12th century treasure found in a deserted place near Old Ryazan
Russian archaeologists, conducting excavations near Staraya Ryazan, discovered a treasure of rings, bracelets and pendants made of white metal. In total, 32 items were counted in the treasure, according to the Institute of Archeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
The find was made on the slope of a ravine cape, far from famous archaeological sites. Probably, it was lying in a bast or birch bark tuyeska – the remains of its walls have survived.
The treasure was named “Isadskiy”, in honor of the nearby village of Isady. It included eight neck grivnas, 14 bracelets, five temple rings with seven rays (it was believed that this is a symbol of the Sun) and cash grivnas of the Novgorod type. The total weight of the valuables exceeded 2 kilograms.
Experts noted that the jewelry is made in different techniques and styles, among them there are no two completely identical. The treasure was dated to the end of the 11th – the beginning of the 12th centuries. Interestingly, items similar in technique were included in earlier treasures, for example, in the 10th century.
According to the researchers, the treasure was buried even before the settlements of the Staraya Ryazan area appeared (end of the 12th century). During this period, the city was surrounded by a few rural settlements.
The treasure was buried a kilometer from the now disappeared road, “in a dense forest on the banks of a damp ravine.” Most of the Ryazan treasures were buried during the Batu invasion (1237) – the inhabitants tried to save the values from the invaders. But these artifacts were buried a hundred years earlier than these events. It remains unknown who and why hid them so carefully.
Earlier it was reported that the treasure was found in Moscow. It was excavated on the territory of Paveletskaya Square.
