The National Museum of History of Ukraine has received a unique archaeological treasure dating back to the early 5th century. The find consists of three fibulae, which are important evidence of the development of Kyiv’s archaeological culture.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Features of the Unique Silver Jewelry
Among the artifacts transferred to the museum is a large round fibula, which was previously silver-plated and is a typical ornament for the Kyiv culture of the 3rd to 5th centuries. The other two fibulae are made of silver and belong to a rare type of double-plate clasps that were common in the Northern Black Sea region. A distinctive feature of the silver pair is the masterful decoration in the form of a comb with numerous buttons, which adds exceptional value to them.
“According to museum experts, similar items have not yet been recorded in scientific circulation. This allows us to speak of the uniqueness of the treasure, which likely belongs to the late stage of Kyiv culture — a period when ornaments were already made not of bronze, but of silver.”
Historical Significance and Circumstances of the Treasure’s Discovery
The Kyiv culture is considered the first archaeological culture associated with the Slavs, who are mentioned in ancient historical sources. Researchers believe that the appearance of silver jewelry could have been a result of migration processes that occurred after the Hunnic invasion of 375–376, when remnants of Gothic tribes were relocated to forested areas.
The treasure was recovered by employees of the Lokhvitsky branch of the Myrhorod District Police Department in the Poltava region as part of a criminal investigation. An inquiry into the illegal appropriation of the find was initiated following a statement from the National Museum of History of Ukraine.