Scythians: scientific analysis of the Oxus treasure

British Museum Scientist Aude Mongiatti shares some of her research on the Oxus treasure, a selection of beautiful gold and silver objects from the 5th and 4th centuries BC.
Some of the objects from the Oxus treasure are on display in the current exhibition on the Scythians. The analysis of manufacturing techniques has informed the interpretation in the exhibition.
The BP exhibition
Scythians: warriors of ancient Siberia
14 September 2017 - 14 January 2018
#Scythians
To find out more and book tickets, visit goo.gl/MMFY4G
Supported by BP
The Department of Scientific Research wishes to acknowledge the generosity of the British Museum Friends and donors for the purchase of the scanning electron microscope shown in this video.

[@OldDave750]

As a Goldsmith of 55 years it’s good to see the marks of the old craftsman, they are not mistakes but the time old process of hand coordination and what a joy to see, wonderful video

[@christianfrommuslim]

I saw the Scythian exhibition in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in about 1976. I loved it, and have admired Scythian artistry ever since. There seems to be such overlap between Scythian, Celtic, and Nordic styles! I would enjoy a curator commenting on their development.

[@scottdrone-silvers5179]

Thank you so much for sharing this. Some of us may never see these collections otherwise. And it is absolutely fascinating to be able to see some of the work that goes on behind the scenes in museums brought out for all to see.

[@lovelyartin]

These are Iranian arts: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxus_Treasure

[@ninaevtushenko3915]

Scott Drone-Silvers You are right - the treasure are on behind the scenes in the museum.

[@TheAfghan72]

@lovelyartin They are not Iranian its Afghan and belongs to Afghanistan.

[@censusgary]

This video presents a large amount of technical information very concisely and clearly. Well done!

[@rjlchristie]

Yet they show the series of objects at the end at a strobe like pace. Poor editing decision.

[@helenamcginty4920]

And in a language foreign to the speaker.

[@astralax]

Love that these videos are getting longer and more detailed.

[@theoutdoorappreciationsoci8858]

Beautiful craftsmanship. These people were truly gifted.

[@KarlaJTanner]

I’m a denturist here in Canada. Meaning, I independently fit and manufacture dentures. I use lost wax casting in the final production of a denture. I love to know part of my craft is so old.

[@urmaisgay6495]

TannervYoung most modern jewellers tools come from advancements in dentistry too.

[@CucumbersSC]

In a university course a project for similar analysis of an object from a local museum was available, and of course I applied to work on it but I'm still so sad I didn't get it. The teacher *knew* I'm into historical metallurgy! Sigh. What a dream job. I love how much hidden knowledge can be unlocked through knowledge of metallurgy, thermodynamics, microscopy/spectroscopy technique and crafts experience! It's almost spiritual in a way. Where an untrained eye may see a welded piece of metal, a trained eye with a microscope and the right series of samples can see the individual alloy (and as such the possible origins and uses of the thing), the temperature and deformation history of the bulk as well as the weld+HAZ, even the technique of the welder and flaws, old repairs, corrosion history... it's magical!

[@BaltimoresBerzerker]

Keep trying dude, maybe get into making replicas.

[@cfrandre8319]

More! Love finally seeing the benefits of the scanning microscope!

[@jona.scholt4362]

Seeing a video like this makes me marvel at what interesting creatures us humans are. We develop this amazing technology, the sum of hundreds and thousands of years of development to closely study jewelry from 2500 years ago, analyzing the tools used to make said jewelry. I don't know why but that suddenly struck me as amazing, absurd, inspiring all at the same time.

[@briancrane7634]

Even the mighty Roman Empire never really conquered the Scythians! And their warriors were employed by many kings...Admirable people!

[@BubblewrapHighway]

As were the Sarmatians! I'm sure thousands of steppe cultures used cannabis. It was all the rage until the 1930s when Harry J Anslinger had to save his job in the FBN by criminalizing it.

[@Saulman1984]

Have you ever heard of the idea about the Scythians originated from some of the lost tribes of Israel, if not the Scythians themselves then their progenitors.

[@Saulman1984]

@Ksjs Jdjdb Here is a book that expands on the idea: The "Lost" Ten Tribes Of Israel...Found! If you're interested then check out the author Steven M. Collins.

[@Saulman1984]

@Thomas Kilogram I did

[@olorin4317]

You are both probably wrong. Our knowledge of the Scythians is sadly lacking. Without solid evidence, Scythian origins are shrouded in theory and downright lies.

[@iamacouch9205]

This is wonderful stuff. Love to see more on this topic.

[@shitbag.]

Jonathan Gunther Same here

[@greyfells2829]

i think i speak for more than a couple of blacksmiths and artisans when i say thank you for your work

[@exocet8834]

Long live the heritage of the Indo-Europeans, the cultural ancestors of Europe, Iran, Northern India and many others.

[@Blessings.429]

Thank you so much for sharing this information

[@skatedd2451]

Amazing craftsmanship have been fascinated with this culture for a long time..

[@tacitusthehistories5417]

And they were a nomadic/ horse centered society that were contact lyrics on the move that were feared raiders of the middle east.

