Expanding the corpus of the earliest Scythian animal-style artefacts - libre article from Antiquity, Cambridge Univ. Press

 Salvete Omnes,

a short entry - a link to the Scythian related article from Antiquity. 

Journal Antiquity 2025 Vol.99 (Cambridge Univ.Press) - article by Timur Sadykov at al,  Expanding the corpus of the earliest Scythian animal-style artefacts. 

 the artefacts from the Valley of the kings in Tuva (the Turan-Uyuk) and other sites. 

enjoy

Valete

Journal of the Silk Roads - issue libre

 Salvete Omnes,

when you are interested in the Central Asia history, from the hunter gatherers to the end of the nomadic empires, the story of old Silk Roads is probably one of the more engaging subjects.

Transporting silk and woven textiles, gold, Chinese ceramics etc in exchange for steppe-bred horses was the traditional way of exchange between the ancient nomads and the Chinese civilization, the Tang Dynasty period being the most intriguing, with the Sogdian merchants playing the pivotal role. The Christian Nestorian creed spread into the steppe and into China through the Silk Roads routes, later Islam as well, and Buddhism too, while the Zoroastrian refugees from Persia found heaven in Tang China. The Turkish and Mongol conquests started along the Silk Roads. Tea was spread through the Silk Roads and so on. The Silk Roads linked Western Asia, especially the Persian empires and the Chinese empires, resulting in many beautiful works of art and ideas.

the new issue 1-2 (2026) of the Journal of the Silk Roads 

is available on the Brill's site for download.

My most favorite book on the subject still is 'Golden Peaches of Samarkand'(1962)  by Edward Schafer. 

one aspect of the Silk Roads was the Tea Horse Road, perhaps more about its Muscovy connection more in the future.

valete

Tarnow and its treasures

Salve,

the city of Tarnów, in Little Poland,  is famous for its history, embodied in its historic buildings  like the ratusz (the town hall) 

among the artefact the tTarnow city executioner sword  

and the Saint Mary cathedral basilica where the Tarnowski tomb monument, one of the most spectacular Renaissance tombs in Poland and perhaps in the whole Europe, may be found. 

But there are more tomb monuments within this cathedral basilica like the Ostrogski family, and many others. And there are many more old churches, museums and galleries  being testimony to the former glories of this city.

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World War I photos -

typical peasant carriage of Little Poland

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enjoy

Salve

Nomad 'Olympics' in Kyryzystan, buzkashi-kokpar

 Salvete Omnes,

the Eurasian Nomads are having their own games,  their Olympics right now in Bishek and Issyk-Kul (Astana Times report), Kyrgyzstan. 

One of my favorite nomadic sports to watch  is buzkashi (kokpar, kok-boru, Ulak-Tartysh) or 'goat wrestling.'  There is even an American kokpar team participating - cowboys. 

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Valete