The PhD thesis in History, speciality 07.00.04 - archaeology. - National University of "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy". - Kyiv, 2016. Dissertation is devoted to one of the most significant category of the Scythian weapon - swords and daggers. Due to maximal mobilization of the source base, informative potentials of the blade weapon are fully shown. Large historiography heritage was summarized. Main theories dedicated to the general and particular questions of blade weapon research are critically analyzed. Numerous sources were put in order. Firstly, five metric groups were created. They show some functional and chronologically variability. Secondly, the new classification is proposed. It is based on few main principles. Single-edged and double-edged examples separated into two different classes because they are originated from the different cultures. Single-edged weapon divided on the two divisions due to the blade curving. Division of the double-edged swords and daggers is based on the characteristics of their handles. Also, their technological features were taken into account. Due to it seven divisions with eighteen types were outlined. Their sequence also demonstrates main chronological changes. Detailed chronological column for all types of swords and daggers was built. Seven maximal narrow chronology groups were defined. Each of them has length near half a century. Each type is dated due to main chronological markers - war trophies, antique imports, arrows set etc. Chronological division shown that dynamic of the swords and daggers development from Forest-Steppe passed in one rhythm with nomad's weapon. It shown, that there is no chronological or typological horizon that could be considered isolated from antiquities of the Steppe Scythia. Main regularities in the blade weapon distribution on the Forest-Steppe area were outlined. Thus, burials with blade weapon were concentrated in the strategic points. They were associated with land routes and production centers. Stray finds are fixed on the wider area. They are also related with borderlands, wilderness, steppe landscapes and floodplains. The earliest specimens on the right bank of Dnipro were detected in the densely populated regions. On the left bank of Dnipro and in the basin of Don they could appear even earlier than settlement structures. It suggests that nomads were the main distributors of the blade weapon in the Forest-steppe. Complexes with blade weapon were divided in four social groups. Only some of poor graves could be considered as farmer's burials. Another complexes distinguished by markers of Scythian burial ritual: precious trophies, some attributes of cult (stone altars, bronze mirrors, chariot's finials, wooden bowls), horses and slaves burials. Also, ceremonial weapon (inclusive with oilstones and scourges), pairs of swords, zoomorphic chapes and scaly armor (especially precious and import details) considered as nomad's indicator. Correlation of swords and daggers with other prestigious artifacts indicate high social status of thumping majority of "swordsmen". So, it could be considered that Scythians were on the high rank of the social structure among the farmer tribes. And Forest-steppe region was involved in the common military-politic structure of the Scythia. Keywords: swords, daggers, Scythian time, East Europe, Forest-steppe.