[@DegreesOfThree]

It's not even remotely plausible that a nomadic culture could have produced such detailed work.

[@crawfordsmith7442]

Sat 10 Apr 21: Thank you for your presentation. I am interested in this whole topic. Thank you, very interesting.

[@flamencoprof]

An impressive display of the tools available to today's researchers. You could probably identify where the metals come from by the ratios of different elements. I believe this is indeed possible and is done. It would have been nice to have such identification included, but that is a wish, not a criticism.

[@perrinayebarra]

How did people learn this craft? It looks like master craftsmanship. It’s not like you have chunks of gold laying around as a kid and figure out you’re great at working it into intricate designs.

[@Player_Review]

As Technical Director of OSHA many years back, my dad used an electron microscope regularly (early 90's) and they certainly didn't have the wonderful graphical interfaces of today. I remember as a kid that a rare rock was found and he was able to identify what it was by using the electron microscope at his workplace. There were very few of them in the world at that time, so were fairly inaccessible for most institutions.

[@radiofri]

Impressive work! It would be nice to see what the tools actually looked like.

[@JA-ul8ee]

Archeologists always talk about Sumer, egypt and the Indus Valley. But only few mention the Middle Asian civilizations along the Oxus River ( Amu Darya ). It is the motherland of the Iranic peoples and the Vedic Indians.

[@mauimudpup]

Scythians do get mentioned but the others have either little items left or don't allow folks outside to study their items

[@MOJAHED-XAN]

Saka people are central Asian and they are only Iranic because of language nothing less nothing more their culture is like all steppe nomads

[@craigmason9893]

​@@MOJAHED-XANwhat you have taken will be restored

[@jclark2752]

These lady scientists are always so lovely... Intelligence is such a beautiful trait when mixed with genuine enthusiasm for one's work. :)

[@Me2Lancer]

It's fascinating to see the synthesis between the scanning electron microscope, the advanced software and the scientist interpreting results.

[@dadsonworldwide3238]

Its rare to see artifacts scythian titled.

[@dzjavat]

They are not that rare, if they were legal to own, people would expose all their foundings. Like at my homeland, in Chechnya, many families own such artifacts.

[@jakedee4117]

These are some very beautiful objects. Aude Mongiatti is very lucky to work them so closely. She is also wearing a rather fine bracelet on her arm. I wonder what sort of jewellery an expert in metallurgy chooses for herself ?

[@irynasherepot9882]

My DNA test says I'm the closest to Scythian DNA. I'm from Western Ukraine. Always interesting to see more research, thank you!

[@TheAfghan72]

How close are you on the gedmatch calculator? Pashtuns of Afghanistan get a 0,008-,000,12 distance to Scythians which is pretty close.

[@NSAJ33]

Awesome Iryna, your related to the relatives of the northern tribes of Israel.

[@dg-hughes]

Well Ukraine is in the ancient Scythian homeland. Do people in Ukraine tell stories of Scythian people?

[@davidsonnemann8023]

@@dg-hughes And it was the home of the last speakers of Gothic language. Beautiful and incredible jewel is Ukraine. Greetings, friends.

[@TheOlgaSasha]

@@davidsonnemann8023 And Ukraine was homeland (birthplace) of Slavs, and a state of Yamna culture zone (Indo-Europeans) and local proto-Europeans (Trypillia-Cucuteni culture).

[@frankiereinares8892]

amazing craftsmen during the 4th century bc,where they scythians or hired by them to make these works.metallegical technology is awesome.spectrum,known contents.love this video👍♥️

[@brianrichards7006]

You really don't need any fancy equipment, for the most part, to determine goldsmithing techniques. It is really nice to see these objects, which are quite well known to the art world, in detail, but as a goldsmith, I could pretty easily discern the methods of manufacture by just examining these objects with my eyes.

[@TheSeanoops]

Thanks Peter the Great.

[@paillette2010]

Thanks so much! So due to Cu and Ag being more prone to oxidation, the colors might have been less gold and more pink or white?

[@lovelyartin]

These are Iranian arts: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxus_Treasure

[@mukhumor]

Wow, cool. I wish I had a job like that.

[@marcusjones7082]

You know, only 200 magnification...

[@JohnJohansen2]

Interesting. For how long have humans been able to gild?

[@od1452]

Nice to know what your machine can do.. but I didn't get to see the artifacts or hardly so.. on or off the screen. BM productions seem to be afraid to share any images of artifacts and are often banal.

[@dennisaur66]

what kind of hitting and carving tools did they use? iron, bronze, or stone?

[@clayz1]

Dennis Schohan Lost wax only needs sharp and fine carving tools.

[@censusgary]

Probably bronze, but it might have been something else. Gold is pretty soft, so you can carve it with most other metals or stone, or even hard woods.

[@paxwallacejazz]

She's got northern English traces in her composit accent.

[@masheroz]

What is the effect of surface finish on the quantification? Have you ever been able to cut open a piece to examine the interior?

[@IIVVBlues]

How do nomads produce such fine and intricate art? The sophistication and detail in these pieces require sophisticated smelters, tools and workshops not usually associated with mobility.

