Black Grave facts for kids
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Чорна Могила
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Engraved by Charles Laplante after Achille-Louis-Joseph Sirouy, 1880
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| Location | 4 Proletarian Street, Chernihiv, Chernihiv Oblast, Ukraine |
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| Coordinates | 51°30′N 31°20′E / 51.500°N 31.333°E |
| Type | Burial |
| Area | 2,300 square metres (25,000 sq ft) |
| Volume | 7,666 cubic metres (10,027 cu yd) |
| Circumference | 170 metres (560 ft) |
| Height | over 10 metres (33 ft) |
| History | |
| Founded | 10th century |
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| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1873 |
| Management | Chernihiv Ancient |
| Designation | Monument of Archeology |
| Burial of prince Chorny | |
The Black Grave (Ukrainian: Чорна Могила, romanized: Chorna mohyla) is the biggest burial mound, also called a kurgan, in Chernihiv, Ukraine. It is a very important historical site. Today, it is part of the National Sanctuary of Ancient Chernihiv.
Contents
What is the Black Grave?
The Black Grave is a huge mound of earth built a long time ago. It is over 10 meters (about 33 feet) tall. Its base measures 170 meters (about 558 feet) around. This makes it one of the largest burial mounds in the area.
Discovering the Past
In 1872 and 1873, an archaeologist named Dmitry Samokvasov explored the Black Grave. He found the remains of two Norse warriors. Norsemen were people from Northern Europe, often called Vikings. These warriors were likely a father and son.
Their bodies had been cremated, meaning they were burned. They were buried with many items. These included weapons, armor, and decorations. It is thought that these warriors were important princes, or knyazes, of Chernihiv. This burial happened in the late 10th century. At that time, Vladimir I ruled the land known as Kievan Rus.
A Royal Burial Ceremony
After the warriors' bodies were cremated, they were placed on top of a 7-meter-high mound. A special funeral feast likely took place there. Many valuable items were buried with them.
Amazing Treasures Found
Archaeologists found two helmets and long chain mail shirts (called hauberks). They also found a cooking pot with ram bones. Two special knives and two golden coins from the Byzantine Empire were there. A fancy sword from another country was also discovered.
One very interesting find was a small bronze idol of Thor. Thor was a powerful god in Norse mythology. Two silver-decorated horns from aurochs (a type of wild cattle) were also found. These horns had beautiful designs of flowers, animals, and people. All these amazing items are now kept in the State Historical Museum in Moscow.
After everything was placed, a tall stone pillar, called a stele, was put on top of the mound.
The Black Grave Today
The Black Grave is now a major tourist spot in the Chernihiv Oblast (province) of Ukraine. It is part of the "Ancient Chernihiv" National Architecture-Historical Sanctuary. This sanctuary includes 34 other historic buildings, mostly old churches. People visit the Black Grave to learn about the ancient history of Ukraine and the brave warriors who lived there.
Images for kids
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A panoramic view of the Black Grave mound.
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The Black Grave, a large burial mound.
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A close-up of a sword handle found at the Black Grave.
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An old drawing showing details from the Black Grave excavation.
