This short-sword (also known as an akinakes) was unearthed during excavations at Filippovka, which is an archaeological site located in the Ural Mountains of Russia. It was created by Sarmatian nomads nearly 2,500 years ago, and it's mostly made of iron, with gold and silver inlay decorating the pommel, hilt, and blade.

Above: a full view of the sword

According to this article:

Narrative compositions unfold on the edges of the blade from its different sides; the hilt is designed with images of a wild boar and poorly preserved images of deer. Both sides of the blade are decorated with complex compositions of walking animals and anthropomorphic scenes. The decorative scheme is a linearly rhythmic composition, complicated by scenes of animal torment as well as anthropomorphic scenes: a horseback rider hunting with a spear in front of a wild boar, the death of a warrior with a sword in his stomach, two warriors sacrificing a deer with swords, and a warrior with an axe swinging at a deer.

The inlay on the blade and hilt of the sword was made using different technologies, so it is possible that not only one master but a team took part in the production of the sword.

Above: some of the details that decorate the blade

This artifact was discovered in a barrow that contained the remains of a 50-55 year old man, along with 200 arrowheads, a spear, and a set of scale armor. The barrow itself was positioned next to a sacrificial area in which several animal skins, the legs of four large predatory quadrupeds, and the skeleton of a predatory bird (possibly a hawk or an eagle) had also been buried.

Many Sarmatian artifacts have been found throughout the larger site complex.

Above: a Sarmatian vessel from Filippovka, c.450 BCE

The Sarmatians were ancient Iranian nomads who dominated the steppes of Eastern Europe from roughly 500 BCE to 300 CE, and they formed part of the larger group of cultures that are sometimes collectively referred to as the Scythian or Scytho-Siberian peoples.

Above: more Sarmatian artifacts from the same site, c. 450-350 BCE

Several Scytho-Siberian artifacts have previously been featured on my blog, including an antlered horse headdress, a 2,300-year-old saddle blanket, a plush bird, and three more headdresses that were originally worn by horses.

Sources & More Info:

Journal of Ancient History and Archeology: Ceremonial Akinakes from Filippovka

American Journal of Archaeology: New Excavations of the Early Nomadic Site at Filippovka (PDF)

Situating Eurasia in Antiquity: Nomadic Material Culture in the First Millennium BCE: Golden Swords of the Early Nomads of Eurasia

Journal of Archaeometry: Silver and Iron Finds from the Early Sarmatian Barrows of Filippovka

Metropolitan Museum of Art: The Golden Deer of Eurasia: Scythian and Sarmatian Treasures from the Russian Steppes

"Polyaenus described another warrior queen, Amage, who ruled the Sarmatians north of the Black Sea. Amage had married the chieſtain of the Roxolani (“Bright Alans”), a Sarmatian-Alan tribe that later allied with King Mithridates VI of Pontus. Amage became the leader of the Roxolani sometime in 165–140 BC, after her husband fell into a life of chronic drunkenness. As his power dissipated, Amage took charge, settling disputes, repulsing enemy raids, and making alliances with neighboring tribes. (Her name appears to derive from Persian “magus” or “meadow.”)

Amage’s resolve and wisdom brought her renown among the Scythians and Sarmatians. The people of Tauric Chersonesus (Crimea) were suffering attacks by another Scythian tribe at this time and requested her help. (This ancient Greek colony had a mixed population of Greeks and barbarians.) Amage sent a message to the aggressive tribe ordering them to desist. When the tribe ignored her command, she called up 120 of her strongest warriors and gave each of them three horses. She led them to the Scythian tribe’s stronghold, traveling 1,200 stades (about 136 miles) in one day and one night. She and her band killed the guards and threw the Scythians into confusion and fear. Bursting into the Scythian leader’s inner circle, Amage killed him and his relatives and friends, except for his son. She restored the land the Scythians had stolen to the Tauric Chersonesus and made the son of the slain chieftain the new ruler of the Scythian tribe, “encouraging him to rule justly” and to live peacefully with the neighboring Greeks and barbarians."

The draco standard of Niederbieber 3rd C. CE. The only fully preserved draco standard. Found in the Limes fortress of Niederbieber.

"The Draco comprises of three elements: the head: the tail or body and the noise-making device. The head was perhaps the least difficult since the craftsman had the example of the Niederbieber Draco on which to base their re-creation. The head consists of two copper parts, upper and lower, which are riveted together to create an open mouth and in addition the eye-holes are unfilled (to promote air passage?). The tail was more problematic as no tail has survived or been discovered in excavations. The tail for the experimental Draco was based on the one shown on Trajan’s column and was made of silk because of its weight and density. From the illustration on the column, it appeared that the tail was attached to the head by means of a drawstring, which meant it could be removed from the head easily – presumably for the purpose of cleaning. It was estimated that the tail was approximately 9 foot long.

When it came to the noisemaker, the archaeologists were firmly in the dark. There are no clear references in the written or pictorial evidence as to what made the sound. In examining the excavated examples, it did not appear that the Draco head had any fittings apart from those which attached it to its pole. This suggested that the noisemaker s were not fitted to the head and so the logical conclusion that follow from this work that they were fitted to the pole. After experimenting of a number of different types of whistles the team settled on Chinese kite whistles, which themselves date from ancient times. It is known that examples of these whistles traveled into Western Europe in ancient times and so these seemed a plausible method to choose. During the experiments, these were initially fitted on the pole inside the head, but due to the reduced airflow they made no sound whatsoever. An alternative was sought and they were re-positioned on the pole just below the head. This proved a great success as even if the horse was walking, a good sound could be heard if the wind was in the right direction. At a gallop into the wind it was found that the sound can be heard above horse’s hooves at a distance of at least 200 m."

This looks like such a good read. And guess what: it has an extensive index, not just places and people, but an subject index. ✨Subject index✨, folks. Subject index. 👌

Holy moly, yes yes yes.

Gold earring with sardonyx stones, Sarmatian, 1st century AD