Sarmatian

The Sarmatians were an ancient Iranian-speaking people who formed a large confederation on the Eurasian steppe from approximately the 5th century BCE to the 4th century CE. The term Sarmatian is used in classical sources to describe a cluster of related groups that shared a common ancestry with the Scythians.

At their height they occupied a broad zone from the southern Baltic to the Caucasus, including the Pontic steppe north of the Black Sea, the Danube region in the west, and the Ural area in the east. Western groups such as the Iazyges and Roxolani roamed near the Danube; eastern Sarmatians lived on the Volga and in the Pontic steppe. They interacted with neighboring powers, including the Romans, Parthians, and later the Huns and Avars.

They were primarily pastoral nomads and skilled horsemen, organized in tribal and confederate structures. Their material culture and burial practices show continuity with the Scythians, and they produced rich gold and bronze grave goods in kurgans. Their language belonged to the Eastern Iranian group, and their populations contributed to the emergence of later groups such as the Alans.

From the 2nd century BCE they rose as a dominant power in the steppe, clashing with Rome in various campaigns and serving as mercenaries and allies at times. By the 4th century CE Sarmatian groups were absorbed or displaced by migrating peoples, including the Huns and Avars. The Alans survived into the medieval period and are commonly considered the direct ancestors of the Ossetians in the Caucasus.

Scholarly usage "Sarmatian" also designates the archaeological cultures associated with these peoples and their descendants.