What looked like costume jewelry was actually priceless - Kyiv customs say (photos)
Ancient artifacts hidden in necklace from parcel discovered by customs officers (photo: facebook.com/KYIVcustomsUA)
During customs inspection of an international postal shipment, experts discovered that what appeared to be "ordinary costume jewelry" actually concealed a true archaeological treasure, according to Kyiv Customs of the State Customs Service.
How a parcel labeled "jewelry" turned out to contain a historical treasure
Kyiv customs officers reported that they intercepted an attempt to smuggle a piece of jewelry abroad, part of which turned out to be genuine archaeological artifacts.
During the inspection of an international postal shipment (sent from Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi to Germany), specialists found a piece of jewelry—a necklace—that at first glance might have looked like simple costume jewelry.
"The sender declared the contents of the parcel as jewelry," the customs press service emphasized.
It is noted that during the inspection, customs officers:
- suspected something was wrong,
- sent the necklace for examination to the National Museum of the History of Ukraine.
The necklace found in the parcel was sent for expert analysis (photo: facebook.com/KYIVcustomsUA)
The results amazed even the experts. 16 out of 35 beads turned out to be:
- authentic artifacts from the 1st to 12th centuries
- archaeological items
- cultural valuables.
Experts discovered precious beads in the "cheap" jewelry (photo: facebook.com/KYIVcustomsUA)
"Similar items are known from ancient and Cherniakhiv archaeological sites of the Kyivan Rus era. They are mostly made of colored glass and have characteristic iridescence (that rainbow-like sheen)," the report explained.
The historical treasure was hidden among cheap jewelry (photo: facebook.com/KYIVcustomsUA)
The remaining beads were modern, cheap imitations.
"Most likely, the sender tried to conceal the real value among ordinary beads," the customs service noted.
A protocol was drawn up against the sender for violating customs regulations (under Article 473 of the Customs Code of Ukraine), and the discovered necklace was confiscated.
"We once again remind everyone that archaeological items cannot be subjects of sale, private collection, or export beyond the country’s borders," Kyiv Customs concluded.
