Archaeologists have uncovered a remarkable array of gold and silver jewelry from crypts at an early medieval burial site in Crimea. The finds, which include intricately designed brooches, earrings, and belts, suggest that the graves likely belonged to elite members of society from southwestern Crimea between the 4th and 6th centuries CE.
The burial ground, known as the Almalyk-dere necropolis, is situated on the Mangup plateau, approximately 10 miles east of Sevastopol. The discovery further supports long-held suspicions among researchers that the site served as a burial place for wealthy or noble individuals.
Excavations at Mangup plateau date back to the 19th century, with continued research throughout the 20th century. Despite significant looting over the years, archaeologists have consistently uncovered valuable artifacts at the site. “As usual, this burial ground brought surprises,” remarked Valery Naumenko, an archaeologist at the V.I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University. “Despite severe robbery, some items of independent scientific interest remain.”
Naumenko, along with his team from the Crimean Federal University and the Russian Academy of Sciences, has been excavating previously untouched sections of the necropolis. Evidence suggests that the Mangup region has been inhabited for over 5,000 years, with historical records from the 6th-century Byzantine historian Procopius of Caesarea linking the area to the Christian principality of Gothia, established in 488 CE by Theodoric the Great.
The Almalyk-dere necropolis, the largest of its kind in the region, has provided valuable insight into early medieval life. Among the latest finds are two underground crypts built between the 4th and 6th centuries. Inside, the team discovered a collection of medieval artifacts, including jewelry likely worn by women. The items include gold brooches, earrings inlaid with red gemstones, and gold shoe buckles. The earrings may feature garnets or carnelians, possibly imported from outside the region.
One of the crypts also contained a “pyxis,” a decorative container made from an animal horn, used historically to store powdered cosmetics. These discoveries point to the possibility that the crypts were intended for women of high social standing, potentially even nobles.
Despite previous excavations and looting, the ongoing work at the site continues to yield important discoveries, shedding light on the lives of the wealthy elite in early medieval Crimea.
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