Origin of the Scythians of the Northern Black Sea Region: Issues, Hypotheses and Prospects

Abstract

At the current stage of Scythology, numerous studies of archaeological monuments have been carried out, their historical and cultural interpretation has been given; zones of move- ment and regions that did not have a permanent population were determined; potential initial foci of migration and innovation have been identified. A general methodological approach has been proposed for synchronizing Asian materials with Scythian chronology; the concept of the formation of nomadic cultures in the Asian mountain-steppe regions has been put forward, archaeological materials has been combined into cultural and chronological hori- zons. However, there are tendencies towards subjectivity of assessments and interpretations concerning the entire spectrum of Scythian issues. The absence of ethnic attribution of the concept of "Scythian" and generally accepted definitions of the concepts of "Scythian cul- ture" and "Scythian archaeological culture" are considered by the authors the reasons for the complexity of the ever expanding topical issues of the "Scythian question". The difficulty of their identifying is due to the intersection and blurring of the boundaries of the areas of distribution of monuments of the "culture of the Scythian type", equally belonging to the territory of the Northern Black Sea region and other territories of the "Scythian world". In the further development of the complex issues of the genesis of the Scythians and their culture, the authors consider inevitable and expedient rational and systemic integration and further development of various hypotheses put forward by the classics of archaeology, as well as their deepening at a new epistemological level of modern knowledge.