Ice Maiden

In the Altai mountains between China, Mongolia, Russia and Kazakhstan, there are stories of the Scythian Warriors who once lived in the area. They were said to be fierce women and men fighters who lived 2,500 years ago - or a few centuries before Alexander the Great.

In those mountains, archaeologists found a tomb.

The tomb was technically a wooden grave room, made of solid larch wood tree. Similar to a very small one room house, it was under a few feet of earth.

Inside of that tomb chamber were two small wooden tables with tray shaped tops, used to serve food and drink. Horsemeat and mutton (sheep) had been placed on the table; a wooden bowl with a carved handle and stirrer contained the remains of a yogurt-type dairy product; and a beverage of some sort was served in a cup made of Yak horn.

The remains of six horses and their saddles were found.

There was also a coffin decorated with shapes of deer and snow leopards.

Inside of that coffin, frozen in a solid block of ice, was the body of a 25 year old woman.

She was wearing a fancy headdress decorated with gold and wooden birds. She was also wearing a colorful dress made of wool and camel's hair, and a silk shirt.

She had exquisite and detailed tattoos on her arms and hands with pictures of flowers and fantastical animals. They are some of the most detailed designs ever found on an ancient body.

The Ice Maiden was also in possession of a bright red pouch with an ornately decorated hand mirror inside.