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.
Early Byzantine City Palmate with Huge Christian Basilica Was Pillaged Twice by Avars, Slavs, Bulgarian Archaeologists Find
The Palmate Fortress, a Late Antiquity and Early Byzantine city in today’s Northeast Bulgaria, was conquered and looted at least twice during the barbarian invasions of Avars and Slavs in the late 6th – early 7th century AD, archaeologists have…
Early Christian Bishop’s Residence, Reliquary Cross with Crucified Jesus Christ Found in Bulgaria’s Rock City Perperikon
An Early Christian bishop’s residence from the 5th century AD and a bronze engolpion cross depicting the crucified Jesus Christ have been discovered, among numerous other finds, by the archaeologists excavating the ancient rock city of Perperikon in Bulgaria’s Eastern…
Inscription Granting Roman Man ‘Front Row Seat Right’, Main Façade of Antiquity Odeon Discovered in Bulgaria’s Plovdiv
A fragment from a statue of a prominent Ancient Roman citizen who had been granted “proedria”, i.e. the right of occupying the front row of seats next to the orchestra at the dramatic performances, has been discovered during the excavations…
Archaeologist Ventsislav Gergov: Destruction of Europe’s Chalcolithic Civilization Shows the Stronger Triumps over the Smarter in World History (Interview Part 2)
Ventsislav (“Ventsi”) Gergov is a Bulgarian archaeologist. He was born in Iskar, Pleven District, in 1946. He majored in archaeology at Veliko Tarnovo University “St. Cyril and St. Methodius”, and joined the team of the Pleven Regional Museum of History…
Archaeologist Ventsislav Gergov: Chalcolithic Civilization from 7,000 Years Ago Was the Height of Southeast Europe, Bulgaria (Interview, Part 1)
Ventsislav (“Ventsi”) Gergov is a Bulgarian archaeologist. He was born in Iskar, Pleven District, in 1946. He majored in archaeology at Veliko Tarnovo University “St. Cyril and St. Methodius”, and joined the team of the Pleven Regional Museum of History…
Bulgaria Celebrates May 24: Day of Bulgarian (Cyrillic) Alphabet and Culture (Day of St. Cyril & St. Methodius)
Bulgaria and Bulgarians around the world have celebrated on May 24, 2018, the Day of St. Cyril and St. Methodius, i.e. the Day of the Bulgarian Alphabet (more widely known internationally as the Cyrillic Alphabet) and Bulgarian Culture, one of…
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…
Archaeologists Discover Residence of Early Christian Bishop of Ancient Roman City Pautalia in Bulgaria’s Kyustendil
Archaeologists in the city of Kyustendil in Western Bulgaria have unearthed a Late Antiquity / Late Roman building which is believed to have been the residence of the Early Christian bishop of the large Ancient Roman city of Pautalia.
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…
Bulgarian, German Archaeologists Excavate Largest Lime Production Center in 4th Century AD Roman Empire near Danube River
What is said to have been the largest base for the production of lime, the construction material made from limestone, in the Roman Empire in the 4th century AD is being excavated by a joint team of Bulgarian and German…
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…
Little Known Late Antiquity, Medieval Fortress Verdittsa in Bulgaria’s Travditsa Granted ‘Monument of Culture’ Status
The little known but picturesque ruins of the Late Antiquity and medieval Bulgarian and Byzantine fortress of Verdittsa, originally an Ancient Thracian settlement, near the town of Tvarditsa in Southeast Bulgaria has been granted the highest status of a monument…
Bulgaria Remembers Tragic Death of Renowned Archaeologist Rasho Rashev, 8 Others in Sofia – Kardam Train Fire
Bulgaria honors on February 28, 2018, the memory of 9 casualties of the Sofia – Kardam Train Fire which happened 10 years ago, including renowned archaeologist Prof. Rasho Rashev, then the Director of the National Institute and Museum of Archaeology…
Fortress Tower of Ancient Odessos Found by Chance in Bulgaria’s Varna Affirms Data about Odd Early Byzantine District Quaestura Exercitus
A Late Antiquity fortress wall tower from the Ancient Thracian, Greek, and Roman city of Odessos (Odessus) has been discovered by accident in the Black Sea city of Varna, with rescue archaeological excavations affirming data about the existence of Quaestura…
Byzantine Amphora with Inscription Dedicated to Christ, Virgin Mary Found in Roman Fortress Trimammium in Northeast Bulgaria
Part of an Early Byzantine amphora with a fully preserved inscription in Ancient Greek dedicated to Jesus Christ and Virgin Mary has been discovered during the latest excavations of the Ancient Roman, medieval Byzantine and Bulgarian fortress of Trimammium near…
For Another’s Freedom: Bulgarian Rebel Leaders Who Fought to Liberate Greece
Bulgaria and Greece are (the) two European countries that are about as ancient as it gets. But possibly the first thing that comes to mind regarding their relations in historical terms are the horrific, back-stabbing Modern Era wars the two…
1,000-Year-Old Child’s Bracelet with Virgin Mary Stamp Found at Momchil’s Fortress in Southern Bulgaria
