Scythian Archaeology in Colonial and Postcolonial Narratives

Scythian Studies, or Scythology has a complex and discontinuous history as a branch of archaeology. In its modern form, it is a relatively young discipline. Rather than showing steady development, the field is marked by major interruptions, particularly under the Soviet regime. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Iron Curtain, Scythology entered Western academia more fully, enabling mutual access to literature, collections, and excavations across Eastern and Western Europe. However, by the 1980s, new conceptual challenges grew stronger than ever, particularly the division between narrow and broad definitions of “Scythian culture”. This article argues that the increasingly popular, broad usage of the term, especially in genetic, isotope-based, and popular-science contexts, is rooted in political frameworks. It further examines how colonial and neocolonial narratives have influenced and continue to shape scholarly interpretations, museum representations, and political discourse surrounding Scythian heritage.