Rare 1,000-Year-Old Silver Coin Found in Novgorod Sheds New Light on Early Medieval Rus’

Rare 1,000-Year-Old Silver Coin Found in Novgorod Sheds New Light on Early Medieval Rus’

Archaeologists excavating the historic city of Veliky Novgorod have uncovered a rare silver coin minted during the reign of Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich, a discovery that is reshaping historians’ understanding of the political and economic ties linking Novgorod and Kyiv more than a thousand years ago.

Image Credit : RUS

The coin, dating to the late 10th or early 11th century AD, was found during rescue excavations on Troitskaya Street by the Novgorod Expedition of the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. It is only the third silver coin of Prince Vladimir ever discovered in Veliky Novgorod, making it one of the city's most significant numismatic finds.

A Rare Glimpse into Early Rus’

Ancient coins from the earliest period of the Rus’ state are exceptionally rare in northwestern Russia. Before this discovery, only four silver coins issued by Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich (c. AD 960–1015) had been documented across the region, with two previous examples unearthed in Veliky Novgorod during excavations in 2010 and 2023.

The latest discovery strengthens the archaeological record for one of Eastern Europe’s most influential medieval cities and provides valuable evidence for a period that remains poorly documented in written historical sources.

Discovered Beneath Novgorod’s Oldest Settlement Layers

The silver coin was recovered on 24 July from the deepest cultural deposits at the excavation site, where archaeologists identified evidence that the area was first settled during the late 10th century.

Although the excavation covered only 130 square metres, researchers uncovered an impressive collection of material, including the remains of a medieval estate.

Excavations also produced more than:

• 600 individually catalogued artefacts
• 55,000 additional archaeological finds

These included:

• Pottery fragments
• Leather offcuts
• Animal bones
• Bone tools
• Amber objects
• Glass artefacts
• Stone implements
• Metal objects

Together, the discoveries provide an exceptional snapshot of daily life in early medieval Novgorod.

A Coin of Exceptional Historical Importance

The newly discovered coin is made from high-grade silver, although only half of the original survives. Archaeologists determined that it had been deliberately cut during antiquity, likely so it could be used as fractional currency.

The surviving piece weighs 1.90 grams and belongs to the earliest known series of silver coins issued by Prince Vladimir.

Historians believe these coins were introduced shortly after the Christianisation of Rus’, one of the most transformative events in Eastern European history.

Christian Symbols Reflect a New Era

The coin's imagery reflects the religious transformation taking place across the Rus’ lands during Vladimir’s reign.

One side depicts Prince Vladimir seated while wearing a ceremonial cloak and holding a cross. Beside him appears a trident, the dynastic emblem associated with his ruling family. An inscription identifies the coin as "Vladimir's silver."

The reverse features a bust of Jesus Christ holding the Gospel, symbolising the adoption of Christianity following Vladimir’s conversion and the subsequent baptism of the Rus’ in AD 988.

The combination of royal and Christian imagery illustrates how coinage became a powerful tool for expressing political authority and religious identity.

Matching Coins Minted Over 1,000 Years Ago

Researchers say the remarkable state of preservation allowed specialists to compare the coin with other known examples.

Detailed examination showed it had been struck using the same dies as coins previously recovered from:

• A hoard discovered in Kaluga Region
• A separate find in the Chernihiv region

These matches help archaeologists better understand how early Russian coins were produced and distributed.

One of Only 300 Early Examples

Around 800 silver coins issued by Prince Vladimir are currently known worldwide.

They are classified into four principal types, with the newly discovered specimen belonging to the earliest issue.

Only about 300 coins from this first series have been identified, making each newly discovered example an important contribution to medieval numismatic research.

Expanding the Map of Early Rus’

Most of Vladimir's silver coins have traditionally been found close to Kyiv, where historians believe they were minted.

Isolated discoveries are generally concentrated within the historic territories of:

• Kyiv
• Chernihiv
• Pereyaslavl

However, recent archaeological discoveries have gradually expanded the known distribution of these coins into northern regions, including:

• Kursk
• Bryansk
• Tula
• Kaluga
• Vladimir
• Veliky Novgorod

The latest discovery reinforces the idea that Novgorod maintained close political and economic ties with Kyiv during the formative years of the early Rus’ state.

Rescue Archaeology Continues to Transform History

Like the previous two Vladimir coins discovered in Veliky Novgorod, this latest example was recovered during rescue excavations carried out before modern construction work.

Such development-led archaeological projects continue to reveal hidden chapters of the city's past, demonstrating how modern infrastructure projects can unexpectedly contribute to historical research.

For archaeologists, the discovery represents more than the recovery of a rare coin. It provides direct evidence of trade, political authority, economic exchange, and the spread of Christianity during one of the most important periods in Eastern European history.

A Small Coin with a Big Historical Impact

Although only half of the original coin survives, its historical value is immense.

The find offers fresh insight into the earliest decades of Veliky Novgorod, strengthens evidence for its relationship with Kyiv, and expands the known circulation of the first official coinage issued by Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich.

As rescue excavations continue across one of medieval Rus’ most significant historic centres, archaeologists expect further discoveries to deepen our understanding of the emergence of the early Russian state and the communities that shaped its history more than a millennium ago.

40,000-Year-Old Thumbnail-Sized Ice Age Bird Figurines Discovered in Germany's Hohle Fels Cave

40,000-Year-Old Thumbnail-Sized Ice Age Bird Figurines Discovered in Germany's Hohle Fels Cave

Archaeologists excavating Hohle Fels Cave in southwestern Germany have uncovered two extraordinarily small 40,000-year-old bird figurines carved from mammoth ivory, offering fresh insight into the artistic abilities of Europe's earliest modern humans.