[@vangraff3478]

Well since they lived in and around modern-day Ukraine they probably got some Greek influences from merchant ships who traveled up the Black Sea.

[@joek600]

Most of these artifacts came from Greek workshops, on themes that their Scythian customers liked and ordered. There are other not depicted here that the Greek origin is even more evident.

[@spramodh21]

While Greek influence and even come completely made by Greeks (tho as this is the Oxus treasure, there's a lot more Persian influences) are there, the fact is that the Scythians (and to a lesser degree the Sarmatians, but both of these were far better than the later nomads) did produce much of this art on their own. The gold is largely from deposits in and near the steppe, where it's in great abundance. Scythians weren't completely nomadic - they had some settlements and plenty of subject peoples and slaves for which they could use for both pastoral activities, as well as mining. Also, they mediated trade between many regions, grew rich on this, and often would hire skilled craftsmen from settled places, or use the wealth to buy things they couldn't make. But it's well-documented that they were good goldsmiths themselves. You don't need as much equipment as you think. The Scythians did have tools and produced many things for their own use - weapons, clothing, etc. If you think they were just warriors, you'd be mistaken. Gold was by far the easiest metal for them to work, and they had an abundance of it.

[@vangraff3478]

Yes the Roxolani and Royal Scythians too !

[@IIVVBlues]

Are you aware of any particularly good books covering Scythian artisans or their smelting and molding of gold?

[@petrfrizen6078]

In the vast spaces of Siberia of nowadays there are (reportedly) quite a few gold mines. Do you have any idea where the Scythians were procuring their gold from? Any river described as rich with the ingots?

[@joek600]

I think in modern Georgia, then Tauris there was gold mining at least since the bronze age. The golden fleece myth may very much refere to a recorded method of using the fleece of lambs to catch river gold dust in the wool

[@robertwilliams450]

Anyone ever hear of someone finding the shops these gold jewelry were made in?

[@johndewey6358]

How do I get a job in this department?1 Fascinating presentation that brings the objects to life.

[@Alakhana]

