2nd Medieval Festival at Kaleto Fortress in Bulgaria’s Mezdra Attracts Twice as Many Visitors as in 2015

2nd Medieval Festival at Kaleto Fortress in Bulgaria’s Mezdra Attracts Twice as Many Visitors as in 2015

The second edition of the annual Medieval Crafts and Culture Festival at the Archaeological Complex “Kaleto” in the northwestern Bulgarian town of Mezdra, which is dedicated to life in the medieval Bulgarian Empire, has attracted twice as many visitors compared…

Coin Indicates Second Bulgarian Empire Gained Control over Thessaloniki (Salonica) in Mid 13th Century, Collector, Archaeologists Hypothesize

Coin Indicates Second Bulgarian Empire Gained Control over Thessaloniki (Salonica) in Mid 13th Century, Collector, Archaeologists Hypothesize

Thessaloniki (also known in English as Salonica or Thessalonica), the second largest city in today’s Greece and the second most important city of the Byzantine Empire in the Middle Ages, may have come under the control of the Second Bulgarian…

Bulgaria’s Black Sea Resort Primorsko Starts 2016 Excavations of Newly Found Thracian Fortress Pharmakida

Bulgaria’s Black Sea Resort Primorsko Starts 2016 Excavations of Newly Found Thracian Fortress Pharmakida

The Black Sea town of Primorsko in Southeast Bulgaria has started with its own funding the 2016 archaeological excavations of the Ancient Thracian fortress Pharmakida, which was first discovered in the summer of 2015.

Bulgaria’s National Museum of Archaeology to Show 2,500-Year-Old Toiletries Box, Medieval Treasure in New Exhibit on “Female Beauty over the Centuries”

Bulgaria’s National Museum of Archaeology to Show 2,500-Year-Old Toiletries Box, Medieval Treasure in New Exhibit on “Female Beauty over the Centuries”

A 2,500-year-old Ancient Thracian toiletries box consisting of a gold-coated silver shell will be one of the artifacts on display in the new exhibition of Bulgaria’s National Institute and Museum of Archaeology in Sofia entitled “A Mirror of Time: Female…

Police Bust Treasure Hunters with 400 Archaeological Artifacts from Ancient Roman City Ulpia Oescus in Northern Bulgaria

Police Bust Treasure Hunters with 400 Archaeological Artifacts from Ancient Roman City Ulpia Oescus in Northern Bulgaria

A total 387 archaeological artifacts have been seized from two men residing near the Ancient Roman city of Ulpia Oescus by the police in Pleven District in Northern Bulgaria.

Treasure Hunters Get Away with Suspended Sentences in High Profile Trial in Bulgaria’s Pazardzhik

Treasure Hunters Get Away with Suspended Sentences in High Profile Trial in Bulgaria’s Pazardzhik

Three men have been found guilty of treasure hunting and antiques trafficking in a high profile trial in the southern Bulgarian city of Pazardzhik but have gotten away with suspended sentences.

Archaeologists Find Preserved 7-Meter Tall Late Antiquity Fortress Wall of Ancient Roman City Sexaginta Prista in Bulgaria’s Ruse

Archaeologists Find Preserved 7-Meter Tall Late Antiquity Fortress Wall of Ancient Roman City Sexaginta Prista in Bulgaria’s Ruse

A previously unknown section of the Late Antiquity fortress wall of the Ancient Roman city of Sexaginta Prista has been discovered in the Danube city of Ruse in Northeast Bulgaria.

Archaeologists Discover 10th Century Church, Coins Testifying about 1242 Tatar (Mongol) Invasion of Medieval Drastar in Bulgaria’s Silistra

Archaeologists Discover 10th Century Church, Coins Testifying about 1242 Tatar (Mongol) Invasion of Medieval Drastar in Bulgaria’s Silistra

A church from the 10th century, dozens of medieval graves, and coins testifying to the Tatar (Mongol) invasion of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185-1396 AD) in 1242 AD have been discovered during rescue excavations of the medieval city of Drastar,…

USD 1 Billion Worth of Archaeological Artifacts Smuggled Out of Bulgaria Annually, Archaeologist Claims

USD 1 Billion Worth of Archaeological Artifacts Smuggled Out of Bulgaria Annually, Archaeologist Claims

The archaeological artifacts extracted and exported from Bulgaria through treasure hunting and illegal trafficking of antiques are worth about USD 1 billion annually, according to Assoc. Prof. Konstantin Dochev, head of the Veliko Tarnovo Office of the Sofia-based National Institute…

Senior Bulgarian Civil Servant Caught with Diverse Collection of Archaeological Artifacts, Coins in Anti-Treasure Hunting Raid

Senior Bulgarian Civil Servant Caught with Diverse Collection of Archaeological Artifacts, Coins in Anti-Treasure Hunting Raid

A senior Bulgarian civil servant has been arrested together with an accomplice for alleged treasure hunting and illegal possession of valuable archaeological artifacts and coins, some of which said to be dating back to 2,500 BC.

