Culverin Cannonballs from Vlad Dracula’s 1461 Victory over Ottoman Turks Found in Danube Fortress Zishtova in Bulgaria’s Svishtov
Cannonballs from culverins – primitive early medieval cannons – most probably used in 1461 during the conquest of the Zishtova Fortress by Wallacian Voivode Vlad III Dracula, also known as Vlad the Impaler, from the Ottoman Turks have been discovered…
3,200-Year-Old Cyclopean Masonry Fortress Found in South Bulgaria, Shows Ancient Thrace Was Part of Mycenaean Civilization
An ancient fortress which is 3,000 – 3,200 years old and was built with the so called Cyclopean masonry has been found by archaeologists in Bulgaria’s Rhodope Mountains, near the town of Zlatograd and the border with Greece, and is…
14th Century ‘Poor People’s Quarter’ Discovered in Ancient, Medieval Rock City Perperikon in Southern Bulgaria
A quarter containing the homes of the then “poor people” from the first half of the 14th century, the last decades of the Second Bulgarian Empire before it was conquered by the Ottoman Turks, has been discovered by archaeologists excavating…
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…
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.
Large Medieval Gold Treasure Found by Accident by Police, Seized from Treasure Hunters in Bulgaria’s Kazanlak
A large medieval gold treasure consisting of adornments made of the precious metal and semi-precious stones has been discovered by accident by the police in the town of Kazanlak in Central Bulgaria inside the car of what appear to be…
Bulgarian, Turkish Man Sentenced in Shumen for Trafficking Roman Artifacts from Middle East
A Bulgarian and a Turkish citizen have confessed their guilt in the smuggling of dozens of Ancient Roman artifacts, and possibly a Sumerian slab, after their arrest in a police operation almost two years ago generated international interest.
Archaeologists Find Roman Pagan Temple, Votive Figurine in Ancient Missionis near Bulgaria’s Targovishte
A pagan temple from the Late Roman period has been discovered during the 2016 summer excavations of the Late Roman, Early Byzantine, and medieval Bulgarian city of Missionis located near Targovishte in Northeast Bulgaria, which was known as Krum’s Fortress…
Archaeologists Find Senior Clergyman’s Tomb in Newly Discovered Basilica in Bulgaria’s Rock City Perperikon
The tomb of a senior monk and clergyman has been unearthed by archaeologists in the newly discovered Early Christian basilica in the prehistoric, ancient, and medieval rock city of Perperikon (also known as Perperik or Perperek) near Kardzhali in Southern…
Bulgaria’s Black Sea Town Pomorie Claims Ownership of Famous Roman Era Ancient Thracian Tomb
The municipal authorities of the Black Sea resort town of Pomorie in Southeast Bulgaria is planning to claim the ownership rights of a huge Ancient Thracian tomb from the Roman Era famous for its absolutely unique architecture in order to…
Largest Early Christian Basilica in Rhodope Mountains Discovered in Rock City Perperikon in Southern Bulgaria
What appears to have been the largest Early Christian temple in the Rhodope Mountains in Southern Bulgaria has been discovered by archaeologists in the prehistoric, ancient, and medieval rock city of Perperikon (also known as Perperik or Perperek).
Archaeologists Find Eastern Fortress Gate of Rock City Perperikon in Bulgaria’s Rhodope Mountains
The ruins of what was the eastern gate of the fortress of the prehistoric, ancient, and medieval rock city of Perperikon (also known as Perperek or Perperik) in the Eastern Rhodope Mountains, near the city of Kardzhali in Southern Bulgaria,…
Numerous Challenges Plague Bulgaria’s Archaeologists despite Profession’s ‘Romantic Image’, Report Says
Despite the “romantic image” of the archaeological profession in Bulgaria, Bulgaria’s archaeologists are faced with numerous challenges on a daily basis, according to a journalistic report.
Archaeologists Show Early Ottoman Coins Carried by Turkish Soldier during Late 14th Century Attack on Bulgaria’s Targovishte
Six early Ottoman silver coins which were discovered together with the skeleton of a Turkish soldier killed in an attack of the Bulgarian fortress Kosovo (ancient Missionis / Krum’s Fortress), today’s city of Targovishte, have been showcased by archaeologists.
