On the edge of the eurasian steppes: the sarmatian culture in the 1st–3rd centuries ad east of the Carpathians

Povolzhskaya Arkheologiya (The Volga River Region Archaeology), 2024

Full text Open access: Gold Metadata (CSL-JSON)
DOI 10.24852/pa2024.4.50.12.23
Data confidence 70 medium
How this score is calculated

It is built from checkable properties of the record itself: whether the article has a DOI, how many independent sources confirmed its data, whether the required fields are filled in, and how recent the latest confirmation is. Disagreement between sources and a missing identifier lower it. A value of 80 or above means the record was published without further checking; 60 to 79 means it is published at reduced confidence, with a manual check advisable. A record verified by an editor by hand is never pushed below 90 by a recalculation. This scores our data about the article, not the article itself.

Abstract

The paper analyses the Sarmatian culture east of the Carpathians during the 1st-3rd centuries AD, shedding light on their burial practices, artefacts, and socio-economic interactions. The term ‘Sarmatians’ encompasses several nomadic groups with common genetic, linguistic or territorial ties, including the Iazyges, Roxolani, Alans, Siraces and Aorsi. Archaeological evidence indicates significant cultural changes during the Middle and at the beginning of Late Sarmatian periods, marked by rich burials, imported goods and weapons. The study focuses on necropolises, which reveal burial patterns, grave goods, and anthropological insights such as intentional cranial modification. Notable grave goods include beads, mirrors and swords, reflecting the social status and cultural connections of the Sarmatian elite. Trade networks facilitated the exchange of horses for luxury goods, highlighting the economic importance of the Sarmatians in Eurasia. Despite their interactions with neighbouring regions, the Sarmatians maintained a conservative cultural identity distinct from Roman influence. This research highlights the complexity of Sarmatian society and its enduring legacy between the Carpathians and the Prut River.