Introduction
The author’s first article on this topic, ‘Eastern European sheath-ends during the Final Bronze Age and the beginning of the Early Iron Age’, was published in the previous issue of this journal (Klochko Reference Klochko2025a). In it, the author provided an overview of Cimmerian chapes, which were divided into six groups – five morphological types (Subotiv, Dunakömlőd, Novomyrhorod, spiral-ornament, and ring-edge) and one ornamentation tradition. The first three of these types were already known; however, their dataset was expanded to include new objects. The latter two types (spiral-ornament and ring-edge) were introduced in that article, based on newly published artefacts. Since then, several new items have appeared, which calls for the re-evaluation of some previously proposed ideas. In addition, the new material enables the proposal of a possible chronological continuity from Cimmerian to Scythian bouterolles.Footnote 1
Rethinking the Dunakömlőd type: the new blistered bouterolles
The Dunakömlőd type of Cimmerian chape was first introduced by Chochorowski (Reference Chochorowski1993). Named after the find from Hungary, it is 11 cm long and possesses no distinct features, unlike others from the same time period (10th–7th century BC): these are simple, cone-shaped items without ornament, decoration, specific tips, etc. A direct analogy to the Dunakömlőd find is one with an undisclosed length from the Russian site Akhmylovo. Another was found at an unknown location in Ukraine (Figure 1, no. 1). Interestingly, it is 15.5 cm long, making it one of the longest Cimmerian bouterolles. Another bouterolle from Akhmylovo is most distinct (Figure 1, no. 3), with two parallel vertical lines of circles that resemble the Novomyrhorod type (Figure 1, no. 2). However, its form differs from the typical Novomyrhorod type and more closely resembles the Dunakömlőd type. The bouterolle from Katlabuh (formerly Suvorove), Ukraine (Figure 1, no. 4), which belongs to the triangular ornament tradition, is similar in this way. The iron bouterolle from Croatia (unique, as other Cimmerian bouterolles are made of bronze) morphologically resembles the classical Dunakömlőd type.
The relationship of the Dunakömlőd type to other types of Cimmerian (2–9) and Scythian (10–18) bouterolles. 1. Dunakömlőd type (unknown, Ukraine); 2. Novomyrhorod type (Novomyrhorod, Ukraine); 3. Novomyrhorod imitation (Akhmylovo, Russia); 4. Dunakömlőd shape with triangular slots (Katlabuh [formerly Suvorove], Ukraine); 5–9. Bouterolles with triangular slots (5. Ártánd, Hungary, 6. Murgești, Romania, 7. Lviv region, Ukraine, 8. Kamianets-Podilskyi, Ukraine, 9. Unknown, Ukraine); 10–11. Triangular-shaped non-ornamented bouterolles (10. Unknown, Ukraine, 11. Kharkiv region, Ukraine); 12. Kelermes type, non-ornamented (unknown, Ukraine); 13. Bird-headed type (Kharkiv region, Ukraine); 14–16. Starsha Mohyla type (14. Starsha Mohyla mound, 15. Zaiukovo, Russia, 16. Unknown); 17–18. Kelermes type, with carved ornament (17. Mineralnye Vody, Russia, 18. Dariivka village, Ukraine). (Sources: 2, 7, 8, 11 [Klochko Reference Klochko2025a, fig. 3]; 3, 5, 6 [Szabó et al. Reference Szabó, Horváth, Barkóczy, Erdélyi, Juhász and Gyöngyösi2018, fig. 5]; 4 [Terenozhkin Reference Terenozhkin1976, fig. 32]; 14, 18 [Meliukova Reference Meliukova1964, tab. 19]; 15 [Rossiiskoe istoricheskoe obshchestvo 2019]; 16 [Institut arkheologii Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk 2020]; 17 [Topal Reference Topal2013, pl. 3]).
