This paper discusses the evidence of chronicles on the visit of the Golden Horde's ambassadors to Tver in the light of archaeological data. In 19931997, at the territory of the Tver Kremlin, first excavations in large areas (1400 m(2)) were conducted (Fig. 1) [1]. The materials from this excavation formed the basis of the dendrochronological scale of mediaeval Tver [2; 3; 4]. Owing to the detailed dendrochronological scale of the damp cultural layer of the Tver Kremlin (Fig. 2), it has become possible to link Eastern imports found in the building horizon of 1364-1385 with a particular historical event. In the second to third decades of the 14th century, the main section of the excavated area was occupied by three properties separated by stockades. After a strong fire effected by the storm of the city by Moscow and Horde forces in 1327, the desolation of the site is observed. Afterwards, the building of a new household begins occupying the territory of two properties of the precedent period. In the 1360s, this estate is reconstructed and expanded occupying the entire excavated territory. These urban properties are distinguished not only in their size but also in the richness and diversity of the finds. Especially rich is the second, later and more spacious, property which was functioning for two decades - since 1364 to 1385 (Estate 5-A). Among the finds characteristic of this property there are objects with inscriptions and bone seals belonging to princely functionaries, as well as part of a gold encolpion cross (reliquary). These are objects unique in their value and rarity. Also weaponry, items of horse and rider's outfit, and ornaments of belt and bridle sets were uncovered [1. P. 181-183]. Items of the Golden Horde Kashi pottery and Syro-Egyptian glass are not uncommon in Tver of the 14th century (Fig. 3, 4). However the find of fragments of four Kashi vessels with lustre painting is unique. They were retrieved from deposits of the third quarter of the 14th century having been manufactured in Iran of the last century of the 12th - first third of the 13th century (Fig. 4: 4-5). Pottery of this type might have been brought to Tver by a Golden Horde aristocrat who bought it or received as a present in Iran where this rare and very expensive ware could solely have been kept for over 100 years after its manufacture. This circumstance enables us to connect these finds with the visit of the Golden Horde khan's ambassadors Kaptagay and Tyuzak to Tver in 1370. They brought there a yarlyk (special credentials) for grand reign of Prince Mikhail Aleksandrovich but did not find the latter who had to flee to Lithuania from the troops of Dmitry of Moscow. The time of occupation of estate 5-A (1364-1385) falls on the first half of the reign of Prince Mikhail Aleksandrovich (1368-1399). Although, in general, the thirtyyear rule of this prince is characterised by historians as the time of 'the strengthening of the political independence of Tver' [10. P. 233-253], its beginning was rather troublesome: the first seven years of his reign, Mikhail almost never visited Tver. During that period, the real power of the functionary filling in for the Grand Prince in Tver must have been strengthened. The gold encolpion cross indicates a very high status of its owner as a representative of the secular and religious elite. It seems appropriate to suppose that this was the Tver tysyatsky who did receive the Horde's ambassadors in the absence of the Prince.
