Russia Archaeologists have discovered two strange human figures from a medieval cemetery structures have been discovered. These structures were buried with battle axes and cavalry equipment.
The 11th-century cemetery was first discovered in 1851 in the town of Suzdal near Moscow and has since been known for its buried jewelry, coins and weapons.
In the latest excavation, archaeologists have found about 50 bones buried at the site, including the strange remains of a 30-year-old man. He was buried with artefacts including a battle axe, a knife, a bronze belt buckle resembling a harp and a broken vessel.
The lower part of the axes has a cut in the form of a semi-circle while one part of it resembles a shoe.
The scientists explained in the statement that between the 9th and 11th centuries, such axes were common in the southern regions of Eastern Europe, from Hungary to the southern Urals, and from the 10th century in Russia. There was space for the shape cut, the silver decoration and the strap.
A medieval type of ax with a ‘little hammer’ on one end and a cut on the lower end was popular during the 11th and 12th centuries, the researchers say.
“Axes of this type, which were primarily associated with a nomadic environment, were widespread in Russia in the 10th and 11th centuries,” the scientists wrote.
Another 20-year-old man was buried in an elaborate wooden structure ‘made without the use of iron nails’. This man was buried close to where the skeleton was found, another man was also buried with a similar battle axe, harpoon buckle, locket and knife. Remains of a knife cover were also found.’
Horsemanship equipment found at the site where the second man was buried includes a saddle strap, researchers say. A device was also found, possibly for weighing coins that were ‘collected as taxes.’
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The exact identity of those buried is still unclear, but archaeologists suspect that they were prominent figures and possibly performing ‘fiscal duties’ such as tax collection.
The researchers said that the combined discovery of weapons, measuring and weighing instruments in the men’s burials indicates that these are burials of people who performed financial affairs, including collecting coins as taxes. Involves weighing.’
He wrote that ‘both the size of the burial and the presence of equestrian equipment indicate the high status of the deceased. That’s why it seems normal against the burial.’
Archaeologists say that such unique burials in ancient Russian cemeteries are associated with the Slavic ritual, in which graves are unarmed.
According to the researchers, these burials highlight the fact that the elite of ancient Russia quickly accepted Christianity. The researchers say that the 11th century saw the major part of this process of change.
According to the researchers, these discoveries also shed light on the culture of the elite and “characteristics of the social structure of northeastern Russia.”
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2024-08-13 15:18:45