Figure 1 Long description
Panel 1: A black bouterolle labeled as the Dunakömlőd type from Ukraine. Panel 2: A green bouterolle labeled as the Novomyrhorod type from Ukraine. Panel 3: A light-colored bouterolle labeled as a Novomyrhorod imitation from Russia. Panel 4: A white bouterolle with triangular slots labeled as a Dunakömlőd shape from Ukraine. Panel 5: A light-colored bouterolle with triangular slots from Hungary. Panel 6: A light-colored bouterolle with triangular slots from Romania. Panel 7: A dark-colored bouterolle with triangular slots from Ukraine. Panel 8: A dark-colored bouterolle with triangular slots from Ukraine. Panel 9: A dark-colored bouterolle with triangular slots from an unknown location in Ukraine. Panel 10: A black triangular-shaped non-ornamented bouterolle from an unknown location in Ukraine. Panel 11: A green triangular-shaped non-ornamented bouterolle from the Kharkiv region in Ukraine. Panel 12: A black non-ornamented bouterolle of the Kelermes type from an unknown location in Ukraine. Panel 13: A black bird-headed bouterolle from the Kharkiv region in Ukraine. Panel 14: A white bouterolle of the Starsha Mohyla type from the Starsha Mohyla mound. Panel 15: A green bouterolle of the Starsha Mohyla type from Zaiukovo, Russia. Panel 16: A gray bouterolle of the Starsha Mohyla type from an unknown location. Panel 17: A white bouterolle of the Kelermes type with carved ornament from Mineralnye Vody, Russia. Panel 18: A white bouterolle of the Kelermes type with carved ornament from Dariivka village, Ukraine.
In previous research (Klochko Reference Klochko2025a), it was suggested that three additional finds from Ukraine could belong to the Dunakömlőd type: one from the Kharkiv region (Figure 1, no. 11), one from Talne (Cherkasy region) (Figure 5, no 2), and one from Bila Tserkva (Kyiv region) (Figure 5, no 3). The first one was assumed to be the earliest form (considering the size and shape), while the second and third were thought to be later developments. This proposal was based on the similar production technique used for the iron chape from Croatia. The iron chape and the two from Talne and Bila Tserkva were produced not by casting (as the rest of Cimmerian chapes are), but by folding the rectangular piece of metal into a cone shape.
However, a new find from Brovary, around Kyiv in Ukraine (Ukrainian Museum of Arms and Armory) (Figure 5, no. 1) has prompted a reconsideration of whether or not these two later bouterolles from Talne and Bila Tserkva are actually of the Dunakömlőd type. Just like the items from Talne and Bila Tserkva, the new find from Brovary has raised dot (blistered) decoration and was crafted via folding (it is not fully folded, which makes its form simpler than those from Talne and Bila Tserkva). The folding technology seems relatively simplistic compared to casting, and the ornamentation on the blistered bouterolles shows a lack of skill, compared to others from the same time and region. However, the small number of finds does not enable a clear explanation for these production issues. The ‘blistered bouterolles’ might represent a separate type, with the find from Brovary possibly being earliest.
The transition from the Cimmerian to the Scythian Age: the weaponry point of view
According to the established chronology, the Scythian Age in the North Pontic region began in the 7th century BC. However, the previous nomadic tribes related to the early Scythians arrived from the east one to two centuries prior (Klochko & Murzin Reference Klochko and Murzin1987). This is evidenced in the archaeological finds of ancient weaponry. For example, the Scythian weaponry complex (bow, gorytos [bow case], and arrows) is based on Cimmerian-age (10th–7th century) technology: the bow from the grave in the Luhansk region, dated to the first half of the 8th century BC (Dubovskaya, Reference Dubovskaya1985), is almost identical to the Scythian type; the same can be said about the remains of the gorytos (Klochko Reference Klochko2006, 264). The bows and gorytoi seen on Cimmerian-age sculptures from the northern Caucasus and central Asia (most likely crafted by eastern nomads) also resemble the Scythian types (Dudarev Reference Dudarev1999; Savinov Reference Savinov1994; Terenozhkin Reference Terenozhkin1976). Cimmerian-age arrows of the ‘Mala Tsymbalka’ type (dated 9th–8th century BC) are later transformed into the primary type of Scythian arrows (Klochko Reference Klochko1979; Reference Klochko2006). Lastly, the lamellar armour technology was initially used by Assyrian chariot warriors (made of leather) and was probably brought into the Cimmerian territories as the trophies from raids (similar to the Assyrian helmets [Valchak Reference Valchak2016]), which are known from historical records (Ivanchik Reference Ivanchik1996). As a result, the remains of bronze lamellar armour are found in the Caucasus (the eastern flank of the Cimmerian territories) in burial grounds dating to 8th century BC (Ivanchik Reference Ivanchik2001). The grave Stebliv-15 (Cherkasy region, Ukraine), dated to the end of 9th century BC, contained the remains of iron lamellar armour, the oldest such find in eastern Europe. Its resemblance to the Scythian lamellar armour is generally accepted (Klochko & Skoryi Reference Klochko and Skoryi1993). The early forms of ‘animal style’ decoration (typical during the Scythian age) are present on some items of Cimmerian-age weaponry.
