Sarmatian Studies between History and Archaeology
Perevalov Sergei M.
The author analyses today's situation in Russian Sarmatian studies, marked with the struggle between two trends, the «archaeological» and «historical» ones. In his opinion, the prevalence of the archaeological approach based on material, not on written, sources results in a deformed view on Sarmatian history. Arguing against A.V. Simonenko and A.S. Skripkin, his opponents from the «archaeological camp», he insists on the Alanian identity of the Sarmatians of 35 AD and asserts the historicity of the so-called Sarmatian seat with two-hands grip on the pike. In his opinion, the main task of Sarmatian studies in the 21st century is to become a historical discipline.