Sarmatian art is best represented by artifacts from the burial mound at Khoklach, discovered by chance in 1864 near Novocherkassk. Gold articles found there – torques (grivnas), perfume flasks, diadems and plaques -- were executed in the Sarmatian animal style: these objects are notable for their stylization and the use of ornamentation formed of the heads and bodies of animals, as well as coloured inlay of turquoise or different shades of blue smalt paste to represent the eyes, ears, paws or hooves, ribs and muscles.

Of the jewellery from graves around the Northern Black Sea coast, most interest is to be found in polychrome articles of the time of the great migration of peoples.

Various adornments for clothing have been found. Most have coloured inlays of semiprecious stones, mainly in shades of red, such as almandine, garnet and sard, and less frequently amber and glass, against a gold ground. These articles show a combination of new forms unknown to jewellers of the Northern Black Sea littoral, who tended to use the jewellery techniques traditional around the Bosporus during the previous era, and they vary in style and technique. The most typical examples are diadems and kolts (temple pendants).

Diadem Late 4th - first half of the 5th century Larger view Temple Pendant (kolt) Late 4th-5th century Larger view

Torque Terminal Late 4th-5th century Larger view