Most relevant to this research are the Scythian swords – both Classical and long akinakai (acinaces) – based on the developed forms of Cimmerian cross-guard swords, which had been in use from around the second half of the 9th century through the 8th century BC (Klochko Reference Klochko2025b; Terenozhkin Reference Terenozhkin1976). Since the sheaths (and thus their parts) are closely related to the swords and daggers, it is logical to assume that Scythian bouterolles and chapes are also based on Cimmerian ones. The small number of items known (until recently) was an obstacle to analysing such a possible connection. Now that the dataset has expanded, it is possible to explore this idea.
Scythian bouterolles/chapes
Scythian bouterolles are better known and studied than Cimmerian ones, although many questions about them (mainly their origins and the relationship of different types) remain unanswered. Generally speaking, Scythian bouterolles can be divided into two main groups: simple (no decoration) and decorated. The decorated bouterolles are more studied, because of their larger quantity and clear distinctions, but the subject overall remains underdeveloped.
The bouterolles in the form of a bird head (mostly interpreted as a golden eagle; Volnaya Reference Volnaya2015) (Figure 2) have received most of the attention. They are dated to the end of 7th and the first half of the 6th century BC, and the majority are from the Caucasus, with some from the Kuban and Volga regions. In Ukraine, this type has been found in the Repiakhuvata Mohyla mound (Cherkasy region) and the Bilsk hillfort (Poltava region), and as stray finds from Zmiinyi (Snake) island, Crimea (Skoryi & Zimovets Reference Skoryi and Zimovets2014; Topal Reference Topal2015), and the Kharkiv region. The large number of specimens (as well as their diversity) allows for distinct variants to be defined within this type, although there are currently several such typologies (Topal Reference Topal2015).
Finds of bird-headed bouterolles (A) and sheaths of the same form (B). 1–2. Nizhniy Chegem (Russia); 3. Verkhniy Aul (Russia); 4–7. Faskau (Georgia); 8. Klivana (Georgia); 9, 14. Koban (Russia); 10. Natsargora (Georgia); 11. Dvani (Georgia); 12. Akhmylovo (Russia); 13. Patardzeuli (Georgia); 15. Vladimirovskiy (Russia); 16. Maykop (Russia); 17. Tlia burial ground (Georgia); 18. Oleksandrivka (Ukraine); 19. Sinne-Nekrasivka (Ukraine); 20. Pashkovskoe hillfort (Russia); 21. Surb-Khach (Ukraine); 22. Staryi Krym (Ukraine); 23. Snake island (Ukraine); 24. Nisporeni (Moldova); 25. Repyakhuva Mohyla (Ukraine); 26. Bilsk hillfort (Ukraine); 27. Kharkiv region (Ukraine); 28. Firminiș (Romania). (Sources: 1–25 [Topal Reference Topal2015, fig. 5]; 26 [Skoryi et al. Reference Skoryi, Zimovets and Okatenko2020, fig. 2]; 28 [Topal Reference Topal2015, fig. 2]).
Another form of decorated Scythian bouterolle is slotted with animal style ornamentation. Only three of them are known currently. The first is from the Starsha Mohyla mound (Sumy region) and is dated back to the 6th century BC (Figure 1, no. 14). The depiction is interpreted as the ‘stylized feline predator’ (author’s translation; Meliukova Reference Meliukova1964, 62). For a long time, this find was unique. However, in 2019, two similar chapes were found in a Scythian grave at the Zaiukovo-3 burial ground in Kabardino-Balkaria (Russia) (Figure 1, nos 15–16), dated to the 6th–5th centuries BC (Rossiiskoe istoricheskoe obshchestvo 2019).
The most numerous examples of undecorated bouterolle are a type with rounded edges (Figure 3, A). In Ukraine, such items have been found in Crimea, the Cherkasy region (in the 3rd century BC Velykyi Ryzhanivskyi mound and in Dariivka village), and the Sumy region (in the Starsha Mohyla mound). The exact origin of three others is unknown. In Russia, such bouterolles have been found in the Kelermes mounds (7th–6th century BC) and the Ananyino burial ground (7th–6th century BC).
