Archaeologists working in the southern Ural Mountains have unearthed a sprawling Iron Age industrial district. The site contains a dozen well-preserved blast furnaces that reveal the Scythians possessed much more advanced metallurgical knowledge than was previously credited to nomadic cultures. The furnaces were designed with a unique ventilation system that allowed them to reach temperatures high enough to produce high-carbon steel.
Alongside the industrial remains, the team discovered a repository of specialized tools, including anvils, tongs, and molds for casting ceremonial weapons. This find indicates that the Scythians were not just skilled warriors and equestrians, but also master metallurgists who controlled a significant production chain to supply their expansive steppe empire with elite weaponry and tools.