Site Overview
The "Black Mound" burial and artefacts
Chernigov, on the river Desna, was second in importance to Kiev, in the mid Dnieper region.
A large 10th-century cemetery was found nearby and included the "Black Mound” which was 11m high.
The mound was excavated in the 19th century and contained an enormous pyre on which a warrior and a woman had been cremated.
The warrior’s weapons and armour were placed on top, together with a cauldron containing the bones of a goat or ram, two drinking horns with silver mountings, and an image of the Norse god, Thor. The mound was then raised over it and a pillar was set on top.
It is thought to be the burial of a military commander in the service of the Prince of Kiev.
Contact Details
Address
4 Proletarian Street, Chernihiv, Chernihiv Oblast, Ukraine