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Barry Cunlife - The Scythians

World of the Scythians.

World of the Scythians.

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the rise of the pontic steppe scythians

ments increased on the Crimean peninsula as the Scythian elites moved away from

the open steppe and began to embrace a Greek lifestyle with growing enthusiasm.

Far away from the direct influence of the Greek world, in the forest steppe, fortified

settlements have a long ancestry pre-dating the arrival of the Scythians. Fairly

typical of these settlements is the fortified site of Trakhtemirov overlooking the River

Dnieper, about 100 km south of Kiev. It is a fortified plateau some 12 by 7 km (630

hectares) surrounded by rivers on three sides. At the eastern extremity was a fortified

acropolis. The economy of the community was based on the raising of cattle and

pigs and the growing of wheat, millet, barley, and legumes. Iron was extracted and a

wide range of domestic crafts practised. The occupants were engaged in trade with

BEL’SK

N

River Vo rskla

present day village of Bel’sk

West fort

River Suchaja Grunt

River Suchaja Grunt

East fort

1 Km

5.10 The fortified centre of Bel’sk.

5.10

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