SAEDNEWS: Archaeologists in western Ukraine have reported one of the most striking archaeological discoveries of recent decades: an exceptional hoard consisting of 573 intact glass bracelets from the period of Kievan Rus, along with other luxury objects.
According to Saed News’ social affairs service, the discovery was made during large-scale rescue excavations conducted in 2025 at the historical site of Apostolshchyna in the city of Volodymyr, within the medieval Principality of Volyn. The find offers an exceptional window into medieval craftsmanship, trade networks, and the dramatic events surrounding the Mongol–Tatar invasion of 1241 CE.
As reported by Faradeed and confirmed by the Volyn Archaeological Expedition, the hoard was uncovered inside a concealed pit designated Archaeological Feature No. 187. Although the site had previously yielded various cultural remains, the scale and state of preservation of this assemblage are unprecedented. The hoard contains 573 completely intact glass bracelets, along with dozens of valuable objects associated with elite religious and commercial life.
Among the finds are a large enkolpion cross traditionally associated with high-ranking clergy; nine bronze pendant crosses and eight marble examples; eighteen lozenge-shaped buckles decorated with pseudo-granulation; five silver temple rings; a lead ornament bearing a stylized trident-falcon motif; a shield-shaped silver signet ring; a bronze mace head; and seals with solar imagery of the Dorogochin type. Numerous additional fragments remain under conservation and study.
What makes this discovery truly unique, according to researchers, is the sheer quantity and diversity of the glass bracelets. While such bracelets were common female ornaments in the pre-Mongol urban culture of Kievan Rus, they are almost never found intact and usually survive only as broken fragments. By contrast, the Volodymyr hoard preserves hundreds of complete examples representing 109 distinct types.
The bracelets vary widely in form — twisted, plain, and trapezoidal — and appear in a striking range of colors, from deep greens, blues, and purples to bright yellows and golden hues. Their diameters range from 4.0 to 5.9 centimeters. Some groups contain between five and thirty-one identical specimens, while others survive as single rare examples. Conservators believe that reconstructing additional fragments from the site will likely expand the collection further.
The context of the find suggests that the hoard likely belonged to a merchant — either someone bringing luxury goods to the Volodymyr market or a trader who concealed his stock while fleeing violence. Evidence indicates that the hoard was hidden suddenly and never recovered, most likely during the Mongol–Tatar campaign led by Batu Khan in late winter of 1241. The Galicia–Volhynia Chronicle describes the violent destruction of Volodymyr and surrounding cities during this period, providing a dramatic historical backdrop for the discovery.
This “frozen moment” — goods hastily gathered and concealed — allows researchers to reconstruct the economic and social realities on the eve of catastrophe and to better understand how urban commerce functioned in one of the key centers of medieval Volyn.
Although such bracelets were common in pre-Mongol Kievan Rus urban culture, they are rarely found intact and usually survive only as broken pieces.
Beyond its local importance, the so-called Merchant’s Hoard of Volodymyr provides vital new evidence for the wider medieval history of Eastern Europe. The scale and integrity of the bracelet assemblage allow scholars to analyze production technologies, stylistic development, and regional trade connections across the Kievan Rus world with unprecedented precision.
