Shocking conclusions of scientists: the Scythians made quivers from human skin

Analysis of samples of ancient Scythian leather goods shows that the ancient Scythians made quivers for arrows from human skin. Thus, the words of the ancient historian Herodotus about the morals of nomadic warriors received scientific confirmation.

The ancient Scythians’ history as fearsome warriors dates back more than 2,000 years, and now research by a multi-institutional team of anthropologists confirms they were ruthless warriors. Researchers have discovered that Scythian warriors carried their arrows in leather quivers made from the skin of their defeated enemies, reports arkeonews.net.

The Scythians (6th-3rd centuries BC) were a nomadic people known for their fierce temperament and horsemanship on the ancient Eurasian steppes. Their lives were closely intertwined with the wild, vast landscapes they roamed. Living in harmony with their harsh environment, they gained an impressive reputation as warriors and skilled horsemen, notes Arkeonews.

Their nomadic lifestyle meant that they were in constant motion, adapting to the ever-changing conditions of the steppe. They were skilled archers, able to shoot accurately from horseback while galloping at high speed, a skill that made them formidable in battle.

In their project, published on the open access site PLOS ONE, the researchers tested the Greek historian Herodotus’ account of certain forms of behavior of ancient Scythian warriors.

Herodotus reported that nomadic warriors used the skulls of their victims as drinking cups, drank the blood of their enemies, and used their scalps as hand towels. “Many also remove the skin, nails and everything else from the right hands of their dead enemies and make covers for their quivers,” he wrote.

Until now, we’ve had to take Herodotus at his word, but the authors of a new study have finally provided scientific evidence to back up these grizzly bear claims. The researchers were able to identify the species from which each piece of skin came, using a range of methods to analyze proteins in 45 skin samples found at 14 different Scythian sites in southern Ukraine.

The researchers analyzed 45 skin samples collected from 14 Scythian sites using a variety of paleoproteomics techniques. They were able to determine the origin of all but two of them, which were made from the skin of a horse, cattle, goat or sheep. The other two had a human source to corroborate Herodotus’ words.

However, the researchers found pieces of leather derived from human skin in two of the quivers they examined. Further examination of two human leather specimens revealed that they were only used on the tops of quivers; the remaining quivers were made from animal skins.

It is important to note that the Scythians were not the first to use human skin for leather. Human skin has been used for a variety of purposes throughout history, including bookbinding and the creation of macabre artifacts. On the other hand, the discovery of human skin among the Scythians provides valuable information about their cultural practices.

One theory is that the use of human skin in leather production may have been associated with religious or ritualistic beliefs. The Scythians were well known for their elaborate funerary practices, which often included elaborate burial rituals and the placement of valuable objects in tombs. Products made from human skin may have been used to honor the memory of the deceased.

Another possibility is that the use of human skin was a means of conquering enemies. The Scythians were skilled warriors who often clashed with neighboring tribes. Creating leather goods from the skins of defeated enemies may have been a way for them to assert their power and intimidate their opponents.

The researchers suggest that their findings not only support legends of prehistoric Scythian warriors, but also demonstrate that the fighters made their quivers from readily available materials.