World history and culture: Exhibition “Treasures of the steppes. Sarmatians” in Yelabuga

April 15, 2014, a unique exhibition "Treasures of the steppes. Sarmatians" from the collections of the Azov Historical, Archaeological and Paleontological Museum Reserve opens in the Exhibition Hall of the Yelabuga State Museum Reserve (Republic of Tatarstan).

The works of ancient art will tell about the spiritual world and cultural peculiarities of the ancient steppe population. The exhibition includes about two thousand completely unique items: amphorae, jugs, cups, knives, daggers, swords, gold and bronze ornaments, horse harness, cult objects. For many centuries, Sarmatian burial mounds kept their secrets and treasures, and only in the late twentieth century Russian archeologists found ancient tombs in the Rostov region.

The history of one of the most spectacular exhibits is quite interesting. During excavations, archaeologists stumbled upon a cache, the bottom of which was covered with small gold plaques of various forms. In ancient times, they were sewn onto the base, which had decayed during two thousand years. Scientists suggest that it was a blanket folded several times, which served as a cloak to put on a horse. The exhibition features its reconstruction, including 2120 sewn plaques.

The exhibition has traveled to Switzerland, Japan, Austria, Germany. In Tatarstan, the exhibition "Treasures of the steppes. Sarmatians" will run until May 25.