Christian Reliquary Cross Found in 11th Century Byzantine Fortress in Southeast Bulgaria Destroyed by Crusaders in Third Crusade
A bronze reliquary cross from the High Middle Ages of the engolpion type – i.e. a hollow cross used for keeping holy Christian relics – has been discovered by Bulgarian archaeologists during the excavations of the “Small Kale,” a fortress…
‘The Mudbrick Swamp,’ First Book in ‘Rodiniya’s Reason’ Fantasy Series, Published by Writer Ivan Dikov
“The Mudbrick Swamp,” the first book in the “Rodiniya’s Reason” fantasy series, has been published by Bulgarian English-language writer and journalist Ivan Dikov on Amazon.com. “pThe Mudbrick Swam” is actually Volume 1 of what is conceived as a vast epic…
Vandals Tear Down Monument of Khan Kubrat, Founder of 7th Century Old Great Bulgaria, in Today’s Ukraine
Unknown vandals have torn down the monument of Ancient Bulgar leader Khan Kubrat (r. 632 – 665 AD), the founder of the so called Old Great Bulgaria, which was erected in 2012 in the town of Mala Pereshchepina, Poltava District,…
Cup-Shaped Copper Coin of Tsar Ivan Asen II of Second Bulgarian Empire Released by National Bank, Archaeology Museum in Replica Collection
A replica of a copper scyphate, or a cup-shaped copper coin, minted by Tsar Ivan Asen II (r. 1218 – 1241) of the Second Bulgarian Empire is the second coin to be released by the Mint of the Bulgarian National…
Gold Coin of Tsar Ivan Asen II of Second Bulgarian Empire Released by Bulgarian National Bank, Archaeology Museum as Part of Replica Collection
A replica collection of coins minted by the Tsars of the Second Bulgarian Empire has been launched in a joint project by the Mint of the Bulgarian National Bank and the National Institute and Museum of Archaeology, with the first…
Crusaders from Third Crusade Destroyed 11th-Century Byzantine Empire’s Fortress in Southeast Bulgaria, Archaeologists Find
A small but remarkable Byzantine fortress, which existed in the 11th – 12th century in today’s Southeast Bulgaria, was seemingly destroyed by the Western European knights from the Third Crusade in 1189 – 1192 AD, the archaeological research team has…
Unknown Chainmail Armors Discovered in Roman Colony Deultum near Bulgaria’s Black Sea Coast
An unknown type of well-preserved Late Antiquity chainmail armors from the last years of the Roman Empire before its division or the early Eastern Roman Empire, i.e. Byzantium, have been discovered by archaeologists in the Ancient Roman colony Deultum near…
Traces of First Ancient Greek Colonists in 7th Century BC Found under Byzantine City at Bulgaria’s Chernomorets on Black Sea Coast
Archaeological layers with remains from the earliest Ancient Greek colonists, or settlers, on today’s Bulgarian Black Sea coast dating back to the Archaic period in the 7th – 6th century BC have been surprisingly found by archaeologists excavating an Early…
Ancient Panacea Theriac Meddled ‘Successfully’ in One of the Last Wars of the Bulgarian and Byzantine Empires in 1323
Theriac is a legendary heal-all from the Antiquity and the Middle Ages, whose panacea effects seem doubtful, including because it was often forged, but which nonetheless made a supposedly “successful” appearance in 1323, in one of the last episodes of…
Hellenistic Age Philipopolis Was Larger Than Known, Archaeologists Find in Eastern Gate Digs in Bulgaria’s Plovdiv
The ancient city of Philipopolis, today’s Plovdiv in Central South Bulgaria, was larger than known back in the 4th century BC, i.e. at the start of the Hellenistic Age, archaeologists have discovered during ongoing digs at the city’s Eastern Gate.
World’s First Medieval Gold Cross Reliquary with Holy Cross Particle Discovered in Trapesitsa Fortress in Bulgaria’s Veliko Tarnovo
A 12th century cross, which is a reliquary (engolpion) containing a particle from the Holy Cross from Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, and is the first known artifact of its kind that is made of pure gold, has been discovered by archaeologists…
Slavs, Avars Burned Down Byzantine City Chrisosotira in Early 7th Century, Digs on Bulgaria’s Black Sea Coast Reveal
The Early Byzantine city of Chrisosotira on Cape Chervenka on Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast was most likely sacked by the Slavs and Avars during their invasions of the Byzantine Empire in the first half of the 7th century AD, archaeologists…
First Ever Gold Coin Found in Bulgaria’s Lyutitsa Fortress, of Byzantine (Nicaean) Emperor John III Ducas Vatatzes
A gold coin has been discovered for the first time by the archaeologists excavating the medieval fortress Lyutitsa near the town of Ivaylovgrad in Southern Bulgaria – it is from the mid-13th century, and of the type minted by Byzantine,…
Decline of Bulgarian, Byzantine Empires before Ottoman Conquest Revealed by Tatar Plunder Treasure Pot from Black Sea Fortress Kaliakra
The contents of the gold and silver treasure pot of plunder of a Tatar (Mongol) leader from ca. 1400, which has recently been discovered in Bulgaria’s Kaliakara Cape Fortress on the Black Sea coast, is a true testimony to the…
Archaeologists Find Thracian, Byzantine Settlements, Medieval Monastery on Bulgaria’s St. Thomas Island in Black Sea
An Ancient Thracian settlement, an Early Byzantine settlement, and a small monastery from the Late Middle Ages have been discovered by archaeologists on Bulgaria’s tiny St. Thomas Island (Snake Island) in the Black Sea.