James Tod[25] writes that the tribes here alluded to are the Haihaya or Aswa, the Takshak, and the Jat or Getae; the similitude of whose theogony, names in their early genealogies, and many other points, with the Chinese, Tatar, Mogul, Hindu, and Scythic races, would appear to warrant the assertion of one common origin. Professor B. S. Dhillon states that the Jats are mainly of Indo-Scythian lineage with composite mixing of Sarmatians, Goths & Jutes in History and study of the Jats.[26] Historian James Tod agreed in considering the Jats to be of Indo-Scythian Stock.[27] Moreover, Sir Alexander Cunningham, Former Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India, considered the Jats to be the Xanthii (a Scythian tribe) of Scythian stock who he considered very likely called the Zaths (Jats) of early Arab writers.[28] He stated "their name is found in Northern India from the beginning of the Christian era." These people were considered by early Arab writers to have descended from Meds and Zaths.[29][30] Sir Cunningham believed that they "were in full possession of the valley of the Indus towards the end of the seventh century.[31] Stephen Fuchs suggests that the Jats probably migrated from Central Asia to India as a "predatory nomadic tribe".[32] Natalya Romanovna Guseva considered the Jats to be the descendants of the Sakas.[33] It has also been suggested that "the Rajputs proper were of mixed origin - pre-Muslim invaders such as Scythians, Bactrians, Parthians, Hunas and Gurjaras who came in before, say, the end of the 7th century."[34] Sir Alexander Cunningham, (Former Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India) wrote: The Xanthii (a Scythian tribe) are very probably the Zaths (Jats) of the early Arab writers. As the Zaths were in Sindh to the west of the Indus, this location agrees very well with what we know of the settlement of the Sakas (Scythians) on the Indian frontier.[35] Sir John Marshall, (Former Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India) wrote: "These Scythian invaders came principally from the three great tribes of Massagetae (great Jats), Sacaraucae, and Dahae (still exists as a Jat clan of Punjab)[36], whose home at the beginning of the second century B.C. was in the country between the Caspian sea (sea) and the Jaxartes river (Central Asia).[37] Arthur Edward Barstow wrote: "Greeks of Bactria (partly modern Afghanistan), expelled by the hordes of Scythians, entered India in the second and first centuries BC and are said to have penetrated as far as Orissa (an Indian province in south-east). Meanwhile the Medii, Xanthii, Jatii, Getae and other Scythian races, were gradually working their way from the banks of the Oxus (River valley in Central Asia) into Southern Afghanistan and the pastoral highland about Quetta (a Pakistani city), whence they forced their way by the Bolan Pass, through the Sulaiman Mountains into India, settling in the Punjab about the beginning of the first century AD. It is from these Scythian immigrants that most of the Jat tribes are at any rate partly descended."[38] A. H. Bingley wrote: "It is from these Scythian Immigrants that most of the Jat tribes are at any rate partly descended."[39] Professor Joyce Pettigrew wrote: "Another view holds that the Jats came from Asia Minor and Armenia in the successive invasions during the period 600 B.C. to A.D. 600."[40] Professor Henry Smith Williams wrote: "The extent of the Scythian invasion has been variously estimated. Some scholars believe that they virtually supplanted the previous population of India (means Punjab), and there seems little doubt that by far the most numerous section of the Punjab population is of Scythian origin."[41] Professor Pritam Singh Gill wrote: "There is a general concensus of opinion that Jats, and with them Rajputs and Gujjars were foreigners who came from their original home, near the Oxus, Central Asia."[42] Professor Tadeusz Sulimirski wrote: "The evidence of both the ancient authors and the archaeological remains point to a massive migration of Sacian (Sakas)/Massagetan ("great" Jat) tribes from the Syr Daria Delta (Central Asia) by the middle of the second century B.C. Some of the Syr Darian tribes; they also invaded North India."[43] Horace Arthur Rose wrote: "Many of the Jat tribes of the Punjab have customs which apparently point to non-Aryan origin. Suffice it to say that both Sir Alexander Cunningham and Colonel Tod agreed in considering the Jats to be of Indo-Scythian Stock. The former identified them with the Zanthi of Strabo (Greek Geographer of the ancient times) and the Jatii of Pliny (Roman writer) and Ptolemy (Another Greek Geographer of the ancient times); and held that they probably entered the Punjab from their home on the Oxus (in Central Asia) very shortly after the Meds or Mands (still exist as one of the Jat clans of the Punjab), who also were Indo-Scythians, and who moved into the Punjab about a century before Christ."[44] Sir Henry Miers Elliot wrote: "These ignorant tribes (Jats) pointing to the remote Ghazni (Afghanistan) as their original seat, the very spot we know to have been occupied by the Yuechi, or, as Klaproth says, more correctly, Yuti, in the first centuries of our era, after the Sakas (a Scythian tribe) were repelled back from the frontiers of India, and left the country between India and Persia open for their occupation. The Jat tribes not doubt emigrated, no at all once, but at different times, and it is probable that those in the North-West are among the latest importations."[45] I. Sara wrote: "Recent excavations in the Ukraine and Crimea. The finds points to the visible links of the Jat and Scythians."[46] Sir Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff wrote: "My conclusion, therefore, is, that the Jats may be of Scythian descent."[47] Ujagir Singh Mahil wrote: "Jat were called Scythians; because they were the inhabitants of the ancient country of Scythia. The Jats who invaded the Punjab and conquered India up to Benares were called Indo-Scythians."[48] James Francis Katherinus Hewitt wrote: "Further evidence both of the early history and origin of the race of Jats, or Getae, is given by the customs and geographical position of another tribe of the same stock, called the Massagetae, or great (massa) Getae."[49] Sir George Fletcher MacMunn (Sir and Lt. General) wrote: "Alexander came to India in his capacity as the holder of the Persian throne. From his camp near Kabul (Afghanistan), the Macedonian (Alexander) summoned those chiefs whom Skylax (Persian general) had conquered in the old time afore, to come and renew their homage to their ancient Persian overlord in the person of himself. Several obeyed his summons, others did not, and it has been surmised that those who did were later arrivals, of Jat or Scythian origin, outside the normal Aryan fold as later comers to India."[50] Syed Muhammad Latif wrote: "A considerable portion of the routed army of the Scythians settled in the Punjab, and a race of them, called Nomardy, inhabited the country on the west bank of the Indus (river). They are described as a nomadic tribe, living in wooden houses, after the old Scythian fashion, and settling where they found sufficient pasturage. A portion of these settlers, the descendants of Massagetae, were called Getes, from whom sprung the modern Jats."[51] Dr. Gopal Singh wrote: "The Jats of the Panjab, are Scythians in origin and came from Central Asia, whose one branch migrated as far south in Europe as Bulgaria. "[52] N. Singh wrote: "The Scythians appear to originate from Central Asia. They reached Punjab between 50 B.C. and A.D. 50. It seems probable that the Scythian ancestors of the Jats entered the Sindh Valley (presently in Pakistan Kashmir) between 100 B.C. and A.D. 100."[53] Satya Shrava wrote: "The Jats are none other than the Massagetae (Great Getae) mentioned in Diodorus as an off-spring of the ancient Saka tribe.... a fact now well-known."[54] Bakhshish Singh Nijjar wrote: "The Jats are the descendants of Scythians, whose kingdom's capital was Scythia, in the present Ukraine (Ukrainian), Soviet Social Republic, is the constituent Republic of the European USSR (Population 49,757,000) in 1947. Now Ukraine's capital is Kiev, the third leading city in Russia. Before the invasion of the golden herd, 13th century B.C. Scythian, ancient kingdom of indeterminate boundaries, centered in the area north of the Black Sea."[55] Rima Hooja suggests that the Jats are "probably descendants of the Scythians who entered India in early historical times".[56]

[@jasonwortham4097]

i watch a plethora United States Culture stuff ,well assimilated direction ,that made me feel. from Louisville ,KY.

[@andrewpalframan4666]

What are you smoking??

[@mirarstudios]

They were the days...

[@tapaiferenc577]

The casting materia depending by,from materia of negativ and the enwironoment when happen a cast!Feri.

