Ancient warrior woman's grave unearthed in Russia

A stunning trove of ancient jewellery has been found in the grave of a noble warrior woman dating back to the first century AD.

The female fighter was a Sarmatian, a people who worshipped fire and whose
 prominent role in warfare was seen as an inspiration for the Amazons of Greek
mythology [Credit: Institute of Archaeology, Russian Academy of Sciences]

The female fighter was a Sarmatian - a group of people who worshipped fire and whose prominent role in warfare was seen as an inspiration for the Amazons of Greek mythology. And the discovery of the intact burial mound in Russia has been described as 'priceless' by archaeologists.

The Sarmatians were nomadic people who migrating from central Asia to the Ural mountains between the 6th and 4th century BC. They were fierce warriors who fought on horseback and sacrificed horses to their fire god.

The noblewoman's grave and treasures are in a group of at least 29 burial mounds 
that came to light during the construction of a new airport serving Rostov-on-Don
[Credit: Institute of Archaeology, Russian Academy of Sciences]

As well as gold and silver jewellery, the experts found more than 100 iron arrowheads in the grave, as well as the warrior's horse harness.

Early analysis of her teeth suggests she had survived the battles of this period and reached a great age. She was buried with a man - assumed to be her husband - but his tomb was looted, revealed experts from the Institute of Archaeology, of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Gold earrings with pendant chains [Credit: Institute of Archaeology, 
Russian Academy of Sciences]

The noblewoman's grave and treasures are in a group of at least 29 burial mounds that came to light during the construction of a new airport serving Rostov-on-Don.

Archaeologist Roman Mimokhod said: 'Most of the burials on this site are plundered and, of course, it is great luck to find an intact one.

Gold vial [Credit: Institute of Archaeology, 
Russian Academy of Sciences]

'It is interesting that there are two burials in this mound. One obviously belonged to man and was totally looted. We found only some fragments of crockery and scattered bones. 'We will check the bones, but we are almost sure it was some noble man. The second burial belonged to the woman.'

He stressed: 'We believe that it was a double burial of some noble Sarmatian and his wife.'

Gold bracelet [Credit: Institute of Archaeology, 
Russian Academy of Sciences]

Detailed tests on her remains will be conducted and the results announced later.

'The depth of the tomb is [13 feet] four metres and it was covered with a wooden decking. At the edge of the grave pit were found the remains of a harness and more than 100 iron arrowheads. According to ancient historians, Sarmatian women participated in hostilities and this find of arrowheads is indirect confirmation of this.'

Bronze ladle(?) with image of Gorgon's head  [Credit: Institute of Archaeology, 
Russian Academy of Sciences]

Next to her skull, gold earrings with pendant chains were found, while a bronze mirror was close to her shoulder.

'The collar of her dress was decorated with stamped buckles of gold leaf in the form of a stylised ram's head,' he said.

Gem with a single-line Phoenician or early Aramaic inscription 
[Credit: Institute of Archaeology, Russian Academy of Sciences]

'Her sleeves were embroidered with colourful beads combined with gold triangular and hemispherical plaques. On each hand - a gold bracelet. On her breasts were various beads, among which was a gem with a single-line Phoenician or early Aramaic inscription. At her pelvis lay a gold vial. This had a tight lid and its contents are fossilised.'

'We will analyse this to understand what it was, but most likely it contained some incense. By her right hand were fragments of wooden dishes and a cup. At her feet there were fragments of a bronze bucket (ladle) with floral ornaments and the image of the Gorgon's head on a stick. In the north-eastern part of the grave were located four ceramic vessels.'

Ceramic vessel [Credit: Institute of Archaeology, 
Russian Academy of Sciences]

A small 'hiding place' in the grave contained a collection of knives and an unfinished sword with brooches on its handle.

'One of the most unusual things about these finds is that items in the burial were dated from the first century BC to the first century AD. It is rather unique, I have not see such a combination before and have not heard about it. This can mean that the most ancient things were handed down for a long time and finally were buried with this noble woman.'

The Sarmatians flourished from the 5th century BC to the fourth century AD.

Author: Will Stewart | Source: Daily Mail Online [August 14, 2015]