Melgunov Kurgan

The kurgan was excavated in September 1763 near the village of Kopani (nowadays located in Kropyvnytskyi Raion, Kirovohrad Oblast).

Golden jewelry and sword decorations were found in the kurgan, and they are currently stored in Hermitage Museum[3] and Kharkiv Historical Museum (although a large part of the collection was destroyed during World War II bombings).

At the depth of 2 m, multiple items were found under stone slabs: an acinaces with a golden hilt and a gold-plated wooden scabbard decorated with images of fantastic animals, a golden diadem, silver details of an Assyrian palace stool, 17 gold plates depicting an eagle with hinges on the back, a plate with images of monkeys and birds, a bronze clasp with images of lion heads, 40 bronze arrowheads, rings, and other objects.

[1] The site has outstanding significance, as it is the only known Scythian royal mound of the time in the Northern Black Sea region.

[4] The image of the eagle from the golden plates found in the kurgan is depicted on the coat of arms of Kirovohrad Oblast, which is also features on its flag.