Saka

Also known as Scythian, Sacians, Sakai, Shāka

thumb|200px|Cataphract-style parade-armour of a Saka royal, also known as "The Golden Warrior", from the [[Issyk kurgan, a historical burial site near Almaty, Kazakhstan, 400–200 BC.]]

AI overview

The Saka were an ancient nomadic people who lived in Central Asia during the Iron Age, known for their skilled horsemanship and distinctive gold craftsmanship, as evidenced by elaborate armor and burial practices discovered in archaeological sites like the Issyk kurgan in Kazakhstan. They matter historically because they represent an important nomadic culture that shaped the early history and trade networks of Central Asia around 2,000 years ago.

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Key facts

Archaeological culture.name: Sakas
Archaeological culture.region: Central Asia, South Siberia, South Asia
Archaeological culture.dates: 9th century BC to 5th century AD
Archaeological culture.precededby: Andronovo culture, Seima-Turbino phenomenon, Karakol culture, Karasuk culture, Deer stones culture
Archaeological culture.followedby: Xiongnu, Kushan Empire, Gupta Empire

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Wikidata facts

Image: The Golden Warrior from the Issyk kurgan.jpg

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Commons category: Saka
name in kana: サカゾク

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~64 min read

Article

43 sections

Contents

Name
Etymology
Identification
Modern terminology
Location
History
Origins
Early history
Kingdoms in the Tarim Basin
Kingdom of Khotan
Shule Kingdom
Southern migrations
Indo-Scythians
Historiography
Strabo
Indian sources
Language
Genetics
Haplogroups
Autosomal DNA
East–West migrations and cultural transmission
Archaeology
Arzhan 1 kurgan ({{circa|800 BC}})
Shilikty/ Baigetobe kurgan ({{circa|700 BC}})
Arzhan 2 ({{circa|650 BC}})
Eleke Sazy Burial Complex ({{circa|800-400 BC}})
Berel burial mound ({{circa|350–300 BC}})
Pazyryk culture ({{circa|300 BC}})
Southern Siberian kurgans excavated in the 18th century
Tillia Tepe treasure (2nd-1st century BC)
Culture
Gender roles
Art
Clothing
Tattoos
Warfare
Later depictions of "Sakas" in China (1st–3rd century AD)
See also
References
Explanatory notes
Citations
Bibliography
External links

thumb|200px|Cataphract-style parade-armour of a Saka royal, also known as "The Golden Warrior", from the [[Issyk kurgan, a historical burial site near Almaty, Kazakhstan, 400–200 BC.]]

The Saka were a group of nomadic Eastern Iranian peoples who lived in the Eurasian Steppe and the Tarim Basin from the 9th century BC to the 5th century AD. The Saka were closely related to the Scythians, and both groups formed parts of the wider Scythian cultures. However, both groups have differing specific geographical and cultural traits. The Saka languages formed part of the Scythian phylum, a branch of the Eastern Iranian languages.