Archeologists have found about one thousand period pieces at the first Pyatnitsky excavation in the Staraya Russa town of the Novgorod Region.
      
      Out of all finds uncovered during this field season at the Pyatnitsky digging area there stands out a 200 gram silver grivna, i.e. an ancient coin, found in the 13th century cultural layer. This grivna discovered at the territory of the estate that existed in Staraya Russa more than 70 years ago has become the first one for archeologists of Staraya Russa.
      
      The grivna is a silver bar about 17 centimeters long and one centimeter thick. Suchlike bars were used in the Middle Ages for big transactions.
      
      During research works at the Pyatnitsky excavation site there were found other remarkable articles of the Old Russian household. In particular archeologists have discovered a serpentine amulet, which was by their hypothesis made of copper alloy in the second half of the 18th century.
      
      The scientists however are not sure yet about the place where the pendant was made. The owner used to wear it on the neck as a charm against diseases. ‘On one side of the amulet there is a picture of the archangel Gabriel trampling on the serpent and on the other side there is an image of a woman’s head with snakes instead of hair.
      
      Last year Pyatnitsky digging site became the only Novgorod excavation where a medieval birch bark manuscript was found. It was discovered in the 14th century cultural layer on 5 July. It became the 1000th birch bark “message from antiquity” unearthed in the Novgorod Region.
      
      Source: rian.ru