Medieval silver hoard weighing over 2 kg found in Leningrad Oblast
In short
Russian archaeologists found a medieval hoard of silver items dating from the 10th to 14th centuries at the Tiversky Gorodok site in the Leningrad Oblast, the Ministry of Education and Science said. The hoard weighs more than 2 kg and, by preliminary estimates, is the largest of its kind found in Russia's North-West. It includes three coins: an Arab dirham dated preliminarily to 907–912 and two Uppsala-type bracteates minted in Sweden in the late 11th to first half of the 12th century.
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Russian archaeologists have found a medieval hoard of silver items dating from the 10th to 14th centuries at the Tiversky Gorodok site in the Leningrad Oblast. The Ministry of Education and Science announced the find, according to statements it gave to RIA Novosti and RBC. RIA Novosti reported the discovery first, describing the hoard as unique in its richness. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
By the researchers' preliminary estimates, the hoard is the largest in Russian archaeology among comparable finds of that period in Russia's North-West, Vedomosti and Kommersant reported. Its total weight exceeds 2 kg. The items listed include several round medallions with grain and filigree, a large ornamented torc, coin pendants, a Karelian-type head ornament, silver chains made of thin wire, a ring, a horseshoe fibula and a leather headband. [ 2 , 3 ]
Three coins were also found, according to the expedition leader, Stanislav Belsky, a senior researcher in the archaeology department of the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The oldest is an Arab dirham, which numismatists identified from a photograph, so its dating to 907–912 is strictly preliminary, Vedomosti reported. The other two are large Uppsala-type bracteates, single-sided coins struck in Sweden in the late 11th to first half of the 12th century. Belsky said the bracteates are unique, because only four are now known in the world: two in Uppsala in Sweden and two in the Tiversky hoard. [ 2 , 3 ]
Belsky also pointed to an unusual medallion with a depiction of birds, which he said probably shows the ravens of the god Odin, Huginn and Muninn, with his spear Gungnir between them. He said it remains a big mystery why a pagan Scandinavian subject appears among objects with openly Christian symbolism. According to Belsky, all the items are of very high quality and most were made outside the region where they were found, in Old Rus or Scandinavia. [ 2 ]
Kommersant noted that Arab silver in the hoard matters not only for dating: in the 9th and 10th centuries dirhams were used above all in foreign trade and travelled along river routes through the Old Russian state to Scandinavia and other parts of Europe, with millions of such coins forming the basis of Old Russian monetary circulation in that period. The Swedish bracteates add a Scandinavian component, the outlet said, indicating that objects made in Scandinavia circulated alongside Arab coins and locally made items. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The find was announced through the Ministry of Education and Science and reported by Russia's main national and business outlets, giving it the character of an official national result for Russian archaeology. Kommersant linked the coins to the medieval trade routes that carried Arab silver through the Old Russian state towards Scandinavia, which researchers say places the site within wider exchange networks. The bracteates, of which the expedition leader says only four are now known worldwide, give the discovery a direct Scandinavian link.
Key facts
- Archaeologists found a medieval hoard of silver items from the 10th to 14th centuries at the Tiversky Gorodok site in the Leningrad Oblast, according to the Ministry of Education and Science. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Preliminary estimates by the researchers describe it as the largest find of its kind for that period in Russia's North-West. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The hoard weighs more than 2 kg. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The items listed include medallions with grain and filigree, a large torc with ornament, coin pendants, a Karelian-type head ornament, silver wire chains, a ring, a horseshoe fibula and a leather headband. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Three coins were found: the oldest is an Arab dirham dated preliminarily to 907–912, and the other two are large Uppsala-type bracteates struck in Sweden in the late 11th to first half of the 12th century. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Expedition leader Stanislav Belsky said only four such bracteates are now known in the world, two in Uppsala in Sweden and two in the Tiversky hoard. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Belsky said an unusual medallion depicts birds that are probably Odin's ravens Huginn and Muninn with his spear Gungnir, and that it remains unclear why a pagan Scandinavian motif appears among items with Christian symbolism. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A medieval silver hoard dating from the 10th to 14th centuries was found at the Tiversky Gorodok site in the Leningrad Oblast, the Ministry of Education and Science said. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The hoard weighs more than 2 kg and, by preliminary estimates, is the largest comparable find of that period in Russia's North-West. [ 2 , 3 ]
- It contains silver ornaments and three coins, among them an Arab dirham dated preliminarily to 907–912 and two Uppsala-type bracteates made in Sweden in the late 11th to first half of the 12th century. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The expedition leader, Stanislav Belsky of the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography of the Russian Academy of Sciences, said only four Uppsala-type bracteates are now known worldwide, two in Uppsala and two in this hoard. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The Ministry of Education and Science announced the find, according to statements made to RIA Novosti and to RBC. [ 2 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- The exact dating of the Arab dirham. Vedomosti reports that numismatists identified the coin from a photograph, so the 907–912 dating is described by the researchers as strictly preliminary.
- Why a pagan Scandinavian motif appears among objects with Christian symbolism. The expedition leader is quoted in Vedomosti saying this remains a big mystery; no outlet offers an explanation.
- The exact settlement or nearest town at the Tiversky Gorodok site. The documents name the site and the Leningrad Oblast but no city or district.
- The interpretation of the bird medallion as Odin's ravens and spear. This reading appears only in Vedomosti, attributed to the expedition leader, and no other outlet repeats it.
- Whether excavation work at the site is continuing or has finished. Only that the hoard was found during archaeological work is reported; no outlet gives a status for the dig.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- RIA Novosti reports the discovery of a medieval hoard, describing it as unique in its richness. [ 1 ]
- Vedomosti publishes details of the hoard at the Tiversky Gorodok site, citing the Ministry of Education and Science and expedition leader Stanislav Belsky. [ 2 ]
- Kommersant reports the find with Belsky's quote on the bracteates and background on Arab dirhams in medieval trade. [ 3 ]
- RBC reports the discovery, citing the ministry's press service. [ 4 ]