In Volyn, a stone slab from the time of Kyivan Rus was illegally sold

In Volyn, during an online auction, an attempt was made to illegally sell a unique historical monument from the times of Kyivan Rus – a stone slab of the 10th-13th centuries with the image of the “Holy Warrior”.

The note was seized by law enforcement officers, are reported in the Office of the General Prosecutor.

According to scientists, it was estimated that the slab depicts a warrior – probably St. Dmytro. This monument could decorate one of the churches of the Galicia-Volyn principality.

According to the general director of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine, Doctor of Historical Sciences Fedor Androschuk, monuments of such a high level have not been found in Ukraine during the last century.

Archaeologist Maksym Levada in a comment for “UP. Life” explained that this plate may be the work of a Byzantine master, but such objects are more often found in the Crimea or in Western Europe.

“Most likely, it was made by craftsmen who served Christian churches that had just begun to be built. The limestone from which the slab is made indicates that it was made precisely in the Galicia-Volyn principality: in Halych, Volodymyr, Lutsk or some other princely city.

This plate is perfectly preserved. It has inscriptions in Greek. Such slabs were usually created for temples, but the size of this one may indicate that it was made for an annex chapel dedicated to the saint.” – said the archaeologist.

According to him, in XIII century the average person could not order such a product. Such slabs were usually gifts that were often built into the walls.

“It should not be ruled out that the prince himself could have ordered it. But this is only an assumption.” – says Maxim Levada.

According to him, more than 9,000 archaeological objects, which at one time fell into the hands of ordinary people, are now in responsible storage at the Ukrainian Center for Cultural Studies.

The Prosecutor’s Office of the Volyn Region is already investigating a criminal proceeding based on the fact of illegal appropriation by a person of someone else’s property or treasure that was found or that happened to be in their possession, which have a special historical, scientific, artistic or cultural value (part 1 of Article 193 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

The sanction of the article provides for a fine of up to 2,550 hryvnias, or community service for a term of up to 240 hours, or correctional work for up to two years, or arrest for a term of up to six months.

The stone slab will be handed over to the National Museum of the History of Ukraine. An additional examination will also be conducted.

We will remind, recently in Ukraine found stone tools, which are about 1.4 million years old.

Anna Stopenko, UP. Life