Brest Archaeological Museum

The Berestye Archaeological Museum, located in Brest, Belarus, is the only museum in Europe dedicated to the remains of a medieval East Slavic settlement. Opened on March 2, 1982, the museum is a branch of the Brest Regional Local History Museum. Its establishment was initiated after the discovery of traces of an East Slavic settlement in 1968. Excavations conducted from 1969 to 1981 uncovered the remains of over 220 buildings and a collection of 43,000 artifacts, including unique finds such as an oak ard (an ancient plow), the oldest comb inscribed with Cyrillic letters, and a chess piece depicting a king. The museum features a modern pavilion covering 2,400 m², designed by engineers from "Bielgosproekt," which protects the exhibits from weather conditions. The exhibition includes an excavation site spanning 1,118 m², showcasing the original street layout of the medieval settlement, as well as numerous archaeological finds such as jewelry, footwear, and pottery fragments. These artifacts are thematically grouped according to various aspects of daily life in the 13th century. The museum has been awarded the "For Spiritual Revival" prize for its efforts in preserving cultural heritage and evolving its exhibitions, which now include multimedia elements and 3D glasses for enhanced visitor experiences.