[@AdamJDuncan]

How cool is beardo, he's a FUCKING SAINT! That means he's performed at least three miracles!

[@ninaevtushenko3915]

I wonder how the treasures of Tadjikistan were appeared in the UK.

[@TheAfghan72]

The treasures are from Northern Afghanistan not Tajikistan.

[@azzlaird5541]

It would have taken unbelievable skill to make these things for sure

[@Dirtbag-Hyena]

Naaw..I could do it with A screwdriver and hammer.😁

[@TEAMGETHELP]

I suggest everybody seek out Ashas Logos(sp) subverted history series for more information on our ancestors.

[@carolsaia7401]

Ever checked out Atlantian Gardens?? Atlantis Homo Sapians after the Biblical Flood ...

[@user-yf6wf8nr3u]

Thank You for showing heritage of Indo-european peoples.

[@EvanClifthorne]

OMG I LOVE THAT SKIRT WHERE CAN I BUY IT!!!! (Also, you're brilliant. thank you for your brilliance. this video is genuinely fabulous. Sorry to focus on superficial stuff - I just really want to wear that skirt personally.)

[@sykes758]

Evan you dog, does your mother know?

[@lovelyartin]

These are Iranian arts: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxus_Treasure

[@albundy9597]

I would prefer to take it off of her

[@mojosbigsticks]

Can you tell the age of gold? I mean no just in an artistic context.

[@glenm99]

Sort of. Nitrogen in the atmosphere occasionally gets hit by a cosmic ray and becomes a heavy isotope of carbon, which is radioactive. That new carbon atom combines with oxygen into carbon dioxide, is taken up by plants, maybe gets eaten by some animals, and ends up in artifacts of various sorts. Once the artifact stops absorbing new carbon, then the amount of radioactive carbon starts dropping off due to radioactive decay. Since we know how much radioactive carbon was in the atmosphere at any given time in the last few thousand years, we can measure how much is left in the artifact and get its age. So that's really the best way: carbon date the age of the surrounding objects, and assume they're all from about the same time. But metals are dug from the ground, smelted, and purified. There's a bit of radioactivity underground, but not enough to cause the ore to have a significant increase of new isotopes over that same ore out of the ground, and you never have the original ore to compare against (versus knowing the atmospheric composition of radioactive carbon in the past). So you can't use that same technique on gold directly. However, there is a recent, more direct way of measuring. Check out DOI 10.1002/celc.201800435 ... it's a pretty recent technique but it looks promising. Basically, you measure the resistance of the gold in question at different voltages. Then you compare that information to samples of known age. What it's measuring is how much of the surface material has reacted. If you start pushing non-metal atoms into the surface, then it becomes less conductive, and it turns out that this happens at a pretty constant rate over time. When the gold is first smelted, none of the surface material will be bound up with any oxygen or sulfur, but it reacts over time in the same way that silver turns green or black over time... just a lot more slowly.

[@samuelfreisinger5580]

"...elements" "...laser beams" "...and they're soooo koooool!"

[@johnkmatsch]

I remember in art school noticing that Scythian art resembled Celtic forms and imagery.

[@Samuray1955]

