Masters of the Steppe: The Impact of the Scythians and Later Nomad Societies of Eurasia

'The main content of the volume comprises some 44 papers based on contributions given at a conference held at the British Museum, 27-29 October 2017. As one would expect of a meeting of this kind, the papers, while relevant to the main conference theme, focus on specialist aspects. The contributions are written by experts and present new material and insights or make accessible data embedded in the more obscure literature. For these reasons, there is a great deal here that is new and exciting, particularly to a western audience—a sufficient reason in itself for supporting the publication.

But as everyone who has had to publish conference proceedings knows, the art lies in transforming what is essentially a collection of disparate, often narrowly focussed, papers into a cohesive volume. The editors have done this with considerable skill and success. All the papers have been translated into English, and they have undertaken the laborious task of compiling a single bibliography, which not only saves space but makes the volume much easier to use. They have also provided an Introduction (5400 words) and a Conclusions (13000 words), both substantial pieces of work, far more than conventional bookends.

The Introduction is a fascinating text in its own right. It sets the scene in a novel way by explaining the philosophy and the process that led to the mounting of the highly successful Scythians: warriors of ancient Siberia exhibition. While this may be familiar ground for museum professionals, for the general reader, it introduces an intriguing new world, not least by explaining the creative decisions needed to make the exhibition the success that it was. The narrative style, in which the Introduction is presented, is a very effective way of leading the reader into the world of the Scythians.

The Conclusions is a triumph. It is, in effect, a long essay on the Scythians and their lifestyle with reference to the proceeding papers. It brings out what is new and how the subject is fast-changing, placing it within the broader context of what we already know. Footnotes, provide additional links to the published exhibition catalogue. The reader is left with an intimate picture of the Scythians. They emerge as real people, very different from us but well worth our attention and understanding.

This volume is a major achievement – it provides high-quality research within a context that is readily accessible. It is the kind of academic output one would like to see following other major exhibitions.' – Sir Barry Cunliffe, Emeritus Professor of European Archaeology, University of Oxford (2020)

'The gold of the Scythians exploded into the world of museum goers when Leningrad’s Hermitage Museum sent these treasures touring to London and New York in 1975. An equally noteworthy exhibition, Masters of the Steppe, took place in 2017 at the British Museum. This copiously-illustrated volume enables readers to revisit that exhibition, and to ponder essays produced by 30 scholars from 12 countries.' – David Chaffetz (2021), Asian Review of Books

'This compendium of 45 papers presented at an accompanying conference can be intermittently dry but remains far more than the sum of its parts – it is the most monumental English-language work in a generation to be dedicated to this fascinating civilization.' – Dennis Keen (2021), AramcoWorld

'Masters of the Steppe: the Impact of the Scythians and Later Nomad Societies of Eurasia is an impressive volume, bringing together a variety of new research and key summaries of scholarship. It is wonderfully illustrated, with over 600 images, allowing a rich window into the visual culture of these steppe pastoral communities.' – Robin Bendrey (2023): Pastoralism 13:2