In Histories (Volume IV, Book IV: Melpomene), the famous 6th century BC Greek historian Herodotus describes. AD reports on the Persian incursions into Scythia and Libya. He then reports on behavior that is now considered to be the most barbaric among the nomadic Scythian warriors: they used the skulls of their victims as cups to drink the blood of their enemies and also used their scalps to make clothing. A macabre vision… that seems to be confirmed by science.
The Scythians' reputation as ruthless warriors 2,000 years ago is actually supported by a new study published in PLOS One on December 13, 2023. By studying objects excavated from ancient sites in southern Ukraine, in addition to veterans' sophisticated leather production technologies, a team of multidisciplinary anthropologists discovered that they carried their arrows in quivers… made from human skin.
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Who were the Scythians, these impressive equestrian nomads?
The Scythians were a people of Indo-European origin who inhabited the vast Eurasian steppes – Ukraine, southern Russia, mainly Kazakhstan and other parts of Central Asia – in ancient times (8th century BC to 4th century AD). Their distinctive nomadic lifestyle, constantly traveling between East and West, is one of the reasons why they left important traces in ancient history.
Their everyday life was closely linked to the wild landscapes and vast spaces they traversed. They moved with their herds of livestock, mainly horses. Horses also played a central role in their everyday lives, both in hunting and in war. The Scythians were skilled archers who could shoot accurately while galloping at high speeds. Skills that made these skilled riders formidable in battle.
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Herodotus – nicknamed the “Father of History” – dedicated an entire book to describing these people and their customs, to whom he attributes a wild nature through stories that can (at least) be described as “remarkable”. Sensitive souls hold back when he writes:
A Scythian drinks the blood of the first man he killed. He brings to his king the heads of all he has killed in battle; for if he brings a head he receives a share of the spoils, but not otherwise. He skins the head […] guard [la peau] to use it as a towel, to attach it to the bridle of the horse he himself rides, and to be proud of it; for he who has the most scalps for towels is considered the best man.
Many Scythians even make clothing from these scalps by sewing them together like skin coats. Many also remove the skin, including nails, from the right hands of their dead enemies and use them to make covers for their quivers. […]
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Great leather specialists… not just for animals
Until now, Herodotus' words should be viewed with caution. But new research shows there is some truth to these bloody stories.
By analyzing the proteins (paleoproteomics) of 45 leather samples and two fur objects recovered from Scythian graves at 14 sites in southern Ukraine dating to the 5th-4th centuries. century B.C. were recovered. BC, researchers managed to identify the species hidden behind each piece of skin.
The results suggest that the Scythians mainly used native species (sheep, goats, oxen, horses) for leather production, which accounted for “most of the economy and wealth of the pastoral nomads.” [c’est-à-dire des steppes]“,” the authors state in their study.
The furs were made from wild animals (foxes, squirrels, cat species). “[…] demonstrate the diversity of identified species [qu’ils] “had a sophisticated knowledge of skin treatment, suggesting a certain level of craft specialization,” they add.
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Leather can therefore be considered an essential and accessible material for the Scythian population and, as other archaeological and iconographic works have already shown, is used to make “containers, mirror cases, quivers, shoes, garments such as trousers and coats, etc..” Leather made of metal armor like leggings.
The most surprising discovery, however, remains the presence of two samples of human skin – possibly from defeated enemies – in two quivers examined from kurgans, hills of the Pontic steppe (i.e. bordering the Black Sea) that housed collective burials.
They provide, for the first time, evidence confirming Herodotus' claim. A close examination of the cases, which were probably once used to store arrows, revealed that leather of human origin was only present on the upper parts, the rest was made of animal leather.
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Memorial practices or intimidation by the enemy?
One theory is that this practice may be linked to religious or ritual beliefs. The Scythians are also known for their complex burial practices, including elaborate burials involving valuable objects. Herodotus also records the practice of human sacrifice and self-mutilation at the burial of kings, a tradition already confirmed by archaeological finds.
In fact, the study of a large royal Scythian kurgan in southern Ukraine (Aleksandropol Hill) revealed “a large area of funerary ceremonies,” with eleven burials of people apparently killed to accompany a ruler on his journey to the afterlife.
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In other excavations (Chortomlyk mounds) six phalanges belonging to three or four different individuals could also be found; The cut marks indicate that these people were actually mourning some of their dead with this gesture, as the Greek historian described. “Leather made from human skin” may have been a way to honor or commemorate the deceased.
Another hypothesis is that it was a way for the Scythians to intimidate and dominate their enemies. Especially since the use of human skin for leather was not only common in their culture. Throughout history, this particular material has served various purposes, including binding books or making (macabre) artifacts. On the other hand, this new discovery offers valuable information about previously unknown Scythian cultural practices… or at least only suspected ones.
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