The descendants of the Scythians belong to the native speakers of the Türkic languages (translated from Russian) www.sib-science.info/ru/institutes/skify-okazalis-predkami-03032017?fbclid=IwAR0D6fefbc_mu549OpNgNDHqBSOwAztb1Ad5uIBTrGNUx-WwN5g9WrPXiA8 Scientists from the Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberia Branch of the Academy of Sciences (Russia), together with colleagues from Germany, the USA and France, conducted the largest genetic study of carriers of the Scythian culture from all over Eurasia in order to understand the demographic foundations of the history of the Scythians. It turned out that the Scythians from different ends of the Eurasian steppe are closer to each other than to other peoples, and their descendants belong to the speakers of the Turkic languages. The research results are presented in the journal Nature Communications. Scientists worked with genome-wide data on eight individuals and mitochondrial DNA of 96 people who lived in the first millennium BC in the Eurasian steppe, from the Black Sea region to Altai. It turned out that behind the unity of the Scythian culture of the Iron Age, traced by archaeological discoveries, lies a genetic unity. Despite the fact that the Scythians of eastern and western Eurasia originally belonged to different peoples, over time, the flow of genes, going in both directions, led to the unification of this people throughout the steppe. As for the origin of the Scythians, the researchers distinguish two main components: the peoples of the Yamnaya culture (Eurasian nomads of the Bronze Age) and the peoples of East Asia (northern Siberia). As for the descendants of the Scythians, genetically closest to them are modern populations living near the Scythian burials excavated by archaeologists - which indicates some continuity between population groups. The descendants of the Western Scythians can be found among the various peoples of the Caucasus and Central Asia, and the eastern ones - only among the Turkic-speaking peoples (the Kypchak language group). The last link requires a separate study: it is usually believed that the expansion of the Turkic languages in Eurasia began much later, from the 6th century AD. The influence of the Scythians on the ethnogenesis of the Turkic peoples can be clarified in the framework of future genetic studies. Потомки Cкифов принадлежат к носителям Tюркских языков www.sib-science.info/ru/institutes/skify-okazalis-predkami-03032017?fbclid=IwAR0D6fefbc_mu549OpNgNDHqBSOwAztb1Ad5uIBTrGNUx-WwN5g9WrPXiA8 Ученые из Института цитологии и генетики СО РАН вместе с коллегами из Германии, США и Франции провели крупнейшее генетическое исследование носителей скифской культуры со всей Евразии, чтобы понять демографические основы истории скифов. Оказалось, что скифы с разных концов евразийской степи друг другу ближе, чем другим народам, а их потомки принадлежат к носителям тюркских языков. Результаты исследования представлены в журнале Nature Communications. Ученые работали с полногеномными данными по восьми индивидам и митоходриальной ДНК 96 человек, живших в первом тысячелетии до нашей эры в евразийской степи, от Причерноморья до Алтая. Выяснилось, что за единством скифской культуры железного века, прослеживаемым по археологическим открытиям, лежит и генетическое единство. Несмотря на то, что скифы восточной и западной Евразии исходно принадлежали к различным народам, со временем поток генов, шедший в обеих направлениях, привел к унификации этого народа по всей степи. Что касается происхождения скифов, то исследователи выделяют два основных компонента: народы ямной культуры (евразийские кочевники бронзового века) и народы восточной Азии (северной Сибири). Что же касается потомков скифов, то генетически ближе всего к ним современные популяции, обитающие недалеко от скифских захоронений, раскопанных археологами - что говорит о некоторой преемственности между группами населения. Потомков западных скифов можно найти среди различных народов Кавказа и Средней Азии, а восточных - лишь среди тюркоязычных народов (кыпчакская языковая группа). Последняя связка требует отдельного исследования: обычно считается, что экспансия тюркских языков в Евразии началась гораздо позже, от VI века нашей эры. Влияние скифов на этногенез тюркских народов может быть выяснено в рамках будущих генетических исследований.

[@amberbank1986]

Its indo-aryans not turks....turks were decimated by the scythians

[@DarkValorWolf]

3:40 what now?

[@TrueFireAnt]

Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.

[@mihaiilie8808]

That is thracian and dacian gold. You should test whats the gold provenance and then you will see how much it traveled.

[@rjlchristie]

Why show the series of objects at the end at a strobe like pace? Poor editing decision.

[@recklessroges]

You can slow the video down or just loop it by clicking 6:54

[@SamsaraMontreal]

My ancestor's Jewelery.

[@avd-wd9581]

I thought the Oxus treasure was Achaemenid?

[@Soul-co7ki]

Before it. Oxus civilization is Margiana and Bactrian complex.

[@jenei35]

Hungarian folk is the most ancient folk in the world. Scythian = sumerian = parthian = celtic = etruscan = kushitan = hungarian. Jesus and Maria are scythian (notedly parthian) people.

[@billpapas2623]

hahaha

[@BeckVMH]

Those “cuts” ran a little long on the boar’s mane 2:00. Quality Control guy must have fallen asleep haha. Seriously, without magnification, precise etchings would have been a very tedious leaned skill.

[@spinblade6459]

They probably sent the artisan and the QC guy to Siberia for that.

[@thetruthexperiment]

I don’t think I learned anything from that accept now they have electron microscope/spectroscopy in one machine. That’s cool. But, so what if they used different techniques and different alloys? Isn’t that what you would expect? There was trade and craftsmanship. Also something you would expect. Cool software. I guess.

[@gianlucagrimaldi4215]

From what I understand (little), the origin of the pieces in the Oxus treasure is extremely unclear, and it has even been suggested that they are all modern forgeries (www.artwatchinternational.org/the-metropolitan-and-the-oxus-treasure/). Apparently the plaques in the collection are very unusual for the time, and some of them seem too poorly made to be originals. I guess that a careful study of the composition might help clarifying whether the collection is original and/or whether the objects come from the same site.

[@charleswalker1185]

The. Soul was represented as a Paisley...a comma, the Scythian princess settled Northern India...

[@charleswalker1185]

Princes, not princess

[@Chamomile369]

Return to tradition

[@brianrichards7006]

LOL....you don't need a $100,000 dollar machine to tell how those objects were made. Pay a good goldsmith in London to look them over. There are a limited number of techniques which were used in ancient times, and most of them are still in use today.

[@avd-wd9581]

Those stupid scientists! Yeah, you showed them!

[@jgeur]

appears you haven't purchased an accessorized SEM lately. however i would be interested in learning about those ancient techniques that provide exact metal content instantaneously and without any damage to the object. taste test perhaps?

[@lovelyartin]

These are Iranian arts: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxus_Treasure

[@yenidenturktarihtezi]

Wikepdia Kid 😂

[@lovelyartin]

@@yenidenturktarihtezi Learn history of ancient Iranian peoples

[@yenidenturktarihtezi]

@@lovelyartin but not in Wikepdia 😂

[@lovelyartin]

@@yenidenturktarihtezi There are many sources, if you want to learn you can! Even the word Azarbaijan on your name is an Iranian word

[@lovelyartin]

@@yenidenturktarihtezi This is three: www.britannica.com/topic/Scythian

[@jmab721]

*Jats & Rors.*

[@Saulman1984]

I'd like to see some Scythian cannabis paraphernalia.

