Turkish Smuggler Caught with Dozens Byzantine, Persian Gold Coins at Bulgaria-Turkey Border
Dozens of gold and silver coins from the Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages minted by states such as the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire and the Persian Empire have been seized from a Turkish man at the Bulgaria –…
50 Ancient Arrow, Spear Tips Planted, Charged Bulgarian Businessman Claims
A collection of a total of 50 ancient iron arrow and spear tips, which has brought about a criminal charge against prominent Bulgarian businessman Plamen Bobokov, had been planted in his home, Bobokov himself has alleged at the start of…
50 Ancient Iron Arrow, Spear Tips Lead to Criminal Charge against Bulgarian Businessman
The District Prosecutor’s Office in the Danube city of Ruse in Northeast Bulgaria has charged prominent businessman Plamen Bobokov with the illegal possession of archaeological artifacts over a total of 50 pieces of ancient weaponry, namely iron arrow and spear…
Top 20 Stories on ArchaeologyinBulgaria.com in November 2020
Following are the 20 most popular stories with the readers of ArchaeologyinBulgaria.com from around the worold during the month of November 2020.
8 Years after Theft of St. John the Baptist Relics in Bulgaria’s Sliven, Finder Laments Unresolved Case
The case of the theft of a particle from the holy relics of St. John the Baptist committed in the city of Sliven back in 2012, less than 2 years after the relics’ discovery on a Black Sea island, has…
Nazi Uniforms Stolen from Museums across Netherlands, Denmark Causing Concern
Uniforms from Nazi Germany have been stolen from several museums in the Netherlands and Denmark over the past three months prompting question about what might be causing the heightened interest in Nazi paraphernalia behind the heists.
Global Treasure Hunting, Antiquities Theft Rise Thanks to Pandemic, Social Media, Report Says
Treasure hunting for archaeological, historical, and cultural artifacts as well as their direct theft and trafficking are on the rise worldwide due to the effect of the global coronavirus pandemic and thanks to the convenience of social media, according to…
Vast Artifact Collection Seized from Exiled Oligarch to Be Appraised by German, Italian Experts, Bulgaria’s Prosecution Says
The very large and rich collection counting thousands of Antiquity archaeological artifacts, many of them gold and silver Ancient Thracian vessels, which has been seized from Bulgarian businessman Vasil Bozhkov, oftentimes described in media as an oligarch, is intact and…
Emergency Call for Donations to Save ArchaeologyinBulgaria.com amid the Pandemic Fallout
Dear Friends from around the World, We at the editorial team of ArchaeologyinBulgaria.com are asking you for your help to save this website as fallout from the coronavirus pandemic continues to weigh on us all in full force!
Viking Hoard of Anglo-Saxon Coins ‘Rewriting’ England’s History Stolen by Treasure Hunters in Herefordshire
Two UK treasure hunters, or metal detectorists, have been found guilty of stealing a massive coin hoard worth some GBP 3 million, consisting of 9th century AD Anglo-Saxon coins seemingly hidden by a Viking, and carrying new information about the…
Italy, Europol Bust 23 Suspects, Seize 10,000 Roman, Greek Artifacts Looted from Calabria in Operation ‘Achaeans’
A massive police operation codenamed “Achaeans” against treasure hunting and the trafficking of archaeological artifacts carried out in Italy, France, Germany, Serbia, and the UK, has led to the arrests of 23 suspects and the seizure of some 10,000 artifacts…
3 Treasure Hunters Nabbed in North Bulgaria, 2 in South Bulgaria in Random Police Checks
A total of 5 treasure hunters have been arrested in two different regions of Bulgaria during random police checks.
3 Treasure Hunters Get Suspended Sentences for Raiding Archaeological Sites in Southwest Bulgaria
Three treasure hunters from Southwest Bulgaria have received minor suspended sentences for raiding archaeological sites in the region back in 2016.
Fundraising for ‘Rescue’ of 7 Stolen ‘Royal’ Icons under Way in Bulgaria’s Burgas
The Regional Museum of History in Bulgaria’s Burgas and the local bureau of the Bulgarian National Radio have launched a campaign to raise money for the restoration of a total of 7 large “royal” icons which were recovered from thieves…
Dozens of Icons Stolen in 4 Robberies of 3 Churches in Ruse District in Northeast Bulgaria
A total of three churches in small towns have been robbed in the Ruse District in Northeast Bulgaria, with the thieves stealing icons, among other religious artifacts.
Trafficking Channel from Bulgaria to UK, Western Europe Busted, 4,600 Plundered Artifacts Seized
The Bulgarian and the British police have arrested a total of 9 people for running a trafficking channel for the illegal exports of antiques and archaeological artifacts plundered by treasure hunters in Bulgaria.
3 Species of Treasure Hunters Are Destroying Archaeology in Bulgaria’s ‘Plunder Paradise’ worth up to USD 1 Billion a Year, New Book Reveals
Three “species” of treasure hunters dubbed “diggers”, “yuppies” and “super experts”, whose a total number is in the low six figures, are destroying the world archaeology and history heritage found in Bulgaria in a criminal industry worth up to 1…
46-Year-Old Treasure Hunter Suffocates in Makeshift Shaft during Search Gold Treasure in Northeast Bulgaria
A treasure hunter who was part of a group of three looters has died of suffocation after descending into a 12-meter-deep makeshift shaft while searching for a mythical gold treasure near the town of Prolaz, Targovishte Municipality, in Northeast Bulgaria.
