Unraveling the origins of the Iron Age nomads of the Eurasian steppes, the Scythians (in the broad sense), is a complicated topic that historians and archaeologists have wrestled with for centuries.
A masterclass in archaeological storytelling—this kind of depth and regional synthesis is exactly what brings the ancient steppe cultures vividly back to life
Outside of an shared Indo-European past, the Thraco-Dacians and Scythians have very clear separate origins. The geographical proximity of these peoples had led to shared cultural influences going in both directions as well as geneflow. This element is often misinterpreted as an indication that the Thracians/Getae/Dacians and the Scythians/Sarmatians were closely related people or even "the same" people - but this is not the case at all.
When it comes to the Dacians we have somewhat of a limited understanding in regards to their origin from a biological POV as their cremation heavy burial rituals. That said through samples of Thracians, Roman period samples of the Danube, the Scythianized complex of Glinoe, as well as samples from early iron age Ukraine we can piece together their origins somewhat. The Dacians seem to derive from the Bessarabi culture, which is a variant of the Eastern Urnfield/Hallstatt complex (note that eastern U/H were not "Celts").
We have early iron age samples from Kartal and these were genetically southeastern European, resembling contemporary individuals from the western Balkans. Thracians seem to have a closer resemblance to ancient Greeks from a genetic POV. Whether the difference is the result of a Thracian-like profile acquiring more northern ancestry, or a Kartal-like profile acquiring more southern ancestry is still unresolved but I suspect more so the latter than the former.
Dacians proper likely would have had ancestry from Thracians, Scythians/Sarmatians as well as Celts in addition to this iron age base but how much of each contributed is difficult to say. The Daco-Thracian component in roman period individuals from Pannonia and the Danube is very significant.
The interaction between the E. Hallstatt complex and that of the early iron age nomads will be covered in the sequel to this blog entry by the way so if you are interested in that topic, stay tuned!
Interesting question! I can tell you much about the significance of white horses in steppe cultures but blue horses not so much. I only know of blue horses from medieval persianate depictions so I'd imagine it is a theme which developed during that period, which unfortunately is not my expertise. I came across an article from 2023 which seems to affirm this, and discusses the blue horses:
Thanks. It makes sense. In Sikh literature it is associated with Spirituality; which makes sense given influence of Sufism in Panjab. here is a fun documentary for you regarding the “Indo-Scythian” part. I think you will enjoy it - https://youtu.be/X13VvuYdFgQ?si=TQ0QXF7MRn42JLAE
You have a great effort to make the Scythians look like something they are not!
How long will you steal someone else's identity and history with impunity, you dirty gypsies?
The Polish Turks wished they were Slavs and the Turks and Mongols wished they were Scythians, ha ha. You are nothings and you will remain like that!
I have one elementary sentence for you, with which you are stuck in the ground up to your forehead in your lies and sloppiness. Translate it for yourself because it also gives the etymology of the name Scythians: “Σκύθας ἐκάλουν ἢ Nομάδας” – Strab.I.2.27
It's good that you and various fictional scientists are here to explain to us how things are and to adjust the words there ( Scythians — Skuda —skewd—shooter ) to suit your intimate desires because you really want to be something you have never been and will never be.
The main and defining thing about the Scythians is their way of life, and this is not shooting, but traveling long distances, seasonally, related to their livelihood.
A masterclass in archaeological storytelling—this kind of depth and regional synthesis is exactly what brings the ancient steppe cultures vividly back to life
Looking forward to the rest.
Now, what about the Dacians?
Thank you!
Outside of an shared Indo-European past, the Thraco-Dacians and Scythians have very clear separate origins. The geographical proximity of these peoples had led to shared cultural influences going in both directions as well as geneflow. This element is often misinterpreted as an indication that the Thracians/Getae/Dacians and the Scythians/Sarmatians were closely related people or even "the same" people - but this is not the case at all.
When it comes to the Dacians we have somewhat of a limited understanding in regards to their origin from a biological POV as their cremation heavy burial rituals. That said through samples of Thracians, Roman period samples of the Danube, the Scythianized complex of Glinoe, as well as samples from early iron age Ukraine we can piece together their origins somewhat. The Dacians seem to derive from the Bessarabi culture, which is a variant of the Eastern Urnfield/Hallstatt complex (note that eastern U/H were not "Celts").
We have early iron age samples from Kartal and these were genetically southeastern European, resembling contemporary individuals from the western Balkans. Thracians seem to have a closer resemblance to ancient Greeks from a genetic POV. Whether the difference is the result of a Thracian-like profile acquiring more northern ancestry, or a Kartal-like profile acquiring more southern ancestry is still unresolved but I suspect more so the latter than the former.
