contribution is very original and the whole corpus of records is vital for the further development of the study of the Scythian weaponry.' Dr Denis Topal, National Museum of History of Moldova 'There is a growing interest in the Scythian world, and daggers of these types appear in Eastern Europe as well as in Iran (Persepolis, reliefs of Apadana). This research will find large interest all over without any doubt.' Professor Hermann Parzinger, Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz