75 medieval entombments excavated in north-western Russia

Russian archaeologists have found 75 ancient graves dating from the 15th to the 18th century at the excavation site of the necropolis by Nikolo-Dvorishchenskiy Cathedral in Veliki Novgorod in north-western Russia.

Moscow, Oct 1 : Russian archaeologists have found 75 ancient graves dating from the 15th to the 18th century at the excavation site of the necropolis by Nikolo-Dvorishchenskiy Cathedral in Veliki Novgorod in north-western Russia.

Moscow archaeologist and anthropologist Denis Pezhemsky said, excavation work has been going on since early July, and they were expecting more entombments to be dug out.

Pezhemski said the remnants of the ancient Novgorod dwellers are all kept in sarcophagi, which are of great historical value.

Some tombs are probably family ones, because several people were buried together, he said.

He said the dig also revealed unique pieces of medieval household and fragments of frescoes belonging to the 12th century, a bone stamp, ancient crosses, and buttons, as well as lots of coins kept both in the graves and around them.

"It was purely Novgorodian custom, a part of their culture to leave coins at entombments," Russia Info-Centre quoted Pezhemsky as saying.

ANI