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…
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…
576th Year since Battle of Varna, ‘Battle of Peoples’ of European Christians against Ottoman Empire, Goes without Any Events in Bulgaria
The 576th year since the Battle of Varna in 1444, also known as the “Battle of Peoples” or the last medieval battle for Bulgaria, in which the Ottoman Empire routed the European Christian forces, was marked on Tuesday, November 10,…
Bulgaria Marks 575 Years since Battle of Varna in 1444, ‘Battle of Peoples’ in Which Ottoman Empire Defeated Christian Europeans
As they celebrate the 30th anniversary since the Fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the communist regimes, Bulgaria and other countries in Central and Eastern Europe also mark with remembrance events the 575th year since the Battle…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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).
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
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…
Unseen Prehistoric Arms, Ancient & Medieval Swords Made Public for the First Time in Special Exhibit in Bulgaria’s Plovdiv
A medieval sword depicting the Holy Mother of God (Virgin Mary) and hundreds of other samples of prehistoric, ancient, and medieval arms originating in Bulgaria, which have never been made public before, have been exhibited by the Museum of Archaeology…
Bulgaria’s Veliko Tarnovo Cleans Up Illegal Dumpsite at Tsarevets Hill Fortress
An illegal dumpsite located just meters away from the Tsarevets Hill Fortress, Bulgaria’s most popular cultural tourism site, has been cleaned up by Veliko Tarnovo Municipality, the municipal authorities have announced.
Record Number of Participants to Join Reenactment of 1444 Christian Crusade Battle against Ottomans near Bulgaria’s Varna 571 Years Later
A record number of reenactors are going to participate in the 2015 historical reenactment of the 1444 Battle of Varna in Eastern Bulgaria which ended the second Crusade of the King of Poland and Hungary Vladislav (Wladyslaw) III Jagello, also…
Bulgaria to Erect Monument of Polish King Vladislav (Wladyslaw) III Varnenchik Who Died Fighting the Ottomans in 1444 Battle of Varna
The Bulgarian Black Sea city of Varna is going to erect a monument of Vladislav (Wladyslaw) III Jagello, also known as Varnenchik, King of Poland and Hungary, who staged two campaigns against the Ottoman Empire (a few decades after it…
Archaeologist Finds Wooden Homes on Platforms: First Ever Middle Bronze Age Discoveries in Bulgaria’s Plovdiv
Structures dating back to the 1900-1700 BC, i.e. the Middle Bronze Age, which are remains from wooden homes, have been discovered for the first time in the southern Bulgarian city of Plovdiv, also known as the oldest city in Europe.
Bulgaria’s Culture Ministry Gives Zero Funding for Excavation of Roman Fortress Bononia in Vidin
Bulgaria’s Ministry of Culture has allocated no government funding whatsoever for the supposed continuation of the archaeological excavations of the Ancient Roman fortress Bononia in the northwestern Danube city of Vidin.
Archaeologists Unearth Unknown, Mysteriously Abandoned Medieval Byzantine Settlement near Bulgaria’s Velikan
А previously unknown large Byzantine settlement from the High Middle Ages which was mysteriously abandoned by its residents has been unearthed by Bulgarian archaeologists near the southern town of Velikan, Haskovo District, in rescue excavations on the projected route of…
Bulgaria Marks 810 Years since Victory over Latin Empire Knights of Fourth Crusade in Battle of Adrianople
Bulgaria marks on Tuesday, April 14, 2015, the 810th anniversary since its major victory in the Battle of Adrianople in which the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185-1396 AD) under Tsar Kaloyan (r. 1197-1207) routed the knights from the Fourth Crusade of…
Flooding Damages Aquae Calidae – Thermopolis Archaeological Preserve in Bulgaria’s Burgas, Hinders Excavations
The Ancient Thracian and Roman city of Aquae Calidae, which was known as Thermopolis in medieval Byzantium and Bulgaria, has been damaged by a flooding, Burgas Municipality has alarmed.
Earliest Human Settlement at Medieval Asen’s Fortress Dating to 7th Millenium BC, Bulgarian Archaeologists Reveal
The area around the medieval Asen’s Fortress near the town of Asenovgrad in Southern Bulgaria has been inhabited since around the 7th-6th millennium BC, local archaeologists have revealed during a presentation of their finds from the 2014 summer excavations.
Bulgaria Celebrates 785 Years since Tsar Ivan Asen II’s Victory in Klokotnitsa Battle during Second Bulgarian Empire
Bulgaria celebrates Sunday, March 22, 2015, 785 years since one of the most important victories in its 1400-year history: the victory of Tsar Ivan Asen II (r. 1218-1241 AD), ruler of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185-1396 AD), against the powerful…
Bulgarian Archaeologists Unearth Neolithic Bone Needle, 100-Meter Fortress Wall at Medieval Asen’s Fortress
A bone needle from the Neolithic as well as the uncovering of 110-meter fortress wall are some of the latest discoveries made by archaeologists at the medieval Bulgarian fortress known as Asen’s Fortress (Asenova Krepost) in Southern Bulgaria.
Archaeologists Find Byzantine Coins, Roman Inscription in Aquae Calidae – Thermopolis Preserve in Bulgaria’s Burgas
A new batch of various ancient and medieval artifacts has been discovered during the excavations of the Aquae Calidae – Thermopolis Archaeological Preserve in the Bulgarian Black Sea city of Burgas, the Burgas Municipality has announced.
Archaeologists Discover Ancient, Medieval Coins, Ceramics at Aquae Calidae – Thermopolis Preserve in Bulgaria’s Burgas
A total of 25 coins from different time periods as well as early Byzantine ceramic vessels have been discovered during the excavations of the Ancient Thracian city of Aquae Calidae (known as Thermopolis and Therma in the Middle Ages) in…
Archaeologists Find Byzantine (Nicaean) Gold Coins in Necropolis in Kaliakra Cape Fortress on Bulgaria’s Black Sea Coast
Three Byzantine coins from the so called Nicaean Empire, a successor state of Byzantium in the 13th century, have been discovered by archaeologists in a newly found necropolis in the Kaliakra Cape Fortress on Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast. The coins…
