Chorna Mohyla Mound, Chernihiv
A princely mound of the 960s: about 11 m high and 40 m across, excavated in 1872–1873.
The mound was raised in the 960s — the date comes from Byzantine coins of Constantine Porphyrogenitus. Standing about 11 m high and 40 m across, it was excavated in 1872–1873 by Dmytro Samokvasov. Beneath it lay a pagan cremation: a warrior and a woman, two swords, a sabre, two helmets, mail, a shield, two drinking horns of aurochs in silver mounts, three Byzantine coins and a bronze figure of a Norse god. Legend names the buried man Prince Chornyi, the city's founder — there is no evidence for this; scholars speak of an unknown prince or voivode. All the finds were taken to the Historical Museum in Moscow, where they remain. An archaeological monument of national importance.
The mound is open ground with no opening hours, 4 Kniazia Chornoho St, next to the Yeletsky Monastery (Chernihivshchyna Turystychna, as of 01.10.2026). A border region, and Chernihiv is regularly attacked by drones: on 21.09.2026 explosions were heard in the city (24 Kanal, 21.09.2026), on 22.09.2026 a downed drone exploded on the outskirts (Suspilne Chernihiv, 22.09.2026). An air-raid alert here is not a formality: go straight to a shelter.