[@olorin4317]

From what I've seen, they burned it inside a tent in a bonfire. Old school hot box.

[@mauimudpup]

very cool but my biggest question is can you just name your son St.John instead of John?

[@dorothywillis1]

Apparently so. I have seen it in old novels, such as Jane Eyre. In the case of that character, and probably in real life, the parents are using a surname as a given name. This is similar to calling a child Shannon. Although Shannon is a surname, it is often used as a given name.

[@rosangelaribeiro768]

Ok

[@douglasfell4199]

Why does Scotland believe they come from the Scythians, i.e. Greater Scythia according to the Declaration of Arbroath and also Scoti "The Lebor Gabála Érenn states that Scota was the mother of Goidel Glas the eponymous ancestor of the Gaels. This Scota was the daughter of an Egyptian pharaoh named Cingris, a name found only in Irish legend. She marries Goidel's Father Niul, son of Fénius Farsaid (identified as a son of Gomer) a Babylonian who traveled to Scythia after the collapse of the Tower of Babel" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scota

[@Oshin-kf8wo]

Iranians = Persian Parthian Bactrian Sogdian Sramatian Scythian Saka Massaget Lulobian Kotian Kassit Median

[@azerbaijanianhistory5780]

Parthians, sogdians. sarmatians, scythians, lullubians, gutians, medes, kassites arent iranians. Kassites and elams were dravidian tribes. The lullubians, gutians are autocton subar tribes. Medes also are from Mitanni Subartu matiens, i mean are not aryan. Protoscythians and protosauromatians also subarian tribes. 3600 year ago, they moved from Asia minor. 3000 year ago aryans werent in Iran. During the BMAC Oxus aryans were in Europe)

[@sosyalkayip6088]

Scythian -Saka (yakut) Turkic not persian

[@azerbaijanianhistory5780]

@Sina Mr Oxus are Oghuz and arent aryanic word.

[@azerbaijanianhistory5780]

@Sina Mr İran arent ethnic name. In Iran are 33 million turk, 26 million persian. All iranians arent persian. Oguz arnet persian word. The mongol are turkic word 1000 tribe. Pers are turkic word bars (leopard).

[@poponachtschnecke]

Kassit has wares, if you have coin.

[@jgeur]

an Archaeometallurgist...now there's a job that doesn't come up in the listings down at the unemployment office.

[@j.lietka9406]

Aude, you're hot! What is the karat of gold those are made of? Thank you

[@memyselfi0120]

But these objects were found on the border of what is today Tajikistan and Afghanistan, and are considered to be of Achaemenid Persian origin...

[@an1rb]

How did this treasure land in Britain from Central Asia?

[@YogijiClamzananda]

acquire spectra... acquire an image... the British Museum is simply the best at acquiring stuff... other people's stuff... as in, we didn't nick it, we acquired it... ha ha

[@siliconjim2554]

Yeah but we know that your infantile, backward countries would just destroy it in the name of your gods, then sell it on for money anyway.

[@vkngwmn6636]

as a trained metalsmith in gold and silver smithing this person should be better versed in the actual terminology of metalsmithing...

[@lowereastsideastrologist7769]

aude mongiatti is pretty cute.

[@spinblade6459]

And you're pretty thirsty.

[@user-vk7dx5wb5u]

How is this ended up in the British museum? Every piece is costing more on the action, then a painting of Vincent van Gogh. Stolen again as usual? When the pieces will be returned to Tajikistan for example? In 2007, Emomalii Rahmon, President of Tajikistan, was reported as calling for the repatriation of the treasure, despite the fact that it had been recovered and sold by local peoples and acquired by museums in the art market.However, no formal claim has been made by the Tajik government, and in 2013, "high-quality golden replicas" of pieces from the Oxus Treasure were presented to the Tajik government by the British Museum, intended for the new Tajik National Museum

[@mrshukla8293]

Jats living in North India are said to be Scythians. In India, they are the most superior caste. Jats are called to be descendants of lord Shiva. While all other castes originated by Lord Brahma. But Jats are originated from Lord Shiva.

[@muhammadsamranasif]

Yep Most Scythian migrated to present day India and Pakistan because of resource full land and gold. I myself belong to the jatt clan name warraich. I don't understand why these Europeans and Turks want to prove that they are the descendants of Scythians. Moreover most of the rulers of ancient India were jatts and kushans, Maurya's, Gupta's and many more empires were formed by jatts. You can read the book title "Jatt the ancient rulers"

[@Saurischian]

She's gorgeous.

[@spinblade6459]

Thirsty toelickers.

