No borders for innovations: A ca. 2700-year-old Assyrian-style leather scale armour in Northwest China

The first millennium BCE was pivotal for the environment and human societies in Central Eastern Eurasia because transformations accelerated altered natural cultural landscapes to hitherto unknown dimensions. Among major driving forces increasing use of horse riding, which extended range movement significantly led development cavalry units as a part large armies. Empires with enormous outreach gravitational pull formed disintegrated close dependence. wide spread military technologies demonstrates their bonds, though mostly form metal objects due inherent survivability materials. Equipment protective clothing organic material, albeit produced numbers thus an economic environmental factor, are rarely preserved. In Yanghai cemetery site, Turfan, remains one leather scale armour were discovered. this study, results AMS radiocarbon dating well construction details find presented compared contemporary origin Metropolitan Museum Art New York (MET) finds depictions from Near East, adjacent northern steppe areas territory China. armour, datable 786–543 cal (95% probability), originally made about 5444 smaller scales 140 larger scales, which, together laces lining, had total weight ca. 4–5 kg. Our reconstruction that it can be donned quickly without help another person by wrapping left around back, tying right under arm fastening thongs crosswise over back at opposite hip parts. Fitting different statures, is light highly efficient defensive garment. age, aesthetic appearance resembles MET armour. stylistic similarities but constructional differences suggest two armours intended outfits distinct same army, i.e. heavy infantry, respectively. As such high level standardization equipment during 7th century only known Neo-Assyrian forces, we place manufacture both Empire. If supposition correct, then rare actual proofs West-East technology transfer across Eurasian continent half BCE, when social transformation enhanced.