A metal child’s bracelet from the 11th-12th century with a stamp depicting the Virgin Mary – or the Holy Mother of God, as she is known in Eastern Orthodox Christianity – has been discovered by archaeologists during the excavations of…
Varna Museum of Archaeology Director Valentin Pletnyov Has Passed Away after Month in Coma
Prof. Valentin Pletnyov, Director of the Archaeology Museum in Bulgaria’s Black Sea city of Varna, and, respectively, of the Varna Regional Museum of History, has passed away at the age of 55 after a month in a medically induced coma…
Archaeologists Discover Perfectly Preserved 2000-Year-Old Roman Ship, 20 Other Shipwrecks in Black Sea Off Bulgaria’s Coast
A perfectly preserved almost 2,000-year-old Roman ship is the most intriguing discovery from the third and final research season of the international Black Sea MAP underwater archaeology project – among a total of 20 other previously unknown ancient and medieval…
Medieval Byzantine, Bulgarian Fortress Tuida in Bulgaria’s Sliven Generating Growing Interest among Tourists
The Tuida Fortress in the eastern Bulgarian city of Sliven, a major archaeological, historica, and cultural landmark, is gaining popularity as a destination for cultural tourism even though it was opened for visitors just three years ago, according to a…
Construction of Huge ‘Historical Park’ Starts near Bulgaria’s Black Sea City Varna
A huge “Historical Park” that is going to feature replicas of archaeological and historical monuments and sites found in Bulgaria from the Prehistory until the Middle Ages is already under construction near the Black Sea city of Varna.
60th Anniversary since Start of Excavations of Shumen Fortress Celebrated in Bulgaria’s Shumen
The Regional Museum of History in the city of Shumen in Northeast Bulgaria has celebrated the 60th anniversary since the beginning of the regular archaeological excavations of the ancient and medieval Shumen Fortress.
Archaeologists Find Huge Crypt with Early Christian Martyrs’ Bones in Roman, Byzantine City Zaldapa in Northeast Bulgaria
A second crypt, even larger than the one found in 2015, and human bones which probably belonged to Early Christian martyrs, have been discovered by archaeologists in the Late Roman and Early Byzantine city of Zaldapa in Northeast Bulgaria.
Ancient Bulgar Aul in Northeast Bulgaria Gets Status Upgrade from Culture Ministry
Bulgaria’s Ministry of Culture has upgraded the status of a 9th century AD Ancient Bulgar aul (a fortified settlement) whose ruins are located near the northeastern city of Shumen and Veliki Preslav, capital of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018) in…
Reconstructions of Ancient Bulgar Costumes Showcased in Kaleto Fortress in Bulgaria’s Mezdra
An exhibition showcasing reconstructions of Ancient Bulgar costumes from the early period of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018) has been opened in the Kaleto Archaeological Complex “Kaleto” in the northwestern Bulgarian town of Mezdra.
Bulgaria’s Tervel Showcases Finds from Newly Discovered Early Christian Basilica in Byzantine City Palmate
The finds from one of Bulgaria’s very intriguing archaeological discoveries in 2016, an Early Christian basilica found in the previously unexplored ancient city of Palmate, have been showcased in a new exhibition of the History Museum in the northeastern town…
Bulgaria’s ‘Old Capitals Act’ Seeks to Boost Development of Pliska, Veliki Preslav, Veliko Tarnovo & Vidin
A new piece of legislation dubbed the “Old Capitals Act” is supposed to boost the development, promotion, and research of Bulgaria’s medieval capitals which are today on its territory.
‘Unseen Treasures’ Showcased for 35th Anniversary of History Museum in Bulgaria’s Shumen
A new exhibition entitled “Unseen Treasures” has been opened by the Regional Museum of History in the northeastern Bulgarian city of Shumen to celebrate the 35th anniversary since the opening of its present building and permanent display.
6th Century AD Secret Passage of Tuida Fortress in Bulgaria’s Sliven Sheltered over Restoration Plans
The entrance of a secret passage from the 6th century AD in the Tuida Fortress in the Eastern Bulgarian city of Sliven has been sheltered in order to protect the intriguing facility and to provide for its future restoration.
Archaeologists Find Late Antiquity ‘Peacock’ Mosaic, Medieval ‘St. Peter’ Mural in Early Christian Great Basilica in Bulgaria’s Plovdiv
A previously unknown and very well preserved mosaic floor featuring an image of a peacock and fragments of a medieval mural possibly depicting St. Peter have been unearthed by archaeologists in the Early Christian and Early Byzantine Great Basilica in…
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’s Cabinet, Private Donors Contribute BGN 300,000 towards Restoration of 9th Century AD Great Basilica in Pliska
More than BGN 300,000 (app. EUR 150,000) have been contributed by the Bulgarian government and private donors for the ongoing archaeological restoration of the 9th century AD Great Basilica in Pliska, the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018 AD)…
