Toxic Red Mineral Found in 1,900-Year-Old Scythian Burial in Ukraine

Archaeologists in Ukraine have uncovered a fascinating, and potentially cautionary, tale from the past. A recent study details the discovery of red lumps of cinnabar – a mineral form of mercury sulfide, and a highly toxic substance – within a 1,900-year-old double burial of two Scythian women. The find, made at the Chervony Mayak burial ground in the Kherson region, offers a new window into the burial practices of the Late Scythian culture, which flourished along the Dnipro River from roughly the 2nd to the mid-3rd centuries AD.

The discovery isn’t simply about identifying a potentially dangerous substance in an ancient grave. It raises questions about why cinnabar was used, and what the Scythians understood – or didn’t understand – about its properties. While red pigments like ocher were commonly used in prehistoric burials, the identification of cinnabar is a first for Late Scythian sites, and adds a layer of complexity to our understanding of their rituals and beliefs.

A Double Burial, Centuries Apart

The grave, designated as grave 155, contained the remains of two women buried at different times. The older individual, estimated to be between 35 and 45 years old at the time of death, had three slight lumps of red material placed near her skull and ribcage. Later, a younger woman, between 18 and 20 years old, was interred in the same grave. Alongside the remains, archaeologists found beads, pottery, and copper alloy items, suggesting a degree of status or significance for those buried there.

The Chervony Mayak site itself has been known since the 1970s, and red pigments have been noted in some graves since 2011. Although, it was only through recent laboratory analysis, utilizing techniques like scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, that the red material was definitively identified as cinnabar. This identification, published in the journal Antiquity in March 2025, is a crucial step in understanding the purpose of the pigment.

Cinnabar: Beauty and Danger

Cinnabar, also known as vermilion when used as a pigment, is striking in its vibrant red color. This visual appeal likely contributed to its use in various cultures throughout history. In some prehistoric societies, it was used similarly to ocher for body paints, cave paintings, and ritualistic purposes. However, unlike ocher, cinnabar is highly toxic. It’s a mercury sulfide compound, and exposure can lead to mercury poisoning, causing tremors, breathing problems, and even death. The bones of individuals frequently exposed to cinnabar have been found to contain extremely high levels of mercury.

It’s crucial to note that the people using cinnabar in first-century Ukraine may not have fully understood its toxic properties. Professor Kaare Lund Rasmussen of the University of Southern Denmark, who has researched cinnabar use in medieval Europe, points out that similar uses were seen in earlier prehistoric burials across Europe. He recalls a Mesolithic-era grave in Denmark where a mother and child were buried covered in red ochre, a practice that highlights the long-standing human fascination with red pigments.

Possible Purposes: Ritual, Preservation, or Cosmetic?

The researchers propose several possible explanations for the presence of cinnabar in the Scythian grave. One possibility is that it served a practical purpose: to slow the decay of the body. Scythian crypts were often reopened to accommodate additional burials, and slowing decomposition could have been a way to manage space and maintain the integrity of previous interments. As study first author Olena Dzneladze explains, crypts could remain in use for up to 50 years, with multiple individuals buried within them over time.

Another possibility is a symbolic or ritualistic function. The red color itself may have been seen as representing life or vitality, a way to imbue the deceased with a “flush” of life. The fact that cinnabar was found exclusively in graves containing women suggests it may have also had a cosmetic purpose. Grave goods found in Scythian burials differed between men and women, leading researchers to believe the cinnabar was part of a specifically female burial set. The mineral may have been used as a pigment for cosmetics, stored in vessels like pyxides (small boxes) alongside other beauty products.

Scythian Culture and the Eurasian Steppe

The Scythians were a diverse group of nomadic peoples who inhabited the Eurasian Steppe – a vast grassland stretching from Ukraine to China – from around 800 BC to AD 300. They were known for their horsemanship, their distinctive art, and their complex social structures. The Chervony Mayak burial ground provides valuable insights into the Late Scythian period, towards the complete of their cultural dominance in the region. The discovery of cinnabar adds another piece to the puzzle, highlighting the interconnectedness of ancient cultures and the exchange of materials and ideas across vast distances.

The limited number of graves at Chervony Mayak containing cinnabar – only three out of 177 – suggests it wasn’t a widespread practice. However, the researchers believe it may have been overlooked in other Late Scythian graves, with descriptions of “red pigment” often lacking specific analysis. Dzneladze emphasizes the importance of detailed analysis to accurately identify the materials used in ancient burials, as what appears to be ocher could, in fact, be something far more complex – and potentially hazardous.

Further research is needed to fully understand the significance of cinnabar in Late Scythian burial practices. Continued archaeological investigation, coupled with advanced scientific analysis, will undoubtedly reveal more about the beliefs, rituals, and daily lives of these fascinating people. The ongoing work at Chervony Mayak, and similar sites across the Eurasian Steppe, promises to shed further light on a pivotal period in human history.