Tovsta's Golden Pectoral

The Golden Pectoral is a masterpiece of ancient jewelry, made of 1.15 kg of high-purity 958 gold. It was crafted in the 4th century BC (approximately 2,400 years ago) by elite Greek goldsmiths for a Scythian king.

The artifact was buried in the Tovsta Mohyla royal mound and remained hidden for over two millennia. Although ancient grave robbers looted the main tomb, they missed a side chamber where the pectoral was placed. It was rediscovered in 1971 by archaeologist Borys Mozolevskyi, who found it covered in thick clay at the bottom of the burial passage.

The pectoral is unique because it acts as a "golden book" of Scythian life. Its three tiers show a progression from peaceful domestic scenes (top), through nature's beauty (middle), to the harsh reality of predators and mythical griffins (bottom).

Today, it is the most famous archaeological find in Ukraine and is kept in the Museum of Historical Treasures in Kyiv as a symbol of the region's ancient heritage.