Pages: 133-154

The author examines the tradition of use of Sindian-Maeotian blade weapons. Their genesis began in the first half of the fifth century BC, as it was demonstrated by the recent research. Evolution of this type of swords started with a number of technological changes. The new type of swords was related to the barbaric periphery of the Bosporan kingdom. Such swords got particularly widely spread in the second half of the fourth century BC, when they reached the Lower and the Middle Don, Trans-Caucasus and Northern Caucasus, and even the South Ural region. While Scythian-type bladed weapon unexpectedly ceased to exist by the end of the same century, the SIndian-Maeotian type of swords was modernized and used in the later period.

Keywords: Bosporus kingdom, Maeotian culture, swords of Sindian-Maeotian type, akinakes, typological development

Information about author:

Vladimir Maslov (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dmitry Ulyanov St., 19, Moscow, 117036, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]