A 7,000-year-old Trypillian vase was to be sent from Ukraine to Switzerland
Kyiv • UNN
An ancient vase of the Cucuteni-Trypillia culture was discovered in an international mail shipment. Experts confirmed its archaeological value, dating it to the middle of the fifth millennium BC.
An attempt to transport a Trypillia vase, which is approximately 7,000 years old, from Ukraine to Switzerland was prevented by customs officials, the State Customs Service reported on Thursday, UNN writes.
Details
"An ancient vase of the archaeological culture of Kukutenyi-Trypillia of the Eneolithic period was seized from an international mail shipment," customs officers said.
According to the accompanying documents, the parcel sent to Switzerland by a resident of Kyiv region contained clothes and a gift. However, during the customs control of this shipment, customs officers found a ceramic product with obvious signs of antiquity, so they sent it for examination to the National Museum of History of Ukraine.
"According to the experts, the object submitted for examination is a painted vessel on a pallet. Such products are characteristic of the cultural community of the Cucuteni-Trypillia of the Eneolithic period. The specific morphology and features of the painting give grounds to assert that the vessel belongs to the middle of the fifth millennium B.C. Vases of similar shape and painting come from settlements in the Dniester Valley," the customs service said.
The upper part of the vase has a complex plot in the form of stylized snakes, and the lower part has semi-oval arcs. The vase consists of glued together ceramic fragments, the authenticity of which is indicated by the level of preservation, as well as the similarities in shape and painting. "Despite modern intervention, the vase has an authentic component, which is a subject of archeology and has cultural value," the State Customs Service emphasized.
According to the current legislation of Ukraine, the export of cultural property abroad requires permits. The customs officers were not provided with such documents.
Kyiv Customs drew up a protocol on violation of customs rules under Article 473 of the Customs Code of Ukraine.
The vase was seized.
