Black Grave

The Black Grave is the most important burial mound in Chernihiv, Ukraine. It is part of the National Sanctuary of Ancient Chernihiv and is an Archaeological Monument of countrywide significance. Comparable to the barrows of Gnyozdovo close to Smolensk, the Black Grave has a top of over 10 meters and a circumference of 170 meters. During excavations undertaken in 1872 to 73, Dmitry Samokvasov uncovered cremated their bodies of Norse warriors surrounded through slaves, sacrificial animals, palms, armour and decorations. Samokvasov dated the burial to the past due 10^th century, whilst Vladimir I turned into the ruler of Kievan Rus.

After the bodies were cremated, they had been positioned upon a 7 meter excessive mound, where a funeral ceremonial dinner happened. Arranged close to the bodies were two helmets and knee length chain mail in all likelihood extracted from the pyre, in addition to a cauldron with ram bones, two sacerdotal knives, two golden Byzantine coins, an imported saber, a miniature darkish-purple bronze idol of Thor and silver certain aurochs horns embellished with floral motifs fantastic animals and figures of a man and a lady capturing at a chook.