Bulgaria’s Customs Capture Nearly 700 Archaeological Artifacts, Coins at Sofia Airport

Bulgaria’s Customs Capture Nearly 700 Archaeological Artifacts, Coins at Sofia Airport

Bulgaria’s Customs Agency has captured almost 700 archaeological artifacts and coins in a parcel inspected at Sofia International Airport.

Bulgarian, Greek Treasure Hunting Gang Busted by Border Police

Bulgarian, Greek Treasure Hunting Gang Busted by Border Police

A gang of Bulgarian and Greek treasure hunters has been arrested near the town of Huhla, Ivaylovgrad Municipality, in Southern Bulgaria.

Museum in Bulgaria’s Stara Zagora Publishes Book on Coins Minted by Ancient Roman City Augusta Traiana

Museum in Bulgaria’s Stara Zagora Publishes Book on Coins Minted by Ancient Roman City Augusta Traiana

The Regional Museum of History in the southern Bulgarian city of Stara Zagora has published a monograph on the coins minted by the Ancient Roman city of Augusta Traiana.

National Institute and Museum of Archaeology in Sofia Publishes Catalog of ‘Bulgarian Archaeology’ 2015 Exhibit

National Institute and Museum of Archaeology in Sofia Publishes Catalog of ‘Bulgarian Archaeology’ 2015 Exhibit

Bulgaria’s National Institute and Museum of Archaeology has publish the official catalog of its 9th annual exhibition entitled “Bulgarian Archaeology” which presents the results from the last archaeological season.

Coins of 42 Roman and Byzantine Emperors Discovered at Late Antiquity Fortress Kovachevsko Kale near Bulgaria’s Popovo So Far

Coins of 42 Roman and Byzantine Emperors Discovered at Late Antiquity Fortress Kovachevsko Kale near Bulgaria’s Popovo So Far

The archaeological excavations of the Late Roman and Early Byzantine fortress of Kovachevsko Kale, which is located near the town of Popovo in Northern Bulgaria, have so far led to the discovery of coins of a total of 42 Roman…

Archaeologists Discover Late Roman Graves at Ancient Thracian Tomb Ostrusha near Bulgaria’s Kazanlak

Archaeologists Discover Late Roman Graves at Ancient Thracian Tomb Ostrusha near Bulgaria’s Kazanlak

Three funerals from the Late Roman period have been discovered during recent excavations at the Ostrusha Tomb, one of the most famous Ancient Thracian burial mounds (tumuli) in the Valley of Thracian Kings near the town of Kazanlak in Central…

National Institute and Museum of Archaeology in Sofia Opens ‘Bulgarian Archaeology’ 2015 Exhibition

National Institute and Museum of Archaeology in Sofia Opens ‘Bulgarian Archaeology’ 2015 Exhibition

Bulgaria’s National Institute and Museum of Archaeology has opened its 9th annual exhibition entitled “Bulgarian Archaeology” which presents the results from the last archaeological season, including the most intriguing newly discovered artifacts.

Bulgaria’s Black Sea Town Primorsko Showcases Artifacts from Newly Discovered Ancient Thracian Fortress Pharmakida

Bulgaria’s Black Sea Town Primorsko Showcases Artifacts from Newly Discovered Ancient Thracian Fortress Pharmakida

The History Museum in the Bulgarian Black Sea town Primorsko has set up a special permanent exhibit of archaeological artifacts from the newly discovered Ancient Thracian fortress Pharmakida.

Mysterious Ancient ‘Padlock’ Found in Excavations of Ancient Serdica in Bulgaria’s Capital Sofia

Mysterious Ancient ‘Padlock’ Found in Excavations of Ancient Serdica in Bulgaria’s Capital Sofia

A mysterious ancient artifact which resembles a padlock but nonetheless continues to perplex the archaeologists has been discovered during the recent excavations of the Ancient Thracian and Roman city of Serdica in the very downtown of the Bulgarian capital Sofia.

National Institute and Museum of Archaeology in Sofia to Open 9th Annual Exhibition ‘Bulgarian Archaeology’ 2015

National Institute and Museum of Archaeology in Sofia to Open 9th Annual Exhibition ‘Bulgarian Archaeology’ 2015

Bulgaria’s National Institute and Museum of Archaeology is about to unveil its 9th annual exhibition entitled “Bulgarian Archaeology” which traditionally presents the results from the last archaeological season, including the most intriguing newly discovered artifacts.

Bulgarian Man Receives Suspended Sentence for Holding ‘Unregistered’ Archaeological Artifacts

Bulgarian Man Receives Suspended Sentence for Holding ‘Unregistered’ Archaeological Artifacts

A man from the northeastern Bulgarian town of Novi Pazar has been given a suspended sentence under the country’s Cultural Heritage Act for holding archaeological artifacts that he had failed to register with a local museum.