[@yomomz3921]

With a scanning electron 3D printer, they could make exact copies. 🤔

[@hunszkita1]

Shytians ,, Huns,,, Magyars is the continuation

[@Samuray1955]

Step, Nomad, Horse/Horse milk+meat eaters/Horse riders/Horse sacrifices/Joint Human+horse graves/, Trousers, Kurgan culture is a protoTurk (Cimmerian, Scythian, Sak, Sarmatian, Massaget, Thracian/Frakian, Hun, Alan, Avar, Bulgar, Magyar, Peceneg, Khazar...) culture from Altai to the Danube!

[@Brakvash]

Northern English and French makes for a very strange accent.

[@BillySugger1965]

I found it enchanting

[@ozanyldran5834]

Yaşasın ulu Türk ataları!

[@DinoZavrus]

@Waydeeper U are lying

[@herydepauxis4557]

Where are the Scythians today? Simply living among the people in England, Germany, and many in Scandinavia. After seeing the DNA of many Native Americans here in Brazil our group ran out of money to search the Scythians in Europe. Although we have seen Scythians in northern Italy and France. But one day someone will contribute to us and we will do this research again. My grandmother was Schwab (Swabian) and Anglo-Saxons are a division of the Schwabs. Maybe we'll stick to Scythian DNA yet!

[@TheAfghan72]

Scythians are the ancestors of modern Afghans like the Pashtuns, not Europeans as they never went that far in Europe. Oh and these artifacts are from Afghanistan :)

[@ANTSEMUT1]

Slavs and Ossetians.

[@FirstLast-hz8ut]

@@ANTSEMUT1 And North Indian groups like Jats and Kamboj.

[@ANTSEMUT1]

@@FirstLast-hz8ut probably.

[@mr31337]

Gilf

[@user-oo1hp8uq4p]

Ако тия златни предмети ги сравните с Българските съкровища ще видите,че 90 просента приличат на нашите.

[@bottytoohotty]

Eire Arya Iran .

[@spinblade6459]

It's fun to be postdiluvian.

[@tungapars4135]

today turkey ,azerbaycan,turkmenistan ..etc west asia turks are oğuz(oxus) turks

[@MrDelvoye]

FESEM

[@EdwinHenryBlachford]

"so I'm an architect..what do you do for work?"(this line works most times).. she says with sexy French accent.."oh I analyse 5000 year old gold jewellery under an electron microscope at the British Museum". He moves along and finds a waitress to chat up

[@theVulcanGuy]

"Bollocks to the waitress, tell me about your work, you lovely&brainy specimen of human!" Say the mathematician passing by.

[@gygyuri2194]

A wild nice guy has been spotted

[@gygyuri2194]

THERE'S TWO OF THEM

[@Samuray1955]

Являются ли русские потомками скифов: нет, не скифы мы В начале I тысячелетия н.э. скифы были уничтожены сарматами. Под сарматами ученые бесспорно понимают семиреченских саков, выходцев с южного Казахстана. При этом Платон писал, что сарматы в быту ничем не отличаются от скифов, говорят на их языке, но неправильно. Другими словами, и сарматы, и скифы принадлежали с родственным пратюркским народам. Поэтому, очевидно, скифы не были уничтожены сарматами, а ассимилированы ими. В IV веке сарматы, в свою очередь, были ассимилированы хуннами, известными в Европе как гунны, выходцами из Центральной Азии, все так же пратюркским народом. С VII века в Причерноморье приходит новая волна тюркских народов. В этот раз миграция была обусловлена расширением Первого (Западного) тюркского каганата. zen.yandex.ru/media/sibguide/iavliaiutsia-li-russkie-potomkami-skifov-net-ne-skify-my-5e82be45a4b70d29713d37ca?fbclid=IwAR0T7U5IOW_mclKaq-ainvbdlSehvuFH0fyg5a2qM3IerxrthvFMsDlhcd4

[@Samuray1955]

Step, Nomad, Horse/Horse milk/Horse riders, Trousers, Kurgan culture is a protoTurk (Cimmerian, Scythian, Sak, Sarmatian, Massaget, Thracian/Frakian, Hun, Alan, Avar, Bulgar, Magyar, Peceneg, Khazar...) culture from Altai to the Danube!

[@notorious9278]

Go home thief

[@user-dc4bl1cu2k]

So many ethnic groups want to claim descent from the Scythians.

[@olorin4317]

Let me guess, your ethnic group is the one and only true descendant of the Scythians? They were a large, semi-nomadic culture that fades into history. Most likely splintering into many new groups that change into new cultures over time. Without solid evidence, Scythian origins are shrouded in theory and downright lies. It does seem likely that many ethnicities can trace back at least part of their culture to the Scythians. But that is just my theory. It seems very unlikely that the Scythians turned into only One modern culture. Most likely, I personally have no link to the Scythians in my direct heritage, but that does not mean I appreciate them any less. We are all humans. Hopefully one day in the future we can learn to enjoy all the interesting parts of humanity that have emerged from the great blender of time without the petty divisions of ethnicity and religion.

[@ANTSEMUT1]

Only the Ossetians can really linguistically speaking anyway.

[@FirstLast-hz8ut]

Yup my clan is said to be descendant of Indo-Scythians we were said to have fled Central Asia because of the Kushans who enslaved and massacred us. We later were forced to invade India and later established the Indo-Scythian Empire.