The Scythian Chieftain was found in 1947.
The Scythian Chieftain like many other Scythian mummies, was found in a tomb south of modern day Kiev, the Scythian Chieftain is a reasonably well preserved mummy who is significant primarily due to his many intrinsic tattoos that cover the majority of his upper body and lower right leg. Although he was properly embalmed and spent over 2000 years in a freezing environment, much of his body has decayed over time since his discovery and examination was made before the invention of proper refrigeration techniques. the right portion was only examined because decay made the rest of the remains unable to be examined.
His body featured many zoomorphic designs that covered his shoulders, arms, lower right leg and his chest and back of animals such as rams, birds and deer, similar designs that are shared with many tattooed Scythian remains. What is special about the Chieftains tattoos however is that he has two colums of simple dot tattoos trailing down his back along his spinal region, which could indicate a therapeutic element was incorporated in the tattooing. this technique was thought to be unused in this time until this discovery and the discovery of Otzi the Iceman, another permafrost mummy. Similar tattoos are observable on Otzi discovered in the Alps in Austria. Due to his deteriorated condition, a cause of death has never been established nor has his exact age of death.
The Scythian Chieftain like many other Scythian mummies, was found in a tomb south of modern day Kiev, the Scythian Chieftain is a reasonably well preserved mummy who is significant primarily due to his many intrinsic tattoos that cover the majority of his upper body and lower right leg. Although he was properly embalmed and spent over 2000 years in a freezing environment, much of his body has decayed over time since his discovery and examination was made before the invention of proper refrigeration techniques. the right portion was only examined because decay made the rest of the remains unable to be examined.
His body featured many zoomorphic designs that covered his shoulders, arms, lower right leg and his chest and back of animals such as rams, birds and deer, similar designs that are shared with many tattooed Scythian remains. What is special about the Chieftains tattoos however is that he has two colums of simple dot tattoos trailing down his back along his spinal region, which could indicate a therapeutic element was incorporated in the tattooing. this technique was thought to be unused in this time until this discovery and the discovery of Otzi the Iceman, another permafrost mummy. Similar tattoos are observable on Otzi discovered in the Alps in Austria. Due to his deteriorated condition, a cause of death has never been established nor has his exact age of death.