The miniature sculptures, each no larger than a human thumbnail, were discovered in the cave's Aurignacian archaeological layers, famous for producing some of the oldest known examples of figurative art ever created.

Image Credit : University of Tübingen

The discovery was made by researchers from the University of Tübingen during ongoing excavations at the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Swabian Jura, a region renowned for preserving some of humanity's earliest artistic and musical achievements.

Tiny Masterpieces from the Dawn of Art

Although remarkably small, the newly discovered carvings display an impressive level of craftsmanship.

One figurine depicts what archaeologists believe is a resting or brooding bird, with its body flattened, legs tucked beneath it, and head drawn close to its body. The second sculpture portrays a bird with outstretched wings, although part of its left wing is missing.

Despite measuring only 2 centimetres long, 1 centimetre wide, and just half a centimetre high, the flying bird contains carefully engraved details that reveal the remarkable skill of its creator.

Researchers say it is now the smallest known example of Ice Age figurative art discovered within the UNESCO-listed Caves and Ice Age Art of the Swabian Jura region. Most previously discovered Ice Age ivory carvings measure between three and nine centimetres in length.

Incredible Detail in Miniature

The tiny sculptures demonstrate that prehistoric artists paid close attention to the natural world.

The resting bird features delicately carved circular eyes, while the second bird displays a finely shaped beak and parallel engraved lines representing feathers.

According to excavation director Professor Nicholas Conard, the carvings show that Ice Age artists were capable of creating highly detailed representations rather than simple symbolic figures.

Instead of producing generic animal shapes, they carefully observed birds in nature and translated those observations into realistic sculptures that still allow archaeologists to speculate about their species and behaviour tens of thousands of years later.

Capturing Life and Movement

Unlike many Paleolithic animal figurines that depict creatures standing still, these newly discovered birds appear to capture specific moments of behaviour.

Researchers believe the reclining bird may represent an individual incubating eggs, while the second could depict a bird:

• Taking flight
• Landing on water
• Performing a courtship display
• Defending its territory

Such dynamic representations suggest that Ice Age artists were interested not only in appearance but also in movement and animal behaviour.

Which Birds Inspired the Sculptures?

Identifying the exact species remains difficult.

Archaeologists suggest the carvings may represent ptarmigan, whose bones frequently appear in archaeological deposits from the region.

However, other possibilities remain under consideration, including:

• Capercaillie
• Other pheasant-like birds
• Birds of prey
• Water birds

The realistic details preserved on the carvings may eventually help specialists narrow down their identification.

Hohle Fels: One of Humanity's Greatest Archaeological Sites

The discoveries add to the extraordinary archaeological record of Hohle Fels Cave, one of the world's most important Paleolithic sites.

For decades, excavations have produced remarkable finds dating to the Aurignacian period, when modern humans first spread across Europe approximately 43,000 to 35,000 years ago.

Among the cave's most famous discoveries are:

• The Venus of Hohle Fels, considered one of the world's oldest known human figurines
• Ancient bone and ivory flutes believed to be the oldest known musical instruments
• Numerous mammoth ivory carvings depicting animals and mythical creatures

The newly discovered birds become the third bird figurines recovered from Hohle Fels. Interestingly, no bird carvings have been discovered at the other three major Ice Age art caves included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, despite yielding many sculptures of mammoths, cave lions, horses, and other animals.

Evidence of Distinct Ice Age Workshops

Professor Conard believes the discoveries strengthen the idea that individual Ice Age communities developed their own artistic traditions.

Rather than producing identical styles across the region, different workshops may have specialized in particular themes or subjects.

The repeated appearance of bird carvings at Hohle Fels—but not at neighbouring sites—suggests that this community possessed its own distinctive artistic identity.

Researchers now hope to determine whether the two newly discovered figurines were carved by the same individual or by different artists working generations apart.

More Than Decorative Objects

The two miniature sculptures weigh only 1.3 grams and 0.7 grams, yet they may have carried enormous symbolic importance.

Their purpose remains uncertain.

Archaeologists are exploring several possibilities, including that they may have served as:

• Personal amulets
• Ritual objects
• Symbols of group identity
• Objects linked to seasonal migration or hunting traditions

Because birds played a prominent role in Ice Age environments—marking seasonal changes, providing warning calls, and inspiring music—they may also have held spiritual or cultural significance for prehistoric hunter-gatherers.

Now on Public Display

The newly discovered figurines are currently exhibited at the Museum of Prehistory and Ice Age Art (urmu) in Blaubeuren, Germany.

Visitors can view the carvings as part of the special exhibition "Featherlight and Research-Heavy – Discover the Miniature Birds of Ice Age Art," which runs until 4 April 2027.

Located close to Hohle Fels Cave, the museum houses some of the world's oldest surviving artworks and musical instruments, allowing visitors to explore the remarkable creativity of Europe's earliest modern humans.

A Tiny Discovery with Enormous Importance

Although each carving is scarcely larger than a thumbnail, the discovery highlights the extraordinary artistic sophistication achieved by Ice Age communities 40,000 years ago.

The miniature birds reveal that prehistoric artists combined technical mastery with careful observation of the natural world, producing sculptures rich in detail, movement, and symbolism.

As excavations continue at Hohle Fels, archaeologists expect more discoveries that will deepen our understanding of the cultural traditions, artistic expression, and daily lives of the first modern humans in Europe.