Evolvement of blacksmith craft in steppe Scythia

The Scythian period occupies a special place in the history of iron productionin Northern Eurasia. It was the time when the local population started using iron in everydaylife. In the context of overall iron production development, transition of nomadic steppepopulation to a sedentary lifestyle played an important part. The Kamenskoe hillfort isthe most outstanding center in steppe Scythia of that time. Archaeometallographic studiesof the site provide an insight into the process of this craft development among nomadicgroups during this transition to sedentary life. The obtained data demonstrate that contactsbetween nomads and population groups which possessed technological knowledge playeda key role in this process.