Archaeologists Find North Gate of Ancient Agathopolis in Bulgaria’s Ahtopol, ‘Brand New’ Gold Coin of Byzantine Emperor Justine I

Archaeologists Find North Gate of Ancient Agathopolis in Bulgaria’s Ahtopol, ‘Brand New’ Gold Coin of Byzantine Emperor Justine I

Bulgarian archaeologists have unearthed the northern gate of the Late Antiquity and medieval fortress of Agathopolis, today’s Bulgarian Black Sea town of Ahtopol, a major Byzantine and Bulgarian fortress during the Middle Ages, which was also an Ancient Greek, Thracian,…

Bulgaria’s Sozopol to Restore Ancient Statue of Apollo, ‘Colossus of Apollonia Pontica’, Not Unlike Greece’s Plans to Rebuild Colossus of Rhodes

Bulgaria’s Sozopol to Restore Ancient Statue of Apollo, ‘Colossus of Apollonia Pontica’, Not Unlike Greece’s Plans to Rebuild Colossus of Rhodes

The Bulgarian Black Sea resort town of Sozopol, a successor of the Ancient Greek polis of Apollonia Pontica, is going to rebuild what once was a large ancient statue of god Apollo that was its symbol for several centuries during…

Archaeologists Find Altars for Chthonic Deity Rituals in Fortresses of Ancient Thracian Tribe Asti in Southeast Bulgaria

Archaeologists Find Altars for Chthonic Deity Rituals in Fortresses of Ancient Thracian Tribe Asti in Southeast Bulgaria

Altars for religious rituals dedicated to the chthonic deities, i.e. the ancient gods and spirits of the underworld, have been discovered by Bulgarian archaeologists during the excavations of two fortified residences of rulers of the Ancient Thracian tribe Asti in…

Bulgaria’s Customs Capture Thousands of UK Bound Likely Fake Archaeological Artifacts on Border with Romania

Bulgaria’s Customs Capture Thousands of UK Bound Likely Fake Archaeological Artifacts on Border with Romania

Thousands of archaeological artifacts destined to the UK, which are most probably fakes, have been detained by Bulgaria’s Customs Agency in the Danube city of Ruse before their smuggling into Romania.

Archaeologists Discover 3,000-Year-Old Ancient Thracian Necropolis with Gold Finds during Rescue Digs near Bulgaria’s Dragoman

Archaeologists Discover 3,000-Year-Old Ancient Thracian Necropolis with Gold Finds during Rescue Digs near Bulgaria’s Dragoman

An Ancient Thracian necropolis which is more than 3,000 years old, and contains gold decorations has been discovered by archaeologists during rescue excavations in Western Bulgaria.

Archaeologists Discover Huge Ancient Roman Horreum (Granary) in Kovachevsko Kale Fortress near Bulgaria’s Popovo

Archaeologists Discover Huge Ancient Roman Horreum (Granary) in Kovachevsko Kale Fortress near Bulgaria’s Popovo

A huge Ancient Roman building from the 4th century AD which appears to have been a horreum (i.e. a granary) has been discovered during the recent archaeological excavations of the Kovachevsko Kale Fortress near the town of Popovo in Northeast…

Bulgarian Police Seize Almost 1,000 Archaeological Artifacts from Treasure Hunters

Bulgarian Police Seize Almost 1,000 Archaeological Artifacts from Treasure Hunters

A total of 946 archaeological artifacts have been seized from treasure hunters by the Bulgarian police in the northeastern Silistra District.

Ancient Coins, Archaeological Artifacts Seized from Treasure Hunters Make It to History Museum in Bulgaria’s Provadiya

Ancient Coins, Archaeological Artifacts Seized from Treasure Hunters Make It to History Museum in Bulgaria’s Provadiya

A total of 26 ancient and medieval coins and a number of archaeological artifacts have been donated by Bulgaria’s National Revenue Agency to the Museum of History in the town of Provadiya in Northeast Bulgaria.

Newly Found Basilica Sheds Light on Unknown Byzantine City, Reason Why Veliko Tarnovo Was Made Capital of Second Bulgarian Empire

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

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.

Bulgarian Prosecutor’s Office Charges 3 Treasure Hunters for Raiding Medieval Fortress

Bulgarian Prosecutor’s Office Charges 3 Treasure Hunters for Raiding Medieval Fortress

Three men have been charged with treasure hunting by the District Prosecutor’s Office in the southern Bulgarian city of Plovdiv after they have been arrested for raiding a medieval fortress.

Bulgarian Police Bust Antique Trafficking Ring, Seize Roman Decurion's Gravestone, 800 Invaluable Artifacts

Bulgarian Police Bust Antique Trafficking Ring, Seize Roman Decurion’s Gravestone, 800 Invaluable Artifacts

Bulgaria’s Unit for Combating Organized Crime (GDBOP) has shattered a ring for antiques trafficking, and has confiscated over 800 archaeological artifacts and coins, including a very valuable marble gravestone of a Roman Decurion.

Archaeologists Unearth Medieval Homes from 3 Archaeological Layers in Capital of First Bulgarian Empire Pliska

Archaeologists Unearth Medieval Homes from 3 Archaeological Layers in Capital of First Bulgarian Empire Pliska

Medieval homes from three archaeological layers covering the period from the middle of the 9th century AD until the second half of the 11th century AD have been unearthed during the 2015 summer excavations in Pliska, the capital of the…

Archaeologists Find Child Funeral, Marble Cross at Early Christian Basilica near Bulgaria’s Rakitovo

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…

Archaeology in Bulgaria. and Beyond