Russian farmer unearths unusual 2,000-year-old skeleton

The rich grave yielded gold and silver jewellery, weaponry, valuables and artistic household items in 2019. They were found next to a chieftain’s skeleton in a grave close to the Caspian Sea in southern Russia. Among the bodies is a “laughing” young man with an artificially deformed egg-shaped skull and excellent teeth.

A gold and turquoise horse head

The most “significant” finds came from a male skeleton buried inside a wooden coffin. The burial is thought to belong to a leader of a Sarmatian tribe that dominated this part of Russia until the 5th century AD. Multiple gold jewellery decorated with turquoise and inserts of lapis lazuli and glass were found. The chieftain’s head was raised as if it rested on a pillow and he wore a cape decorated with gold plagues.

A Sarmatian diadem was found near the grave. Archaeologists found a collection of knives, items of gold, a small mirror and different pots signalling his elite status.

They found a gold and turquoise belt buckle, and the chief's dagger along with a gold horse’s head which was buried between his legs.

Part of the chief's belt was found.

The chief's dagger.