Novgorod archeologists have unearthed a rare seal at the digging site by the Nicolo-Dvorishchensky Cathedral in Yaroslav Dvorishche.

      “The bronze matrix seal dated to the 15th-16th centuries, has been recently found between the graves of the necropolis located by the cathedral walls”, archeologist Denis Pezhemsky has reported.

      On one side of the heart-shaped seal there is a carving of a cross on Golgotha and the inscription “Your cross we worship” and on the other side there is a picture of a bird, probably, a swan, and the word “seal”. “First we decided that we have found an unfinished seal, since there is no owner’s name on the seal, but then we realized that he hid his name on purpose due to the superstitions that were there in the 15th-16th centuries in Old Russia”, - Pezhemsky explained.

      According to the scientist, such anonymous seals are rare among archaeological finds. Some time ago researchers have found a similar seal at excavations in Pskov.