Archaeologists Find New Evidence Ottomans Used Materials from 9th Century Great Basilica in Bulgaria’s Pliska for Railway Construction
Archaeologists and restorers from Bulgaria’s National Museum of History have identified construction materials from the 9th century AD Great Basilica in Pliska, capital of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018 AD) between 680 and 893 AD, which were scattered all over…
Bulgarian Museum Director Urges Revision of Wikipedia Article on Hagia Sophia over Great Basilica in Pliska
The Director of Bulgaria’s National Museum of History in Sofia has urged a revision of the Wikipedia article on the Hagia Sophia cathedral in Constantinople / Istanbul arguing that it was not Europe’s largest temple between the 6th and the…
Museum in Bulgaria’s Kazanlak Gets Long-Awaited Government Permit to Excavate Medieval Fortress Buzovo Kale
The team of the “Iskra” (“Spark”) History Museum in the central Bulgarian town of Kazanlak has been granted a permit to carry out rescue excavations of the Early Byzantine, and medieval Bulgarian fortress of Buzovo Kale near the town of…
Sofia University Presented with Holy Relics of St. Kliment Ohridski, Alleged Author of Bulgarian (Cyrillic) Alphabet
A piece of the holy relics of St. Kliment Ohridski (St. Clement of Ohrid) (840 – ca. 916), the disciple of St. Cyril and St. Methodius who allegedly invented the Bulgarian (Cyrillic) alphabet, has been presented to Sofia University (which…
Restorers Reuse Surviving Original Materials to Rebuild Great Basilica in Capital of First Bulgarian Empire Pliska
The archaeological restoration of the 9th century AD Great Basilica in Pliska, the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018 AD) between 680 and 893 AD, is being carried out by using surviving original materials, Bulgaria’s National Museum of History…
Bulgaria Begins Archaeological Restoration of 9th Century AD Great Basilica in Capital of First Bulgarian Empire Pliska
Bulgaria’s National Museum of History has begun the archaeological restoration of the 9th century Great Basilica in Pliska, the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018 AD) between 680 and 893 AD.
Bulgaria’s Best Preserved Medieval Castle, Baba Vida Fortress in Danube City Vidin, Left without Maintenance Funding
The Baba Vida Castle in Bulgaria’s Danube city of Vidin, which is the best preserved fortress from the period of the medieval Bulgarian Empire, has been left without maintenance funding for the past six months, a local archaeologist has alarmed.
Bulgaria’s Cabinet Grants Varna Municipality Management Rights for 6 Major Archaeological Sites to Promote Cultural Tourism
Bulgaria’s Council of Ministers has granted the Black Sea Varna Municipality management rights for a total of six emblematic archaeological sites, some of them world-known, as a measure for boosting the development of cultural tourism.
Newly Found Basilica Sheds Light on Unknown Byzantine City, Reason Why Veliko Tarnovo Was Made Capital of Second Bulgarian Empire
The Early Byzantine basilica which was discovered recently in the city of Veliko Tarnovo in Northern Bulgaria may prove the key to the exploration of what was an unknown but major Byzantine city, and to answering the question why Veliko…
Archaeologists Make Last Discoveries As They Excavate in Full Medieval Monastery at Urvich Fortress near Bulgaria’s Sofia
Archaeological structures and artifacts from the 14th-17th century AD have been discovered during the last days of the excavations of the late medieval monastery St. Iliya (St. Elijah) at the Urvich Fortress near the Bulgarian capital Sofia.
Tourists Flock to Pre-Opening of Archaeological Park of Early Christian Buildings from Roman City Parthicopolis in Bulgaria’s Sandanski
A large number of tourists have visited the soon-to-be-opened Archaeological Park of newly restored Early Christian buildings from the Roman city Parthicopolis in the southwestern Bulgarian town of Sandanski during its Pre-Opening events on October 16-18, 2015.
