Dr. Owen Rees

Again, it's that idea of where reality and myth blend and where they are actually distinct from each other. So, you know, the bogeyman suddenly becomes a lot scarier.

Again, it's that idea of where reality and myth blend and where they are actually distinct from each other. So, you know, the bogeyman suddenly becomes a lot scarier.

That's basically the answer. I mean, ultimately, we have found evidence. We have found sites where clearly Scythian culture exists in a stationary state, shall we say. So the site I'm going to talk about is a place called Bilsk, which is sort of northern Ukraine, which is a massive wooden fortification.

That's basically the answer. I mean, ultimately, we have found evidence. We have found sites where clearly Scythian culture exists in a stationary state, shall we say. So the site I'm going to talk about is a place called Bilsk, which is sort of northern Ukraine, which is a massive wooden fortification.

That's basically the answer. I mean, ultimately, we have found evidence. We have found sites where clearly Scythian culture exists in a stationary state, shall we say. So the site I'm going to talk about is a place called Bilsk, which is sort of northern Ukraine, which is a massive wooden fortification.

Nothing we'd associate with nomadism, nothing we'd necessarily associate with the Scythians as we're told about them. It's not uncommon for nomadic or pastoralist groups to have sort of temporary settlements they go to as they move around and have sort of camps, set camps they go to. And again, Herodotus tells us this. What's different about Bilsk is just how big it is.

Nothing we'd associate with nomadism, nothing we'd necessarily associate with the Scythians as we're told about them. It's not uncommon for nomadic or pastoralist groups to have sort of temporary settlements they go to as they move around and have sort of camps, set camps they go to. And again, Herodotus tells us this. What's different about Bilsk is just how big it is.

Nothing we'd associate with nomadism, nothing we'd necessarily associate with the Scythians as we're told about them. It's not uncommon for nomadic or pastoralist groups to have sort of temporary settlements they go to as they move around and have sort of camps, set camps they go to. And again, Herodotus tells us this. What's different about Bilsk is just how big it is.

And it is an enormously enclosed space where we have evidence of certain areas where people are living. But the reason why I'm cagey about this is because there's so much evidence for so many cultures. We're not 100% sure if the Scythians are staying there, but they clearly use it. So yes, and maybe no.

And it is an enormously enclosed space where we have evidence of certain areas where people are living. But the reason why I'm cagey about this is because there's so much evidence for so many cultures. We're not 100% sure if the Scythians are staying there, but they clearly use it. So yes, and maybe no.

And it is an enormously enclosed space where we have evidence of certain areas where people are living. But the reason why I'm cagey about this is because there's so much evidence for so many cultures. We're not 100% sure if the Scythians are staying there, but they clearly use it. So yes, and maybe no.

Okay, so in terms of where we are geographically, we're at an amazing crossroads between the steppes as we kind of think about it. You know, there's large plains that go all the way east and, you know, the Ukrainian steppe, and then we sort of associate with sort of along to like Mongolia and all these kind of places we've already talked about.

Okay, so in terms of where we are geographically, we're at an amazing crossroads between the steppes as we kind of think about it. You know, there's large plains that go all the way east and, you know, the Ukrainian steppe, and then we sort of associate with sort of along to like Mongolia and all these kind of places we've already talked about.

Okay, so in terms of where we are geographically, we're at an amazing crossroads between the steppes as we kind of think about it. You know, there's large plains that go all the way east and, you know, the Ukrainian steppe, and then we sort of associate with sort of along to like Mongolia and all these kind of places we've already talked about.

But there's also the forest steppe where it's sort of dense woodland. And Bilsk is sort of around where those two points kind of meet. So... clearly an important moment of where different lifestyles are blending. So the nomadic horse-based life of the Plains meeting the more pastoralist, agro-pastoralist life elsewhere.

But there's also the forest steppe where it's sort of dense woodland. And Bilsk is sort of around where those two points kind of meet. So... clearly an important moment of where different lifestyles are blending. So the nomadic horse-based life of the Plains meeting the more pastoralist, agro-pastoralist life elsewhere.

But there's also the forest steppe where it's sort of dense woodland. And Bilsk is sort of around where those two points kind of meet. So... clearly an important moment of where different lifestyles are blending. So the nomadic horse-based life of the Plains meeting the more pastoralist, agro-pastoralist life elsewhere.

But it's also connected by the river systems that cut through what is now Ukraine. So in terms of transport, it is an amazing place to link north beyond Ukraine, east towards Siberia, west towards Central Europe, and south to the Black Sea, which takes you to the Greek lands, which takes you to the west coast of the Persian Empire, which takes you down to Egypt.

But it's also connected by the river systems that cut through what is now Ukraine. So in terms of transport, it is an amazing place to link north beyond Ukraine, east towards Siberia, west towards Central Europe, and south to the Black Sea, which takes you to the Greek lands, which takes you to the west coast of the Persian Empire, which takes you down to Egypt.

But it's also connected by the river systems that cut through what is now Ukraine. So in terms of transport, it is an amazing place to link north beyond Ukraine, east towards Siberia, west towards Central Europe, and south to the Black Sea, which takes you to the Greek lands, which takes you to the west coast of the Persian Empire, which takes you down to Egypt.