The symbol of the swastika, often associated with its appropriation in the 20th century, carries a much deeper and ancient historical significance. Its oldest known representation, dating back approximately 15,000 years, offers a fascinating glimpse into Upper Paleolithic art and symbolism.

The Mizyn archaeological site, located on the right bank of the Desna River near the village of Mizyn in Chernihiv oblast, Ukraine, is home to this ancient swastika. Discovered in 1908, this site has since been recognized as a pivotal example of Magdalenian culture in Ukraine.

The First World War and the ensuing Ukrainian-Soviet War (1917–1921) halted extensive study of the site, but initial excavations carried out by Fedir Vovk, Petro P. Yefymenko, and Levko Chykalenko from 1908 to 1916 revealed its historical richness.

Research resumed in 1930 under Mykhailo Rudynsky and continued after World War II, with significant contributions from archaeologists like Ivan Shovkoplias and Serhii Bibikov.

The site itself revealed five circular dwellings, the largest spanning 6 meters in diameter, constructed with wooden poles and animal skins and reinforced with mammoth bones or tusks.

The inhabitants, who primarily hunted mammoths, deer, and other animals, left behind about 113,000 pieces of flint, of which 4,500 were identified as tools, including spear tips and needles.

Additionally, numerous artifacts were discovered, including stylized sculptures of women and animals—predominantly mammoths. These artifacts often featured geometric decorative motifs, including the earliest known depiction of a meandering ornament and a swastika.

The swastika found at Mizyn is part of “an intricate meander pattern of joined-up swastikas” observed on a late Paleolithic figurine of a bird, meticulously carved from mammoth ivory.

According to mythologist Joseph Campbell, this discovery points to a symbolic use of the swastika that dates back to around 10,000 BCE.

Such artifacts underline the swastika’s long history as a symbol of divinity and spirituality in various ancient cultures, long before its misappropriation in recent history.

In addition to ornamental and utilitarian objects, some of the oldest known musical instruments made from mammoth bones were identified at Mizyn.

The artifacts excavated from Mizyn are now preserved in the Archeological Museum of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the National Museum of the History of Ukraine, located in Kyiv.

Today, the Mizyn site is part of the Mizyn National Nature Park, established in 2006, safeguarding its rich historical and cultural heritage.

This site not only offers a window into the life of Upper Paleolithic humans but also serves as a testament to the enduring nature of symbolic expression across millennia.