The armed women of Early Iron Age in the Northern Pontic: social aspects

In the Early Iron Age the territory of modern Ukraine was inhabited by warlike nomads. The archaeological evidence suggests that there were warrior women among the Scythians. The indicators of social status of the Scythians are their funerary monuments. In addition to size, great value had a set of accompanying funeral equipment and the presence of servants. The social differentiation existed in the environment of the Amazons. The funerary monuments indicate that the Amazons were the representatives of the middle class. The ordinary combatants were dominated amongst them, but there were also wealthy women, commanders and free mercenaries. War campaigns have contributed to the increasing of the social differentiation in a military environment.