Collections

Horodyshche treasure of silver ornaments was found in the village of Horodyshche 2 in Lutsk raion. It comprises women's silver jewellery - five neck hryvnias, three bracelets, five beads. Its total weight is 1 400 g. The treasure dates back to the 11th-12th centuries. The monument of an Ancient Rus’ settlement was explored by the expedition of Lutsk Teachers’ Training College named after Lesia Ukrainka (now Volyn National University) headed by professor M. M. Kuchynko in 1983. The settlement was located on the southwestern outskirts of the village. By 1985, more than 2.5 thousand square metres have been investigated; 25 households and 35 other  buildings have been excavated. Fragments of pottery, items of bone handicraft, fishing rods, psalia, spear and arrowheads have been discovered.

The treasure was found in building No. 11 (excavation site No. 6) in the eastern part of the settlement. A 3.6 x 4.2 m building sunk into the ground to a 2.2 m depth and had three steps in the eastern wall. There was also a furnace measuring 1.4 x 1 m. The building to place the treasure was a part of the boyar’s yard, ie a feudal manor.

According to M.M. Kuchynko, treasure researcher, hiding of the treasure is not of a sacred nature and is likely to be connected with a fire at the turn of the 11th and 12th centuries. The treasure was stored in a leather bag, as evidenced by remains of pieces of rotten leather.

The items comprising the Horodyshche treasure are quite common for ancient Rus’ treasures. Hryvnias and bracelets woven from wire belong to a kind of jewellery which has been continuously developing over a first millennium AD.

A composition of the treasure is clear evidence of its social belonging – this is a set of traditional adornments for the local nobility.

The items were made using the following techniques - casting, granulation, twisting, and soldering.  500, 916 and 925 silver served as a material. The treasure of silver jewellery was made in the workshop of Volyn jewellers. It is witnessed by using granules in the manufacture of beads (a set of granulated jewellery “Volyn tradition”).

The composition of the Horodyshche treasure, peculiar features of adornments allow to date it to the turn of the 11th-12th centuries. Thus, G. Korzukhina believes that a distinctive feature of such treasures is a large number of various items where neck hryvnias and bracelets prevail. They are common for treasures discovered in Volyn and Kyiv regions.