identified as locally sourced, hand-made jugs, pots, open-vessels and cups with some imported red-slip plates, jugs and cups also being found. Battle armour included long and short Sarmatian-style swords and iron head arrows. Graffiti was found during this time which has stimulated a debate on their meaning. There has been debate on their meaning with O.D. Dashevskaya (1962) suggesting that they were individual ‘autographs’ by the residents during ceremonies whereas other historians theorise that they have ritualistic meaning or were the works of Sarmatian conquerors (Vysotskaya and Puzdrovsky as cited in Zaystev, 2004). Zaytsev (2004) states that culturally, this period was heavily influenced by the Sarmatian culture as well as the neighbouring settlements of Bosphorus and Chersonesos. During the end of the 2nd century to the middle of the 3rd century, which was the last period before the settlement was destroyed by the Goths, archaeological evidence from Scythian Neapolis suggests that its agricultural sector progressed with the settlement being considered an ‘agricultural hub’ due to the significant volumes of grain storage uncovered. Zaystev (2004) states that the population demonstrated the general characteristics of group settlements in the Black Sea region; ‘decline in lifestyle, total barbarization, and deep religious syncretism’. The archaeological presence of permanent granaries, hand-mills and primitive grain grain-pestles as well as carbonised apple and vines, which demonstrate the presence of viticulture and horticulture, further demonstrates the steady and settled agricultural sector present during this time. Excavators found the bones of horses, cows, goats and sheep which historians believe indicate that hunting games occurred and played a role in the economy of this settlement. Home-based production of pottery and items made of bone, wool, yarn and cloth was still evident during this period whilst imports of red-slip amphorae jugs from Bosphorus, and red-slip pottery from Chersonesos have also been found indicating trade with neighbouring settlements was still occurring. In these amphorae some contained wines which had been imported from Rhodes, Cnidus, Cos and Sinope. Religion The religious beliefs of the Scythians are not fully understood by historians however many believe they were polytheists, with a belief in the afterlife. This is evidenced by the grave goods found in burial sites, such as group burials found within the catacombs located in the Eastern Necropolis in Scythian Neapolis. These catacombs were structured in terms of wealth, with the ‘deepest and richest…to shallower ones with a smaller range of objects’ being found.