Dacians proper likely would have had ancestry from Thracians, Scythians/Sarmatians as well as Celts in addition to this iron age base but how much of each contributed is difficult to say. The Daco-Thracian component in roman period individuals from Pannonia and the Danube is very significant.
The interaction between the E. Hallstatt complex and that of the early iron age nomads will be covered in the sequel to this blog entry by the way so if you are interested in that topic, stay tuned!
Excellent.
Looking forward to more discussion on this matter.
Caesar brought hundreds of ‘Dacian’ Statues and busts, and claiming relationship with this people.
Stay Strong.
do you know the significance of “Blue Horse” - https://imgur.com/a/P71wqJA
or any folk tales etc about Blue Horse.
Interesting question! I can tell you much about the significance of white horses in steppe cultures but blue horses not so much. I only know of blue horses from medieval persianate depictions so I'd imagine it is a theme which developed during that period, which unfortunately is not my expertise. I came across an article from 2023 which seems to affirm this, and discusses the blue horses:
https://negareh.shahed.ac.ir/article_3774.html?lang=en
"The emphasis of the color blue in riding is on innocence, purity, immortality, and sorrow,
emphasis or reference to the position of Sufism on horses, and emphasis on the status of
horsemen and princes. The discussion of mysticism, especially from the fifth century AH/
the eleventh century AD onwards with the presence of Nezami, Ibn Arabi, Suhrawardi,
etc. in the literature of mystical poetry reached its peak and in the tenth-twelfth centuries
AH/ sixteenth-eighteenth centuries AD, clearly shows in the fields of poetry and literature,
especially Iranian painting. In promoting and spreading the culture of mysticism among
the community of artists of the Timurid era, Abdul Rahman Jami, poet and mentor of
Naqshbandiyya, Mir Ali Shirnavai and Sultan Hossein Bayqara, played a major role and
influenced artists such as Behzad and his followers. Based on the results, the expansion
and promotion of mystical ideas and their impact on literary and artistic fields, especially
painting, show the mythical horse as a model of heroism, courage, and loyalty, and the
use of blue tones as a model. The allegory of the concepts of purity, faith and innocence
is a reflection of expressing a worthy and pure path towards the purpose and immortality.
The horse seems to have been the strongest animal in terms of identity that the painter
could have resorted to, and blue was the most appropriate color that could represent
the common quality of the spirit of honesty and faith between man and animal as well
as the dignity and decency of the horse."
Do genetic cover on all Eastern Saka groups, Copper. Wiki has came up with maps with all cultures listed in nowadays.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saka
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandman_culture
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uyuk_culture
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagly-Bazhy_culture
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subeshi_culture
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordos_culture
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wusun
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuezhi
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Xiajiadian_culture
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majiayuan_site
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dian_kingdom
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karakol_culture
Thanks. It makes sense. In Sikh literature it is associated with Spirituality; which makes sense given influence of Sufism in Panjab. here is a fun documentary for you regarding the “Indo-Scythian” part. I think you will enjoy it - https://youtu.be/X13VvuYdFgQ?si=TQ0QXF7MRn42JLAE
You have a great effort to make the Scythians look like something they are not!
How long will you steal someone else's identity and history with impunity, you dirty gypsies?
The Polish Turks wished they were Slavs and the Turks and Mongols wished they were Scythians, ha ha. You are nothings and you will remain like that!
I have one elementary sentence for you, with which you are stuck in the ground up to your forehead in your lies and sloppiness. Translate it for yourself because it also gives the etymology of the name Scythians: “Σκύθας ἐκάλουν ἢ Nομάδας” – Strab.I.2.27
It's good that you and various fictional scientists are here to explain to us how things are and to adjust the words there ( Scythians — Skuda —skewd—shooter ) to suit your intimate desires because you really want to be something you have never been and will never be.
The main and defining thing about the Scythians is their way of life, and this is not shooting, but traveling long distances, seasonally, related to their livelihood.
https://rechnik.chitanka.info/w/скитам
The Scythian glosses,Gods and names that have reached us have no explanation from Iranian.
I didn't even read your nonsense, because I don't waste my time with idiots.
what are you even babbling about? I think you have me confused wih someone else.
This is me -
https://indoaryan.com/qpadm-admixture-analysis-of-indo-aryan-population/
Starting a Sikh Patriarchy podcast if you wanna join
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=w1BFwCRzq2g
Gonna branch off from Sikh Ren
Ur Keshdhari righ?