MOSCOW, March 19 (RIA Novosti) - Archaeologists near the city of Veliky Novgorod in northwest Russia have discovered part of a centuries-old ceramic jug decorated with a mysterious griffin symbol.

"On the fragment of ceramic, most likely part of a broken jug, we saw an image of an animal with open jaws and wings, like a griffin," the head of the archaeology team, Oleg Oleynikov said.

The griffin, portrayed as a gigantic bird with the head of an eagle and the body of a lion, first appeared on Attic vases and in the relief art of Anatolia, Babylon and Rome.

The specialists said the finding might date back to the 15th century and could have reached Russia from the Far East. "The image of the griffin was put on natural clay, and after that the jug was fired," Oleynikov added.

The excavations were carried out at the Desyatinny monastery archeological site. The dig is expected to last for another three months.