The artifact on display was discovered in 1987 in kurgan No. 10 of the Kobyakovsky burial site, which is located on the eastern outskirts of Rostov-on-Don. The burial contained the remains of a wealthy nomadic woman from the Sarmatian aristocracy. A gold torc was found around the neck of the deceased. This necklace is a unique piece with no known analogs in world art.
Other items discovered in the grave featured a number of amulets, mostly made from ornamental stones, including two engraved stones (intaglio gems). In addition, a bronze mirror, a silver spoon, an iron knife, and red paint were also found in the center of the grave.
Two wooden caskets with plaster coatings were inside in the burial chamber. One of them had an ornamented lid. Next to it were an iron ax, a set of two incense burners, and a pot with a lid. An iron artifact with a long handle and two prongs lay on top of the pot.
The other box contained a gold buckle and a glass cup. Around the casket were an additional set of incense burners, as well as a red-figure vessel in the shape of a ram, an iron knife, and a whetstone.
Fragments of wooden vessels with gold rims were also discovered in the burial, along with five bronze bells serving as apotropaia or amulets.
The torc from the grave is composed of two unequal sections. The front side, featuring an openwork relief design, is inlaid with blue turquoise stones, although the inserts are significantly damaged. Seven additional inserts were discovered next to the torc, some of which have holes. Each front section has longitudinal overlays on the backside along the upper and lower edges. The images on the frieze form a complex composition.
The compositional center is a figure of a man sitting on a rug, with his legs crossed. He is dressed in a caftan and tight-fitting trousers that are tucked into boots with buckles. In his hands he holds a cup, and there is a sword in its scabbard resting on his knees. The central figure is enclosed in a frame that imitates filigree braids.
To the right and left of the man, as well as at the back of the torc, there is a scene of three zoomorphic beings fighting dragons. The dragons are depicted as single-headed creatures with beards and short manes. The scene shows a battle between a dragon and zoomorphic “demons”.
