Hence, it is quite possible that the cataphracts on Trajan's Column could have armour completely covering arms and legs. Archaeologically, such armour was not confirmed in Sarmatian burials, but similar suits of scale were found in Scythian barrows (Plate 5).

Plate 5: 1-2 Scythian armour of 6th-5th century BC; 3 reconstruction of armour from Scythian Tomb 1 Barrow 6 at Alexandrovka, end of the 6th-5th century; iron, Barrow 3, Staikin Verkh, early 5th century BC; 4 armour in situ; 5 reconstruction (after GORELIC 1993).