Moscow archaeologists restore double-headed eagle tiles

Moscow archaeologists restored tiles featuring a double-headed eagle. The artifacts date back to the 16th-17th centuries. One of them was found on Ilyinka Street in 2021, while another one has recently been discovered on Tverskaya Street, opposite the building once occupied by the famous Filippov’s Bakery. Now, archaeological works are in progress here.

During the digging at 10 Tverskaya Street, a red clay tile with an image of a double-headed eagle, a symbol of the Russian sovereignty, was found. Notably, the tile with the same picture was found a year before on Ilyinka Street. The fact that it bore a double-headed eagle image was discovered a short time ago, after archaeologists glued pieces of the tile together.

Today, both tiles are being prepared to be transferred to the Museum of Moscow.

“The archaeological season in Moscow is in full swing now. The weather makes all required excavations and research possible. This year, one of the main locations is on Tverskaya Street. Symbolically, archaeologists were lucky to find an almost untouched stove tile with a double-headed eagle on it right before Russia Day. It was sent to a relevant expert workshop for final brushing up before passing it to the museum. Simultaneously, the restoration of the tile found last year on Ilyinka Street was over. It has the same symbol on it,” says Alexey Yemelyanov, Head of the Moscow Department of Cultural Heritage.

Scientists explain, the tile found on Ilyinka Street has some parts of the frame (edge) with traces of fire on it. The tile size is 18*16 cm. The tile found on Tverskaya Street is 14*14 cm in size and, as traces show, was covered with white clay. This could be done to imitate limestone carving or keep the decoration clean and tidy.

Most likely, wealthy people decorated their stoves with these tiles. Similar tiles were found during the restoration of monuments in Zaryadye District. According to experts, a double-headed eagle indicates that the tiles were from the royal property or made by a Tsar’s order. This is a perfect historic example of a state symbol promotion.

Double-headed eagles on terracotta clay tiles first appeared in the late 16th - early 17th centuries. Scientists encounter glazed tiles with similar images much more rarely. Double-headed eagles were not placed onto colorful and embossed tiles until after late 17th century. Tiles are considered the most numerous artifacts that belong to this time period. Decorative clay tiles made and painted in various styles were used to decorate house façades, interiors, and stoves. Not only did they have patterns, plants, animals, and legendary creatures, but also diverse narratives, and even battle scenes. Tiles have become a true symbol of the Russian culture back then with their geographical distribution matching the territory of the country.

In the 15th century, a double-headed eagle became a symbol of Russian Tsars. It descended to Russia from Byzantium with Sophia Palaiologina who married Tsar Ivan III. The bird was placed on his seals and, in times of Ivan the Terrible, the bird appeared on the national emblem.

Conservation of finds is an important part of archaeologists’ work. The process is divided into two stages: laboratory treatment, when the soil is removed, and restoration. Restoration can take from one week to several years, depending on the complexity and condition of the find. About 1,000 artifacts are now being treated in archaeologists’ workshops, with over 195 items already restored. Almost 30,000 artifacts have been transferred to the state-owned part of the Museum of Moscow over the past three years, with 8,200 of them in 2021.

In the new season from May till October, archaeologists are planning to work at more than 650 sites: Tverskoy Boulevard, Usachyova Street, Dubininskaya Street, Bryusov Pereulok, and Orlovo-Davydovsky Pereulok. Archaeologists will also traditionally supervise the street and urban space improvement works.