OREANDA-NEWS. Researchers have shown that Scythians and Sarmatians, including those from ancient Altai peoples, writes Current Biology.  According to the authors of the work, the spread of Scythian culture was associated not only with the spread of technology, but also with the migration of peoples.

  Researchers sequenced the genomes of the Scythians, associated with them Sarmatians, other peoples of the past, as well as modern inhabitants of the Eurasian steppe.  Five genetically distinct groups were identified.  In each of them were found traces of European hunter-gatherers, natufians and ancient inhabitants of Altai.  The farther to the west the nomads lived, the less “Altai traces” remained in their genes.

  Scythians were nomads, so it is not surprising that they turned out to be good horse breeders.  They brought horses with useful properties that are in demand in modern breeds, for example, do without water for a long time and are capable of running.