Medieval Russian and Byzantine seals found in Novgorod, Russia

A large collection of Russian and Byzantine seals have been discovered during rescue excavations carried out by the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences prior to the construction of a private house in Novgorod.

Credit: Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences

“We found 21 sealings and 6 blanks - that’s a lot for such a small excavation,” said Peter Gaidukov, deputy director of the IA of RAS.

The seals were regal, ecclesiastical, or belonged to military leaders who were invited to serve by the rulers of the city.

Eight seals, described as "princely" by the excavators, date from the 11th to early 13th centuries and 11 belong to the period from the end of the 13th to 15th centuries.

Credit: Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Two seals belonging to the Novgorod archbishop of the 13th century have been identified while another bears the stamp "Fedova, prince of a hundred".

Archaeologists have also discovered a seal which depicts the Mother of God and the cross  and which was evidently used by local governors to authenticate church documents.

One of the 'secular' seals belonged to the 'Novgorod Council of Gentlemen' - the governing body of the Novgorod Republic, which included an archbishop, as well as representatives of the boyars and the higher clergy. Typical of seals used in Novgorod in the 14th and 15th centuries, one side bears the stamp “Novgorod”, and on the other side depicts Jesus Christ enthroned.

Credit: Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Archaeologists have also found two Byzantine seals dating from the first half of the 12th century. This is a rather rare find. Over the past hundred years, excavations in the territory of Novgorod scientists have found only 50 such artefacts.

According to the researchers, they served as seals on goods imported or sent to Byzantium, which indicates the presence of trade relations between the ancient Russian city and the Byzantine Empire.

Source: n+1 [February 05, 2019]