Bulgarian history artifacts are virtually everywhere- at building sites, under the pavement you walk on every day, in hilly fields. An unknown stronghold wall was found during a private building construction in the very center of Varna.
The exact age of the finding has not been specified yet but most of the details, found nearby (column, capital, terracotta pieces, altars and pulpits fragments) were dated back to the 6th century. The finding speaks of a completely new fortification period in the history of Odesus, the predecessor of present Varna.
At the same time in Ruse, in the central part of the city, a find amazed the archaeologists and proved the fortress of Seksaginta Prista (the town’s predecessor) had numerous connections with the island of Rodos. Up until now it was accepted that Ruse had formed as a prosperous port on the Danube during the Roman rule in our lands, around 1st century A.C. But when digging deeper into the ground scientists have found a thick Thracian layer dating the formation of the city to 3rd century B.C. Many ceramic utensils (plates, cups, bowls, etc.) were found and these together with the sharp bottom amphorae have a special seal showing that they originate from the island of Rodos.
Another astonishing discovery was made during the removal of useless stones in the remains of the first Bulgarian capital- Pliska. The finding is dated from the 7th, 8th century and is said to have been built by the son of Khan Asparuh (the founder of the Bulgarian state), Tervel. The construction is one of a kind- a huge (30 meters diameter), round, wooden building, probably used for important ceremonial gatherings of the royal family. The palace is the oldest one in Europe and had probably been used by many Bulgarian khans. For the last 24 years this is the first important discovery at the Pliska excavation site. After the discovery of “The Palace of the Khans”, called so by its founders, 3.5 million levs were granted by the Council of Ministers for further excavation, restoration, preservation and research in Pliska.
Yet another interesting find provoked the government’s interest and help on the archaeological matters in the country. It was made last summer by the archaeologist Georgy Kitov when cleaning the site of the unnecessary soil with the help of bulldozers. The tomb at the Goliama Kosmatka site (near Kazanlak) revealed one of the richest Thracian treasures known from the time of Antiquity. It was later identified to have belonged to the mighty Thracian King Seutus the 3rd. one of the tomb’s chambers contained a bronze helmet, a delicate two-handled gold drinking cup and three amphorae as well as ten spears, a sword, a round shield and leg armor. To support the future work at the Valley of the Kings, near Kazanlak, the ministry have granted over 150 000 levs and additional 2 million levs will be given for the improvement of the infrastructure and the access to the historic site.
