You can’t take it with you, princess! Gold laurel wreath is among the 140 ‘priceless’ pieces of jewellery found in the grave of a Crimean woman who lived 2,000 years ago
- The wealthy Scythian woman lived at the same time as Christ in first century AD
- 500 pieces of golden items were uncovered and includes plaques and jewellery
- The collection is in the Netherlands but Russia ‘insists’ it be returned to Crimea
- Many other burial sites in Crimea were looted after Crimea’s annexation in 2014
Will Stewart In Moscow for MailOnline
Hundreds of ‘priceless’ pieces of jewellery, including a stunning gold laurel wreath, have been found in the grave of an ancient princess in Crimea.
The wealthy woman is believed to have been an elite member of the Scythian nomad tribes who roamed across Europe and Asia in the first century AD.
She was adorned for the afterlife and surrounded with 140 piece of jewellery including earrings, a necklace and plaques on her sleeves.
Two gold eye plates were also found but, in a puzzle to archaeologists, they were located on her chest.
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The grave of an ancient Crimean princess bedecked in ‘priceless’ gold has been unearthed by Russian archaeologists on the Crimea peninsula that was annexed from Ukraine by Russia in 2014. These finds are now held in the Netherlands where they were on display when the annexation occurred
Scythian burial sites normally include several human remains but this site only contained the skeleton of the woman.
Experts say this is an indication of her high status in the ancient society found on the Black Sea peninsula, particularly when combined with the opulent items uncovered.
Nearby were found two gold rings, one with a glass gem. The other was inlaid with translucent carnelian engraved with an image of Eros and and a dog.
Other finds from her vault include a glass beads on her sleeves and a jug, possibly containing ancient wine.
In the grave, too, was an incense burner and a flagon of frankincense.
Many other graves at the Ust-Alminsky site in the Crimea peninsula – annexed by Russia from Ukraine five years ago – were looted.
Normally Scythian burials include several human remains but this has only the skeleton of the woman, indicating her high status in ancient society on the Black Sea peninsula, say experts. The positioning of items found in her burial chamber includes golden leaves on her head (pictured)
The buried woman’s head was decked with a laurel wreath of eight gold leaves (pictured). She was adorned in gold jewellery including earrings, a necklace, and plaques on her sleeve
The woman was adorned for the afterlife and surrounded with 140 piece of jewellery including earrings, a necklace and plaques on her sleeves (pictured). The jewellery has been displayed in the arrangement they were laid out and includes two gold eye plates (pictured above the ring)
Russian politician Ruslan Balbek said: ‘Some decorations in the form of a laurel wreath, golden amphoras and rings are unique in their characteristics.
‘They are fascinating in their novelty.’
The finds are as significant and valuable as another famous haul from the same ancient necropolis, some 31 miles southwest of regional capital Simferopol.
These finds are now held in the Netherlands where they were on display when Russia annexed Crimea.
The wealthy woman was adorned for the afterlife in gold jewellery including earrings, golden leaves (pictured), a necklace, and plaques on her sleeves. Other finds from her vault were glass beads on her sleeves and a jug, possibly containing ancient wine.
The finds are as valuable as another famous haul from the same ancient necropolis, some 31 miles southwest of the region’s capital Simferopol
Nearby the body of the woman were found two gold rings, one with a glass ‘gem’ (left) and the other inlaid with translucent carnelian engraved with an image of Eros and and a dog (right).
Ukraine is engaged in a legal dispute to retain possession of this collection for which the insurance value was £1.7 million.
Russia insists the collection should be returned to Crimea.
However, this collection of 2,000 pieces including 500 gold items was said to have been significantly undervalued.
Both collections are seen as ‘priceless’. An appeal court hearing is due in Amsterdam next week.
However, this collection of 2,000 pieces including 500 gold items was said to have been significantly undervalued. Russia ‘insists’ the collection should be returned to Crimea
The finds were made in Alma on the Crimea peninsula but are now held in the Netherlands where they were on display when Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014