Source: KP.RU.

More than 1000 objects were found. A considerable part of them are of silver.
(Photo: Sergei Arcane)

Chelyabinsk archaeologists made sensational finds, among them medieval armour with an Indian god image.

The unique burial ground was discovered by two treasure hunters, Nikolay Shevchenko and Raim Mardiev. They came across several ancient silver plates at once. Their most tremendous find was a part of a dagger handle. Altogether the guys unearthed several hundred artefacts. Understanding that they had found something inexplicable, they resorted to archaeologists.

The burial ground occupies a huge area of nearly 5 hectares. Richness of the finds is amazing: some of them are obviously of Iran-Sassanid origin, others bear some Byzantine or Chinese motifs and some had come from the Black Sea Coast. Among the items there is even a silver belt hasp with an image Buddha.

A Buddhist symbol on the badge, part of a nomad clothing.
(Photo: Sergei Arcane)

Sergey Botalov said: “I have been studying the history of nomadic civilizations for 33 years, but some of the things I find for the first time. For example, the remains of the laminated armour of a Turkic cataphract (heavy-armed cavalryman). It is a sort of a bullet-proof vest of nomads.”