The treasure was discovered on the Taman Peninsula in Russia's Krasnodar Region, an area that borders on the north with the Sea of Azov, on the west with the Strait of Kerch and on the south with the Black Sea.
"On the outskirts of an ancient village, scientists have found a treasure: 15 silver coins weighing more than 300 grams, hidden in a ceramic pot. It is assumed that the coins were minted in Spain in the middle of the 17th century," the information center said.
The center quoted Emma Zilivinskaya, senior fellow from the Ethnology and Anthropology Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, as saying that "it is important to understand when and how these coins came to be located on the Taman Peninsula."
"Perhaps this is part of the treasure plundered from a galleon, or it could be traces of the commerce which was rather actively conducted in the area in ancient times," she said.
Scientists did not exclude that during the final stage of the excavations, they will be able to unearth unique artifacts from the Taman Bronze Age.
The bridge to Crimea will stretch 19 kilometers (11.8 miles), making it the longest in Russia. It is expected to become operational in December 2018.
