Life on horseback: palaeopathology of two Scythian skeletons from Alexandropol, Ukraine

Abstract

In 2006, two skeletons were analysed that were previously excavated from the periphery of a Scythian burial mound, near the village of Alexandropol in southern Ukraine. Dated to ca. 325 BC, both remains are male. The first is that of a youth in his late teens who exhibits indications of biological stress and degenerative changes to the spine in the form of a Schmorl's node. The second is a middle-aged individual with extensive healed lesions due to trauma to the right humerus and clavicle with associated bony changes of the elbow and spine. Stable isotope analyses indicate a diet based on C3 plants. Their skeletons suggest a rigorous life on horseback. Both may have served as sacrificial victims. Historical records document the strangulation of attendants and their placement around the periphery of royal burial mounds. Grave goods suggest that both were warriors, although the youth lacks the traumatic injuries exhibited by the older male. The individuals from Alexandropol may have served a Scythian king in life and in death.

The warriors of the steppes: osteological evidence of warfare and violence from Pazyryk tumuli in the Mongolian Altai

“…Despite the small number of Pazyryk skeletons analyzed, the results reported in this paper provide important evidence for warfare and violence among the Iron Age communities from the Altai, and contribute to the verification of some of the descriptions of these people written by Herodotus in the fifth century BC. Furthermore, our findings contribute new osteological data to the few previous anthropological treatments of Scythian people in western literature (Murphy et al, 2002;Murphy, 2003;Rudenko, 1970;Wentz and de Grummond, 2008). …”

“…In The Histories, the Greek historian Herodotus (484-425 BC) describes the Scythians as nomad warriors who practiced cruel and violent rituals, such as human sacrifices, scalping of enemies and cannibalism (Murphy and Mallory, 2000;Van Noten and Polosmak, 1995). Recent archaeological evidence obtained almost entirely from burial sites has contributed further knowledge of these people, and verifies some of the description provided by historical records written in the fifth century BC (Clisson et al, 2002;Crubezy et al, 2006;Francfort et al, 2000;Murphy et al, 2002;Ricaut et al, 2004;Wentz and de Grummond, 2008).…”

Skeleton Changes Induced by Horse Riding on Medieval Skeletal Remains from Croatia

“…27 Trauma is a frequent pathological finding in horse riders, especially the fractures of lower and upper extremities, foot, clavicle, and skull. 28 Supraorbital frontal bone hyperporosity was recognized if the supraorbital region was porous and thin.…”

Frequency of dental caries in children in the Early Iron Age and the Medieval populations from Ukraine

“…The aboriginal population from the Ukraine area accepted Scythian material culture as well as some Scythians accepted a local diet based mainly on crops (Gavrish 2000). Therefore, the isotopic analysis by Wentz and Grummond (2009) established that Scythian warriors' diet was mainly based on C 3 plants (emmer wheat, barley etc. ).…”