Russian archaeologists find rare tiles depicting cats

Archaeological excavations in the centre of Moscow have rediscovered unique red-clay tiles that used to decorate city houses. These tiles depict fairy-tale and historical scenes, mythical creatures and pets. Among the finds are two tiles depicting a cat in a crown, made by Moscow masters.

According to Aleksey Yemelyanov, head of the capital's Department of Cultural Heritage, these tiles were found on Tverskaya Street. Researchers noted that the findings open new horizons for understanding the everyday life of Muscovites of the 17th century. This is reported by the official portal of the Mayor and Government of Moscow.

Similar tiles have been used since the 16th century to clad cookers, serving not only as a source of heat but also as a decorative element. Each of them has a unique relief pattern, including battle scenes, mythology and plant ornaments.

Restoration of such artefacts can take from a week and a half to several months. The tiles depicting cats have already been restored and are being prepared for transfer to the museum fund. 

The first tile was found on Tverskaya Street, where archaeological research dating back to the XIV-XVII centuries was conducted between 2022 and 2023. The second one was discovered this year in the territories of the Chizhevsky podvorye, one of the few surviving sections of Kitay-gorod.

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