Archaeologists Discover Oldest Church of Medieval City Drastar in Bulgaria’s Silistra
The ruins of what was the oldest Christian church from the period of the Middle Ages in the ancient and medieval city of Drastar (known as Durustorum in the Roman period) have been discovered during the continuing rescue excavations in…
Archaeologists Find Child Funeral, Marble Cross at Early Christian Basilica near Bulgaria’s Rakitovo
A child grave and number of intriguing archaeological artifacts including a large marble cross fragment have been discovered by archaeologists excavating an Early Christian basilica in an area known as Nikolitsa near the town of Rakitovo, Pazardzhik District, in the…
Skeletons Found in Early Christian Tomb on St. Ivan Island off Bulgaria’s Sozopol Belonged to Syrian Monks Who Brought St. John the Baptist’s Relics
The two human skeletons discovered recently in an Early Christian tomb on the St. Ivan (St. John) Island in the Black Sea off the coast of Bulgarian resort Sozopol most probably belonged to Syrian monks who brought with them the…
Archaeologist Discovers Early Byzantine Basilica in ‘Frankish Quarter’ of Medieval Bulgarian Capital Tarnovgrad (Veliko Tarnovo)
An Early Byzantine Christian basilica has been discovered during archaeological excavations the city of Veliko Tarnovo in Northern Bulgaria, southeast of the fortress wall of the Tsarevets Hill Fortress, in the so called Frenkhisar, or the “Frankish Quarter”, of Tarnovgrad,…
Archaeology Museum in Bulgaria’s Plovdiv Shows for the First Time Newly Restored Early Christian Tomb with Murals of Jesus Christ’s Miracles
A 4th century AD Early Christian Roman tomb with stunning biblical murals depicting the miracles of Jesus Christ, which was found by accident in the southern Bulgarian city of Plovdiv in 2012, has now been restored and shown to the…
Archaeologists Find 10th Century AD Heart-Shaped Belt Decoration in Medieval Fortress Urvich near Bulgaria’s Capital Sofia
A belt decoration shaped like a heart dating back to the 10th century AD is among the latest finds from the renewed 2015 archaeological excavations at the medieval fortress Urvich near Bulgaria’s capital Sofia. The “heart” belt decoration is said…
Bulgaria’s Dobrich to Restore, Promote ‘Glorious Rock’ Fortress in Joint Cultural Tourism Project with Romania’s Constanta
The Slavnata Kanara (Glorious Rock) Fortress near the towns of Debrene and Prilep in Northeast Bulgaria is to be restored and promoted as a site for cultural tourism as part of a joint project of the Administration of Bulgaria’s Dobrich…
Archaeologists Find Bishop’s Inscription, Mosaics with Middle Eastern Motifs in 5th Century AD Great Basilica in Bulgaria’s Plovdiv
The archaeologists and restorers working on the excavation and conservation of the 5th century AD Byzantine Great Basilica in the southern Bulgarian city of Plovdiv have made a series of new intriguing discoveries at the Early Christian temple.
Archaeologists Find New Fragments of Bulgaria’s Oldest Icon: 10th Century AD Ceramic Icon of St. Theodore Stratilates from Veliki Preslav
New fragments have been discovered from the earliest known Bulgarian-made icon – a ceramic icon of St. Theodore Stratilates dating back to the 10th century AD, the height of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018 AD) – and the icon itself…
Archaeologists Discover Silver Coin of ‘Dracula’s Grandfather’ Mircea the Elder of Wallachia in Medieval Bulgarian Monastery near Madara
A rare silver coin minted by Mircea the Elder, Voivode (ruler) of Wallachia at the end of the 14th and the beginning of the 15th century, and the grandfather of Vlad Dracula, who is widely known in international popular culture,…
Alleged Giant Phallus from Hermes Statue Found in Bulgaria’s Orehovo as Locals Rally to Defend Suspected Ancient Thracian Shrine
A find that is said to be a giant phallus which was part of a statue of god Hermes has been found at the mountain peak known as Koloto near the town of Orehovo, Chepelare Municipality, in Southern Bulgaria, which…
Locals in Bulgaria’s Orehovo Raise Alarm over Municipal Construction Project on Top of Alleged Ancient Thracian Mound, Shrine
Local residents of the town of Orehovo, Chepelare Municipality, in the Rhodope Mountains in Southern Bulgaria have launched protests against a municipal project for the construction of a fire safety tower which they believe lies on top of an Ancient…
Great Basilica in Capital of First Bulgarian Empire Pliska Modeled after Old St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Bulgarian Scholars Conclude
The 9th century AD Great Basilica in Pliska, the Ancient Bulgar capital of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018 AD) between 680 and 893 AD, was modeled after the Old St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the predecessor of today’s St. Peter’s…
Archaeologists Find Upsilon, Swastika Signs in Ancient Bulgar Aul in Northeast Bulgaria
Signs such as upsilons, swastikas, half-swastikas, and others have been found on bricks and tiles by the archaeologists excavating a 9th century AD Ancient Bulgar aul (a fortified settlement) near the northeastern Bulgarian city of Shumen which was a residence…
Archaeologists Discover Early Christian Medallion in Burgos (Poros) Fortress in Bulgaria’s Black Sea City Burgas
A previously unseen Early Christian bronze medallion is the most intriguing recent archaeological find from the excavations of the ancient fortress Burgos (Poros) on Cape Foros in the Bulgarian Black Sea city of Burgas.
