A treasure from the last quarter of the 10th century with jewelry and silver coins was discovered by an expedition of the Institute of Archeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences during excavations on the Sofia side of Veliky Novgorod. This was reported by the institute’s press service on its social network page.
The new treasure, called “Vozdvizhensky”, became the fourth and largest in terms of silver weight and number of objects among the treasures found in the early cultural horizons of Novgorod. In total, 1.9 thousand objects were found: about 1.8 thousand whole and fragmented silver coins and more than 80 silver jewelry weighing about 3 kg. One of the most expressive objects in the treasure is a silver cross with branches that widen towards the ends with three discs at the ends, this is an example of the so-called “Scandinavian type cross”.
Archaeological research was carried out in the construction zone of a residential building on Vozdvizhenskaya Street, here is the territory of the medieval end of Lyudin, 10 meters from the excavation site was the medieval Vozdvizhenskaya Street. The excavation, called “Vozdvizhensky”, included the central part of the estate of the 12th-15th centuries.
A comprehensive study of the treasure is planned in the future, but its scientific importance for the early history of Novgorod and ancient Russia is already obvious: the presence of Eastern, Byzantine and Western coins in one complex reflects the breadth of trade contacts of Novgorod. Novgorod and its importance as a center of attraction for imported silver coins and decorations, precisely dated thanks to coin finds, are of exceptional importance for the study and reconstruction of the female ceremonial dress of the Novgorod nobility during the reign of Vladimir Svyatoslavich.
