A seal from the times of Ivan III has been found in Romanov Lane, Moscow — Sergei Sobyanin

Archaeologists have found a seal from the time of Ivan III in Romanov Lane. Sergei Sobyanin introduced the news on his Telegram channel.

“This is the first Grand-Ducal seal found in Moscow, and the last from the lead seal era. After this date, only wax seals have been found. The seal was found in the cultural layer of the first half-middle of the 16 th century,” wrote the Mayor of Moscow.

Source: Sergei Sobyanin’s Telegram channel @mos_sobyanin

The image of St. George the Victorious is preserved on one side of the find. On the other side is the inscription: “Seal of Prince Great Ivan Vasilievich”. This seal was used to stamp important international and domestic political documents of the era.

The seal was found near the Znameniye Church of the Icon of the Mother of God in the Sheremetev Yard. There is a massive excavation under way at the site. In the course of several years, archaeologists have discovered more than three thousand items, but the seal is their most valuable find.

According to Sergei Sobyanin, to understand its significance for history, it is worth remembering that Ivan III was the creator of the unified Russian state — the unifier of Russian lands. During his reign he adopted a unified code of laws, finally liberated the country from the control of the Golden Horde, built the present Moscow Kremlin and the city’s main cathedral, the Assumption Cathedral.

The restorers have already returned the seal to its original condition. It will be transferred to the collection of the Museum Fund of the Russian Federation.