Researchers studying Scythian-era artifacts report that human skin was used to fashion quivers about 2,400 years ago, a finding published in the journal PLOS One. The work adds a tangible dimension to the descriptions found in ancient sources and shows how everyday equipment could intersect with ritual practices in the Scythian world.
In a detailed analysis, scientists examined 45 skin samples drawn from 14 burial hills in southern Ukraine. These quivers were brought to light over many decades of excavations, and the material has allowed for a direct look at the craftsmanship behind the implements. Through chemical analysis of the binding coatings on the quivers, researchers identified that two of the pieces incorporated human skin alongside other materials. The majority of the remaining quivers were made from animal hides, including sheep, goat, cattle, and horse skins, illustrating a mixture of resources used in weaponry and equipment. All of the recovered items date to roughly 2400 years ago, a period noted for prosperity and cultural exchange among Scythian communities.
The findings align with accounts from the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who lived in the fifth century BCE. He described practices in which some Scythian groups adorned themselves with the scalps of enemies and even used the skin of enemies on quivers. He also noted that horse trappings could be decorated with enemy heads, a vivid portrait of the symbolic language used in warfare and status display. The new material evidence from Ukraine provides physical corroboration for elements of Herodotus’s narrative, while also underscoring regional variation in the use of human and animal skins within Scythian material culture.
Beyond the specific quivers, the research contributes to a broader understanding of contact and exchange in the ancient world. It highlights how complex networks and beliefs shaped practical objects, from armor and weaponry to ceremonial gear. The study demonstrates the care taken in selecting materials, the technical knowledge involved in tanning and binding, and the ways in which objects could carry social and ritual meaning alongside their functional roles. The results warrant further study into the distribution of similar artifacts and the contexts in which human skin was employed, inviting scholars to reassess the economic and symbolic fabric of Scythian society. The investigation also reflects ongoing efforts to verify, with new techniques, historical texts that describe past cultures and their practices, ensuring that ancient narratives are tested against physical evidence.
In a related line of inquiry, researchers have revisited long-standing ideas about different ancient kingdoms and trade networks that connected distant civilizations. While this study focuses on the Scythians, it sits within a wider scholarly program that seeks to map how goods, ideas, and practices moved across regions in antiquity. The emerging picture emphasizes variation in material culture across Scythian groups and eras, while also pointing to surprising consistencies in how communities repurposed animal and human materials for personal adornment, weapons, and ceremonial objects. Attribution for these insights comes from a corpus of archaeological finds, as well as careful laboratory work that identifies organic remnants and their provenance. The dialogue between material evidence and historical texts continues to refine our understanding of ancient life and its multifaceted practices.