Non-ornamented Kelermes type bouterolles (A) and sheaths of the same form (B). 1. Kelermes mounds (Russia); 2. Ananyino burial ground (Russia); 3–5, 13. Unknown (Ukraine); 6–7. Bilohirskyi district (Ukraine); 8. North of Moldova; 9. Cajvana (Romania); 10. Dumbrava-Vârful Muncelului (Romania); 11. Starsha Mohyla mound (Ukraine); 12. Sâncrai (Romania); 14. Ryzhanivka mound (Ukraine); 15. Hostra Mohyla (Ukraine); 16. Kul-oba (Ukraine). (Sources: 1 [Topal Reference Topal2013, pl. 3]; 2 [Gorelik Reference Gorelik2003, tab. XI]; 6, 7 [Skoryi & Zimovets Reference Skoryi and Zimovets2014, photo 35, 36]; 8–9 [Topal Reference Topal, Diaconu and Pîrnău2019a, fig. 11]; 10, 12 [Topal Reference Topal2022, fig. 6]; 11, 14–15 [Meliukova Reference Meliukova1964, tab. 15, 19]; 16 [Topal Reference Topal2019b, fig. 9]).
Closely related to them is the bouterolle type that was initially made of organic materials (bone or horn) and had carved geometric decoration. The early examples of this type come from the Scythian burial ground near the city of Mineralnye Vody (6th–4th century BC, Russia) (Figure 4, no. 1), from near Dariivka village (stray find, Ukraine) (Figure 4, no. 4), and from the Tlia burial ground (16th–4th century BC, Georgia) (Figure 4, no. 2). Later, the bronze variants of this type emerge – a small number of such finds is known from Ukraine, and singular items have come from northern Moldova and Romania. Eventually, the carved decoration becomes more complex and animalistic. In the 7th century, such items were widely spread across the Caucasus and later spread to the Middle East, in Sakan and Persian archaeological contexts; they are found as far east as Egypt and also depicted in Persian imagery (Figure 4).
Kelermes-type bouterolles with carved ornamentation (A), sheaths with tips of the same form (B), and the depiction of such sheaths (C). 1. Mineralnye Vody (Russia); 2, 9, 11, 13. Tlia burial ground (Georgia); 3, 17–19. Egypt; 4, 10. Dariivka village (Ukraine); 5. Ruk village (Russia); 6. Nartan village (Russia); 7. Karmir-Blur hillfort (Armenia); 8. Gudermes village (Russia); 12. Makiivka (Ukraine); 14. Iran; 15. the bas-relief piece from Persepolis (Iran); 16. Faskau burial ground (Russia); 20. Takht-i-Sangin hillfort (Tajikistan); 21. Melgunov mound (Ukraine); 22. the akinak of royal squire, depiction from the Darius I palace in Persepolis (Iran); 23. the akinakai of the Persian noble, piece of bronze flat horseman figurine; 24. the akinak of the Persian noble, depicted on the silver rhython found in Yerevan (Armenia); 25. the akinak of the Persian noble, depicted on the golden plate from Oxus treasure (Tajikistan); 26. the akinak on the relievo from Xerxes palace in Persepolis (Iran). (Sources: 1, 2, 21 [Topal Reference Topal2013, pls 3, 5, 7]; 3, 17–19, 20, 22–26 [Gorelik Reference Gorelik2003, tab. X]; 4 [Meliukova Reference Meliukova1964, tab. 19]; 5–16 [Polidovich Reference Polidovich2014, fig. 1]).
Another type of Scythian undecorated bouterolle is represented by three curved items from Romania (Figure 5, nos 4–6), dated to the second half of the 6th century BC (Topal Reference Topal2022). Two of them are 11–12 cm, some of the longest Scythian examples. They were discovered along with iron akinakai, which were also curved.
Possible evolution of Cimmerian folded, blistered bouterolles into sharp-edged ones (A) and the presumed evolution of the Subotiv type into the round-edge type (B). 1. Unknown (Ukraine); 2. Talne (Ukraine); 3. Bila Tserkva (Ukraine); 4. Băița (Romania); 5. Mirăslău (Romania); 6. Pâclișa (Romania); 7. Shumeyko mound (Ukraine); 8. Vettersfelde/Witaszkowo (Poland); 9. Kruhlyk tract (Ukraine); 10. Subotiv hillfort; 11. Solokha mound (Ukraine); 12. Nikopol burial ground (Ukraine). (Sources: 2–3 [Klochko Reference Klochko2025a, fig. 3]; 4–5 [Topal Reference Topal2022, fig. 6]; 6–7 [Topal Reference Topal2019b, figs 2, 4]; 8–9, 11–12 [Meliukova Reference Meliukova1964, tab. 17–19]; 10 [Terenozhkin Reference Terenozhkin1976, fig. 49]).