Archaeologists Unearth Large Early Christian Basilica with Roman Grave Right Outside of Bulgaria’s Capital Sofia
One of the largest Early Christian basilicas in Bulgaria, which is located in the Buhovo Monastery “St. Mary Magdalene” near the town of Buhovo in Sofia Municipality, to the northeast of Sofia’s main urban area, has been completely unearthed, with…
Archaeologists Discover Saint’s Crypt in Early Christian Basilica in Roman and Byzantine Fortress Zaldapa in Northeast Bulgaria
The crypt of a Christian saint or martyr has been discovered in an Early Christina basilica by the archaeologists excavating the Ancient Thracian, Roman, and Early Byzantine fortress Zalpada located near the town of Abrit, Krushari Municipality, in Northeast Bulgaria.
Archaeologists Unearth 10th Century Patriarch’s Cathedral in Drastar (Durostorum) in Bulgaria’s Silistra
The ruins of a medieval cathedral of the Bulgarian Patriarchate from the time of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680 – 1018 AD) have been unearthed during the rescue excavations of the ruins of the medieval city of Drastar, known as…
Bulgaria’s Sandanski to Open Archaeological Park of Newly Restored Early Christian Buildings from Roman City Parthicopolis
The southwestern Bulgarian town of Sandanski is going to open an archaeological park of restored Early Christian historical monuments form the Ancient Roman and Early Byzantine city of Parthicopolis around September 10, 2015, Sandanski Municipality has announced. The Early Christian…
Archaeologists Find Silver Cross in Medieval Christian Necropolis in Trapesitsa Hill Fortress in Bulgaria’s Veliko Tarnovo
A silver cross with a crucifixion image from the Late Middle Ages has been discovered by the archaeologists excavating a Christian necropolis on the Trapesitsa Hill, one of the two main citadels, together with the Tsarevets Hill Fortress, of Tarnovgrad,…
Archaeologist Uncovers 13th Century Monastery Dining Room in Bulgaria’s Veliko Tarnovo
New archaeological structures – including what is believed to have been a monastery dining room – have been unearthed in the renewed excavations of a 13th century monastery in Tarnovgrad, the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185-1396 AD), in…
Bulgarian Archaeologists Show Lead Cross Reliquary, Lead Icon Found in Medieval City Missionis (Krum’s Fortress)
A lead cross, which is also a reliquary, found during the excavations of the Early Byzantine and medieval Bulgarian city of Missionis, also known as Krum’s Fortress, whose ruins are located near today’s northeastern city of Targovishte, has been presented…
Archaeologists Find Last Fragment of Early Christian Christogram in Bishop’s Basilica in Bulgaria’s Sandanski
Archaeologists excavating the so called Bishop’s Basilica of the Ancient Roman and Early Byzantine city of Parthicopolis located in the town of Sandanski in Southwest Bulgaria have discovered the last fragment from a marble slab with a christogram, a Christian…
Archaeologist Finds Two Human Skeletons, One Ram Skeleton in Early Christian Tomb on St. Ivan Island in Black Sea Off Bulgaria’s Sozopol
Two human skeletons and a ram skeleton have been discovered by Bulgarian archaeologist Prof. Kazimir Popkonstantinov inside the Early Christian tomb on the St. Ivan Island off the coast of the town of Sozopol (the same island where relics of…
