Archaeologists Unearth 14Th Century Papal Seal in Tallinn

Archaeologists in Tallinn, Estonia discovered a papal bulla, a seal, dating back to the 14th century during excavations in a courtyard on Rävala puiestee. The team began work in the area last year, uncovering evidence of medieval life through ceramics and other artifacts.

Mihkel Tammet of Muinasprojekt believes the seal ended up at the site via medieval waste and soil used for fertilization. Historian Ivar Leimus noted that few papal letters reached Estonia in the Middle Ages and even fewer have survived.

This bulla marks the first papal seal found archaeologically in Estonia, as the only other known examples reside in the Tallinn City Archives attached to historical documents. The discovery surprised the archaeological team due to its excellent preservation, initially appearing to be a Byzantine coin. Researchers will continue analyzing the site to understand the seal’s context and potentially uncover more details about medieval Tallinn.