SWORDS OF THE LATE SCYTHIAN NECROPOLIS CHERVONY MAYAK
Authors: Dzneladze O. S. , Sikoza D. M. , Symonenko O. V. 
Published: November 2023

The edged weapons are rather frequently occurring at the Late Scythian necropolises though there is a certain disproportion between Crimean and Lower Dnieper sites in favor of the first. The Chervony Mayak necropolis in Lower Dnieper region provides a representative series of various weapons with the edged one inclusive. Ten swords and their fragments were found in the Chervony Mayak necropolis. One of them came from tumulus grave, nine from the graves of burial ground and another one have been found accidently in the gully near the necropolis.

The edged weapons were found in the following assemblages: tumulus 1, grave 1; grave 30, skeleton 5; grave 31; grave 32, skeleton 3; grave 40, skeleton 1; grave 94; grave 121, skeletons 1 and 3; grave 133, skeleton 1 and the accidental find in gully. All those buried from intact graves were men or juniors.

Majority of Late Scythian swords have a tanged hilt without metal pommel and cross-bar. They look like Sarmatian swords of the same type but, on the other hand, resemble a Roman spathae and La Tиne swords.

The main characteristics of Late Scythian edged weapons are following: a long (up to ca. 1 m) blade with a tang which was the core of the grip (more often wooden). The blades of these swords have parallel cutting edges; mainly they have no central ridge. The blade has a various length: daggers are not longer than 40 cm, the main part of swords is from 50 to 70 cm long, several specimens are from 76 up to 110 cm.

In the Chervony Mayak necropolis in total 10 swords or their fragments have been found. They are represented by following items.

Fragments of the Oriental iron sword with a bronze cross-bar of the Han type (tumulus 1, grave 1), 4 cm wide, the late 1st— early 2ndcentury AD.

Fragmented iron sword of Khazanov type 1 with a tanged hilt and cross-bar (grave 31), 4 cm wide, the first half of the 2ndcentury AD.

Iron sword of Khazanov type 2 (grave 121, skeleton 1), 82 cm long (the total length of the whole sword with hilt), 4 cm wide, the 2ndcentury AD.

Iron sword of the Oriental type with a tanged hilt and a washer-shaped pommel, without cross-bar (grave 121, skeleton 3), 112 cm long, 5 cm wide, with the iron scabbard slide, the 2ndcentury AD.

Iron sword with a tanged hilt and small metal washer-shaped pommel, without cross-bar (grave 133 skeleton 1), 98 cm long, 5.5 cm wide, 1st— early 2nd century AD. From one hand this sword has the features of Khazanov type 2 (tanged hilt, no cross-bar, long blade), on the other — its pommel and blade proportions are similar in appearance to the Roman gladius hispaniensis.

Iron sword with a tanged hilt and small metal washer-shaped pommel, without cross-bar (accidental find from Propasna gully in Chervony Mayak village), 74 cm long, 3.5 cm wide. The sword has some features of Roman spatha (form of blade shoulders and edges, type of handle top).

Fragments of swords from grave 30, skeleton 5, grave 32, skeleton 3, grave 40, skeleton 1 and grave 94 cannot be attributed as a concrete type.

It should be noted that swords with a ring pommel (Sarmatian type) are absent in the Chervony Mayak necropolis. In the same time this type is represented among more than 50 % of all swords found in another Late Scythian necropolis Ust-Alma in Crimea. Swords with ring pommel are one of the most popular type of the Middle Sarmatian culture.

The prototype of traditional Late Scythian sword — with long blade, tanged hilt without crossbar and metal pommel — were the late La Tиne imported swords of the type occurred in Scythian Neapolis Mausoleum, Vyshetarasivka, Zolota Balka etc. The specimens from Chervony Mayak demonstrate the acquaintance of the Late Scythian bladesmiths with both Oriental and Western traditions.