Silver Tornese Coins from Crusaders’ Principality of Achaea (Morea) Found by Archaeologists in Bulgaria’s Rusocastro Fortress
A hoard of seven silver coins minted in the Principality of Achaea, also known as Morea, a 13th century successor state of Byzantium founded by the Crusaders from the Fourth Crusade, has been discovered by archaeologists in the Rusocastro Fortress…
Byzantine Coastal City Unearthed in Istanbul’s Asian Part during Restoration of Historic Train Station in Turkey
An unknown Byzantine coastal city located on the Asian side of Istanbul, the former Constantinople, has been discovered during the restoration of a historic train station in Turkey.
Preslav Gold Treasure – First Bulgarian Empire – Veliki Preslav, Bulgaria
The Preslav Gold Treasure was discovered by accident on April 11, 1978, in an area known as Kastana located right to the northwest of the ruins of the city of Veliki Preslav (“Great Preslav”) in today’s Northeast Bulgaria, which was…
Large Sunken Island Existed off Bulgaria’s Black Sea Coast till Middle Ages, According to Roman Era Maps, Geomorphology Research
A sizable but now destroyed and/or sunken island – likely the size of Greece’s Aegean island of Thasos – existed in the Black Sea off the southern Black Sea coast of today’s Bulgaria but disappeared as a result of natural…
6th Century AD Justinian Plague Outbreak Originated with Hun Migrations in Asia, Not in Egypt, Scientists Find
The Justinian Plague of 541 – 542 AD, which may have killed up to 25 million people, likely originated in Asia, not Egypt, and is linked to the migrations of the Huns, a new study has found.
Marvelous 10th Century Preslav Gold Treasure Displayed after Conservation in Germany as Bulgaria’s Veliki Preslav Marks 40th Year since Its Discovery
The Preslav Gold Treasure, the greatest known treasure from the Golden Age (9th – 10th century) of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680 – 1018) described by some experst as the richest find of jewels from medieval Europe, has been exhibited…
Erkesiya: the Ancient Bulgar Border Rampart Containing Byzantium That Was Longer than Hadrian’s Wall
The Erkesiya was a 142-kilometer long (88 miles) border wall, or, rather, a border rampart, a fortification combining a moat, earthwork, stone and wood structures which was built by the Ancient Bulgars of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680 – 1018)…
Bulgaria Marks 40 Years since Discovery of Preslav Gold Treasure from First Bulgarian Empire
Bulgaria marks on Wednesday, April 11, 2018, the 40th anniversary since the discovery of the Preslav Gold Treasure, the greatest known treasure from the Golden Age (9th – 10th century) of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680 – 1018), and also…
Hoard of Byzantine Gold Coins Showcased Where Found, in Ancient Spa Resort Aquae Calidae – Thermopolis in Bulgaria’s Black Sea City Burgas
A small hoard of Byzantine gold coins, which was discovered back in 2012 during the excavations of the ancient spa resort Aquae Calidae (called Thermopolis in the Middle Ages) in Bulgaria’s Black Sea city of Burgas, have now been showcased…
Antiquity, Medieval Artifacts Exposed by Landslide Show Bulgaria’s Troyan Monastery May Be Much Older than Known
Archaeological artifacts from the Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages have been exposed by a landslide near the Troyan Monastery meaning that Bulgaria’s third largest monastery might have been founded long before 1600, as presently thought.
Archaeologists May Have Found Mint of Ancient Roman City Serdica in Bulgaria’s Capital Sofia
Archaeologists hypothesize they may have discovered the 3rd-4th century AD coin mint of the Ancient Roman city of Serdica, the predecessor of today’s Bulgarian capital Sofia, as a result of ongoing digs in Sofia’s very downtown.
Medieval Castle’s ‘Monumental’ Staircase, More Byzantine Gold Found in Bulgaria’s Rusocastro Fortress
A large staircase leading up to a medieval castle has been discovered by archaeologists excavating the early Byzantine and major medieval Bulgarian fortress of Rusocastro in Burgas District in today’s Southeast Bulgaria.
10th Century Byzantine Imperial Ivory Icon Discovered in Rusocastro Fortress in Southeast Bulgaria
A rare 10th century ivory icon, which is believed to have belonged to Byzantine Emperor or a member of the Byzantine imperial family, and to have been made in Constantinople, has been discovered by archaeologists excavating the early Byzantine and…
10th Century Golden Heart Jewel Worn by Bulgarian Empress Discovered in Medieval Capital Veliki Preslav
A remarkable golden jewel in the shape of a heart decorated with a five-color enamel, which may have belonged to the wife of Tsar Petar I (r. 927-969), has been discovered by archaeologists during excavations in Veliki Preslav (“Great Preslav”),…
Bulgaria Marks 775th Year since Passing of Tsar Ivan Asen II, Most Powerful Ruler of Second Bulgarian Empire
Bulgaria marked on Friday, June 24, 2016, the 775th year since the passing of Tsar Ivan Asen II (r. 1218-1241) known as the most powerful and successful ruler of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185-1396).
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…
Pottery Analysis Reveals Visigoths Settled En Masse in Northeast Bulgaria Shortly before Roman Empire’s Division
An archaeological analysis of the pottery discovered recently in the Kovachevsko Kale Fortress near the town of Popovo in Northeast Bulgaria has revealed that the Roman city and its region were settled by a large number of Visigoths in the…
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,…
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 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…