Precious Caves in Northeast Bulgaria Get Destroyed by Car Thieves, Sheep Herders, Treasure Hunters
Numerous caves in the Ruse District in Northeast Bulgaria, which are valuable from an archaeological and environmental point of view, have been damaged by locals who have “utilized” them as car part hideouts, cattle and sheep barns, and camping places,…
Top 20: Most Popular Stories on ArchaeologyinBulgaria.com in May 2019
Following are the 20 most popular stories with you, the readers of ArchaeologyinBulgaria.com, during the month of May 2019.
Treasure Hunters Expose Necropolis of Burial Mounds after Their Arrest in Southern Bulgaria
Two treasure hunters have been arrested while digging near a chapel in Southern Bulgaria leading the archaeologists examining the site to discover that the looters had actually exposed a necropolis of ancient burial mounds.
Bulgaria’s Largest Thracian Mound Proves to Be Tower Tomb Like in Petra, Palmyra, Likely of Roman Emperor Philip I the Arab
The massive 3rd century AD Antiquity building exposed in July 2018 underneath the Maltepe Mound, Bulgaria’s largest Ancient Thracian burial mound ever, has turned out to be a tower tomb like the ones in ancient Middle East cities such as…
Top 50: Most Popular Stories on ArchaeologyinBulgaria.com in Calendar Year 2018
Following are the 50 most popular stories with you, the readers of ArchaeologyinBulgaria.com, during the calendar year of 2018.
Top 25: Most Popular Stories on ArchaeologyinBulgaria.com in Fourth Quarter 2018
Following are the 25 most popular stories with you, the readers of ArchaeologyinBulgaria.com, during the fourth quarter of 2018.
New Board Game Pits Archaeologists against Treasure Hunters in Archaeological Sites All across Bulgaria
A new board entitled “Archaeologists vs. Treasure Hunters”, which pits the two groups against one another on a map featuring some of Bulgaria’s most remarkable archaeological sites, has been developed and released by a group of archaeologists.
Top 20: Most Popular Stories on ArchaeologyinBulgaria.com in November 2018
Following are the 20 most popular stories with you, the readers of ArchaeologyinBulgaria.com, during the month of November 2018.
Top 20 of the Most Popular Stories on ArchaeologyinBulgaria.com in the Third Quarter of 2018
Following are the 20 most popular stories among the readers of ArchaeologyinBulgaria.com from July 1 until September 30, 2018, i.e. during the third quarter of 2018.
Top 20 of the Most Popular Stories on ArchaeologyinBulgaria.com in September 2018
Following are the 20 most popular stories among the readers of ArchaeologyinBulgaria.com during the month of September 2018.
Smallest Ancient Thracian Brick Tomb Found near Bulgaria’s Rozovo, Thoroughly Looted by Treasure Hunters
The smallest Ancient Thracian brick tomb, out of a total of 14 Thracian tombs made of bricks that have been excavated so far in Bulgaria, has been found by archaeologists near the town of Rozovo near the town of Kazanlak,…
Treasure Hunters Found 5th Century BC Thracian King’s Burial worth USD 60 Million Back in 2002, Report Says
One of the largest hits ever of the numerous treasure hunters active across Bulgaria was the discovery back in 2002 of the burial of an Ancient Thracian King from the 5th century BC whose funeral inventory was sold of USD…
Bulgarian Archaeologists Tracking Treasure Hunters’ Raids Using Google Maps, Google Earth
Some Bulgarian archaeologists have found a novel way of tackling the damage done to the country’s tremendous archaeological heritage on a daily basis by ruthless treasure hunters by using Google Maps and Google Earth, an archaeologist reveals.
11,000 Coins, Archaeological Artifacts Seized on Bulgaria’s Border in Attempted Smuggling from Turkey into EU
Over 11,000 ancient coins as well as dozens of archaeological artifacts have been seized by customs officers at the Lesovo Crossing Point on Bulgaria’s border with Turkey in a car entering Bulgaria and the EU during a smuggling attempt.
2 Treasure Hunters Rescued from Self-made Mine in Bulgaria’s Rhodope Mountains, Hospitalized in Critical Condition
Two treasure hunters who had dug up an entire underground gallery in Bulgaria’s Rhodope Mountains have been rescued and hospitalized in critical condition in the southern city of Plovdiv.
Bulgaria’s Police Seize 95 Archaeological Artifacts from ‘Organized Crime’ Treasure Hunters
Bulgaria’s police have announced they have cracked down on an organized crime group dealing with treasure hunting and trafficking of antiques, and have seized a total of 95 archaeological artifacts dug up illegally.
Bulgaria’s Archaeology Faces Grave Danger of ‘Privatization’, National Museum Director Raises Alarm
Bulgaria’s archaeology and archaeological, historical, and cultural heritage faces a potential collapse if proposed amendments to the Cultural Heritage Act are adopted, Assoc. Prof. Lyudmil Vagalinski, Director of the National Institute and Museum of Archaeology in Sofia, has warned.
