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    • Cat lovers rejoice: Moscow archaeologists discover 17th-century tiles
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    Cat lovers rejoice: Moscow archaeologists discover 17th-century tiles

    Pabio Posted on

    During excavations, archaeologists from Moscow unearthed red clay stove tiles from the 17th century depicting a cat with a crown on its head. The discovery was reported on the website of the Moscow mayor and government.

    The head of the Department of Cultural Heritage in Moscow, Alexei Emelyanov, provided these details. “These discoveries have allowed specialists to better understand the peculiarities of the daily life of Muscovites in the 17th century,” he explained. He added that it was remarkable that these tiles were discovered on two streets in central Moscow.

    The tiles, about 400 years old, were found in two places: one on Tverskaya Street and the other on the territory of Chizhevsky Court on Nikolskaya Street.

    Tiles were popular among townspeople. From the 16th century, similar tiles were used to line the front wall of stoves, helping to retain heat in cold weather and serving as decoration for the home’s hearth. Each stove slab in Russia had its own separate drawing, enclosed in a relief frame, and often depicted battle scenes, mythological plots and plant ornaments.

    According to the Life.ru website, it became clear that already four centuries ago, Muscovites willingly expressed their love for these pets in visual arts. Specialists have collected an extensive collection of stove tiles, among which was the “cat in a crown”. The themes of the images on the tiles varied: from battle scenes to mythological plots and simply floral ornaments.

    The two “cat” tiles have already been restored and are being prepared for transfer. On average, specialists usually spend between 1.5 weeks and several months restoring such artifacts, depending on the condition of the artifact or its fragments.

    The first ancient Russian tiles date back to the 10th century. Over the centuries, tiles have played an important role in Russian architecture and interior design, serving both functional and aesthetic purposes.

    In September, during excavations in Moscow, ceramic figurines were discovered: a hen, a horse, a little man and a “toy fragment – the head of a little man in a cap with round eyes, as in surprise,” reported Alexey Emelyanov. The finds were made during archaeological work at Kaloshin Lane at a depth of 2.5 to 4 meters. The oldest discovery from the Kaloshin Lane excavations dates back to the 16th century.

    “It was a fun toy; it hasn’t lost its charm even now,” Emelyanov said. He added: “Studying ancient toys, we realize how close and understandable the residents of Moscow of those distant centuries were to us.” He also noted: “Parents also chose dolls and animal figurines for their children, and they played with them with pleasure.”

    Sources: RBC, Gazeta.ru, Izvestia

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    This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq



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