Figure 5 Long description
Panel A: This panel features detailed drawings and photographs of ancient bouterolles. The artefacts include sharp-edged bouterolles, with specific examples labeled as 7, 8, and 9. Panel B: This panel showcases the evolution of the Subotiv type into the round-edge type, with artefacts labeled as 10, 11, and 12. Each artefact is depicted with intricate details, highlighting their unique designs and historical significance.
Three other Scythian bouterolles cannot be attributed to any of the aforementioned types based on their morphology. The first one is from the Hungarian village of Tarpa, dated to the 7th–6th century BC. It is approximately 7 cm long, with a rounded edge (Figure 5, no. 11). Two others come from unknown locations in Ukraine. The first has a triangular form, is slightly convex on one side, and lacks a tip (Figure 1, no. 10). It is 4.5 cm long. The closest analogy, 3 cm long, comes from the Kharkiv region and was previously considered a possible early form of the Cimmerian Dunakömlőd type (Figure 1, no. 11).
The second is 14 cm long. Near the base, it is ornamented with three lines of shallow triangular engravings on one side. On the other side, there are two holes, which is standard on the rounded and bird-headed bouterolles. It is possible that these holes relate to how the bouterolle was connected to the rest of the sheath. The edge of this bouterolle is somewhat rounded (Figure 3, no. 13).
Discussion
The sizes and proportions of the Scythian bouterolles overall continue the Cimmerian traditions. The length may vary from 4 to 14 cm, which correlates with the weaponry that is also similar for the two periods. The same can be said of their distribution, as the chapes are found in the North Pontic region, the Caucasus, the Volga region, and the territories of central–eastern Europe across both time periods. However, the concentration moves from Ukraine to the east from one period to the next. Also, most of the Scythian bouterolles were found in archaeological sites, along with swords or daggers, whereas the Cimmerian examples are largely stray finds.
Most of the currently known Scythian bouterolle types resemble the tips of the actual sheaths (Figures 2–5). This is evident from both ordinary finds (made of bronze, i.e. a common material) and ceremonial finds (made of gold), as well as from the images from the Middle East (in the context of chapes with carved animalistic depictions [Figure 4, C]). On the other hand, the tip of the only known Cimmerian sheath (the ceremonial artefact, made of gold, from the Ptychata Mohyla mound in Bulgaria [Aleksandrov et al. Reference Aleksandrov, Dimitrova, Popov, Horejc and Chukalev2018]) is unique and does not reflect any known bouterolle from that period.
Based on the evidence presented above, it is logical to propose that Scythian bouterolles were based on Cimmerian ones. The bouterolles with rounded edges appear to be the oldest, as evidenced by the items from the Kelermes mounds and the Ananyino burial ground (both dated 7th–6th century BC). In previous research (Topal Reference Topal2021), the name ‘Starsha Mohyla type’ was used for them. However, in my opinion, the name ‘Kelermes type’ seems more reasonable, as it emphasises the ancient nature of such bouterolles. In the Ananyino burial ground, a Kelermes-type chape was discovered along with a Subotiv-type chape – the most common of the Cimmerian period. The Ananyino communities were clearly in contact with the Cimmerians, as evidenced by the Ananyino axes and spears found in the North Pontic region where the Cimmerians were based, as well as Cimmerian Novocherkask-type arrows being found in Ananyino burials. This is important, because the Kelermes mounds contain assemblages of Early Scythian objects, which also included items from the Cimmerian period. The precursor of the Kelermes type may be the triangular bouterolles from Ukraine. The lack of context (and thus, dating) does not allow absolute certainty, however, morphologically they seem to be the transitional stage between the Kelermes and earlier Dunakömlőd types. However, it is important to note that these bouterolles, as well as the early Kelermes types, are tiny (3–4 cm) compared to the Dunakömlőd types (10–14 cm). Later Scythian bouterolles are larger, so this relatively short-term diminishing of size is interesting. An explanation (albeit currently speculative) is that a decline in access to the main raw material – bronze – forced craftsmen to use smaller amounts and resulted in a smaller size of early Scythian bouterolle. This would not have been unique for the region. For example, during the final period of the Bronze Age, the spears of Berezhivka-Maivka Zrubna culture shrink into the proto-Scythian darts (Klochko Reference Klochko2006; Reference Klochko2025b). Yurii Brovender (Reference Brovender2016) has proposed that this could be explained by a palaeoecological crisis that affected bronze craftsmanship. However, this aspect of the research remains open to further studies.
