The remains of a 2,900-year-old body was dug from the ground in Siberia, carrying a dagger and a knife ready for battle on his way to the afterlife.
The Bronze Age warrior has a 'mirror' in one eye, possibly to illuminate his path after death, along with a set of stylish earrings.
The warrior with his dagger drawn was discovered during renovations to a historic building in Omsk.
'Unusual features are the dagger ready for use in one hand, and a knife in the other, and a metallic eye patch, or badge, seen as either a mirror illuminating his route to another world, or those who gave him evil glances,' The Siberian Times report.
'Nearby he had an axe and also some arrow heads.'
While most of the paraphernalia in his grave was warlike, he also took 'some fetching white metal spiral earrings, made possibly from tin or silver,' on his journey to the next life.
Albert Polovodov, a specialist from the Omsk regional culture ministry, said: 'In the right hand he held a dagger, the blade pointing forwards or upwards, as if he was going to use it as a stabbing weapon.
'In his other hand was a knife, blade down, as he was going to cut, dissect, cut ligaments and so on. Clearly, it is imitation of combat use of these weapon.'
It was as if he 'was very carefully prepared for the road to another world, assuming that obstacles may exist in his way'.
It indicated that perhaps during his life 'he had to fight - perhaps in battles for territories'.
Maxim Grachev, director of Omsk Museum of Archeology and Ethnography, said a total of five burials had been found in this vicinity but the other four had been destroyed.
The well preserved warrior 'was a pleasant surprise for us', he said.
The grave contained 'weapons, jewellery, and other items made of bronze'.
The warrior hailed from the transition period from the Bronze to the Iron age, and was between 2,700 and 2,900 years old, he said.
Other burial remains probably lie under the buildings on this site, but are not accessible, he said.
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