The 'Scythians' were a set of diverse cultures

[Eldorado]

Scythian-era people lived across Eurasia from about 700 BCE to 200 BCE, and have long been considered highly mobile warriors who ranged widely across the steppe grasslands.

Herodotus describes Scythian populations as living in wagons and engaging in raiding and warfare, and this view has persisted throughout history—supported by archeologists' observations of similar styles of horse harnesses, weapons, burial mounds and animal style motifs throughout what is now Ukraine.

Because of this, history has lumped the diverse cultures and periods of people in this region as a single "Scythian" identity, even calling it an "empire."

But a new study led by researchers of MPI-SHH reveals what previously was considered one group was likely a set of diverse cultures and periods. By analyzing human bone and tooth enamel, the international team of researchers found that, rather than being wide-ranging warriors, people in this region more likely lived in urban locales, growing millet and raising livestock in mixed economic systems.

Full article at Max Planck: Link

[Piney]

Horse cultures are notorious for swapping DNA and Ideas and many forest cultures (Turkic, Mongolian) adopted and intermarried the initial Iranian culture.