The primary type of Scythian-age chapes is the Kelermes type. The bird-headed bouterolles seem to have developed from its bronze variant, as evidenced by the similarity of the upper part. The bone variant might have served as a basis for the carved chapes, which are found in the Caucasus and the Middle East (including the representations of them) (Figure 4) – this is evident by their form, material, and ornamentation.
The Cimmerian Subotiv type with round-edges probably continued into the Scythian period, as indicated by their similar form (Figure 5, B). The sharp-edged chapes (as well as curved bouterolles from Romania) remain a mystery. They resemble the collapsed, blistered bouterolle from Talne, mentioned at the beginning of this article, but the few finds do not enable a clear conclusion (Figure 5, A).
The slotted Starsha Mohyla type resemble the Kelermes type; however, they probably descend from the Cimmerian bouterolles with geometric ornaments (Figure 1). The slots are evidence of this relationship: initially they were geometrical (mostly triangular), but with the spread of Scythian animal style, they became more complex and symbolic. It should be noted that due to being stray finds, most of the bouterolles with geometric ornament currently lack dating more specific than the Cimmerian period, 10th–7th century BC.
The dating of the Scythian bouterolles provides two interesting (and correlated) conclusions regarding the evolution of these items: firstly, the development of some types and variants occurred within one century (or perhaps even a few decades); secondly, with the emergence of the latter forms, the former did not vanish but continued to co-exist. Many new Scythian-age bouterolles are stray finds and thus have no contextual dating. However, their quantity indicates that they were a ‘mass-produced’ item. This means that in the future, it is highly likely such bouterolles will be discovered within definitive archaeological contexts.
As for the geographical distribution (Figures 6–7), the situation seems to be uneven: in eastern Europe, most of the finds are concentrated in Ukraine, with all of the types in this paper present there; however, they are spread somewhat haphazardly, save for a few clusters. In central Russia, Scythian bouterolles are hardly present, while in the Caucasus region, two of the types (bone Kelermes type and bird-headed) are concentrated densely. In the Middle East and central Asia, the Scythian and bone Kelermes-type bouterolles are spread vastly, although in small number, in addition to the Persian depictions.
Distribution map of Scythian bouterolles and sheaths, part 1. A: eastern Europe; B: central Russia. Red: bird-headed; white: Starsha Mohyla type; yellow: Kelermes type (bronze); orange: Kelermes type (bone); blue: sharp-edged; green: round-edged. The numbers are as on the Figures 1–5. Scale 1:10163463.
Distribution map of Scythian bouterolles and sheaths, part 2. C: Fore-Caucasus and Caucasus; D: Middle East and central Asia. Red: bird-headed; white: Starsha Mohyla type; yellow: Kelermes type (bronze); orange: Kelermes type (bone); blue: sharp-edged; green: round-edged. The numbers are as on the Figures 1–5. Scale 1:5081731 (C) and 1:20326924 (D).
Figure 7 Long description
Panel C: A map of the Fore-Caucasus and Caucasus regions showing the distribution of Scythian bouterolles and sheaths. Different types of bouterolles and sheaths are marked with colored dots: red for bird-headed, white for Starsha Mohyla type, yellow for Kelermes type (bronze), orange for Kelermes type (bone), blue for sharp-edged, and green for round-edged. The numbers on the map correspond to specific locations as detailed in Figures 1 to 5. Panel D: A map of the Middle East and Central Asia showing the distribution of Scythian bouterolles and sheaths with the same color coding and numbering system as Panel C.
Conclusions
The evidence presented above supports the argument that Scythian bouterolles/chapes (much like some other weaponry) developed from Cimmerian chapes. This development is clearer with some types than with others, depending on the specifics of construction and/or decoration – such is the case for the Cimmerian-age Subotiv-type bouterolle and Scythian round-edged chapes, as well as the Cimmerian triangular decoration tradition and the Scythian Starsha Mohyla-type bouterolles. On the other hand, the transformation of the Cimmerian Dunakömlőd type into the Scythian Kelermes type seems more drastic due to the decline in size of the latter. Despite this, the Kelermes chapes become the main type for the Scythian era, serving as the foundation for the bird-headed (bronze) and carved (initially bone) chapes.
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