Rock Grave of ‘Dismembered’ Thracian Noblewoman Buried with Silver Jewels Discovered in Bulgaria’s Rhodope Mountains
A grave of an Ancient Thracian noblewoman, whose corpse was ritually dismembered before her burial, has been discovered during excavations near the town of Benkovski in the Eastern Rhodope Mountains in Southern Bulgaria.
Archaeologists to Study Unexplored Fortress Walls of Ancient Missionis near Bulgaria’s Targovishte
The 2016 summer excavations of the Early Byzantine and medieval Bulgarian city of Missionis located near Targovishte in Northeast Bulgaria, which was known as Krum’s Fortress and Kosovo in the Middle Ages, are going to provide for the further study…
Silver Coins from Second Bulgarian Empire Discovered in Rock City Perperikon near Kardzhali
Two silver coins of Tsar Ivan Alexander (r. 1331-1371), ruler of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185-1396), have been discovered in the prehistoric, ancient, and medieval rock city of Perperikon in the Eastern Rhodope Mountains, near the city of Kardzhali in…
Bulgaria’s Balchik to ‘Move’ Cybele Temple of Ancient Dionysopolis Closer to Black Sea Beaches
The local authorities in Bulgaria’s Black Sea resort of Balchik are mulling “moving closer to the sea” a well preserved temple of ancient goddess Cybele, which was discovered by accident in 2007.
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…
Medieval Reliquary Discovered at Christian Monastery Looted by Treasure Hunters ahead of Archaeological Excavations
A medieval reliquary and a piece of a bronze cross have been found at the ruins of a monastery from the 11th-12th century located near the town of Dobromirtsi in Bulgaria’s southernmost municipality Kirkovo.
Bulgaria’s Kirkovo to Excavate Medieval Christian Monastery in Search of Grave of Last Patriarch of Second Bulgarian Empire
Kirkovo, Bulgaria’s southernmost municipality bordering Greece, and located some 20 km north of the Aegean coast, is going to restart the archaeological excavations of a medieval Christian monastery in search of the grave of St. Patriarch Evtimiy (Euthymius) of Tarnovo…
Bulgaria’s Cabinet Allocates Major Funding for 2016 Archaeological Excavations of Ancient and Medieval Rock City Perperikon
Bulgaria’s Cabinet has allocated substantial funding for the 2016 archaeological excavations of the ancient and medieval rock city of Perperikon in the Rhodope Mountains.
Archaeologists Find Exquisite Medieval Ring with Obsidian Gemstone in Bulgaria’s Rock City Perperikon, Complete Excavations of Its Acropolis
A massive gold-plated silver ring with an obsidian gemstone dating from the Late Middle Ages has been discovered by the archaeologists excavating the ancient and medieval rock city of Perperikon (Perperik) near the southern Bulgarian city of Kardzhali in the…
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.
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…
18th Century Ottoman Turkish Inscription, Byzantine Coins Found in Bulgaria’s Zimovina
An 18th century Ottoman inscription in Turkish as well as unidentified Byzantine coins have been found in the town of Zimovina, Stambolovo Municipality, in Southern Bulgaria.
Bulgarian Archaeologists Discover Three Roman Pagan Temples, Nymphaeum at Ancient and Medieval Rock City Perperikon
A total of three Roman pagan temples, 49 public and residential buildings, over 1,000 artifacts, and what might turn out to be a nympheaum, a monument dedicated to the nymphs, have been discovered by Bulgarian archaeologists during the four-month 2015…
Archaeologist Finds Clay Lamp with Eros, Other Roman Age Artifacts in Ancient and Medieval Rock City Perperikon
A number of artifacts from the Roman period, including a clay lamp with a depiction of the ancient deity Eros, have been discovered by the team of archaeologist Nikolay Ovcharov during the excavations of the ancient and medieval rock city…
Hunter Comes Across 14th Century Noblewoman’s Silver Earrings near Bulgaria’s Varna
Three gold-coated and silver earrings which belonged to a noblewoman from the later period of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185-1396 AD) have been found by accident by a hunter outside the town of Dolishte near the Black Sea city of…
Archaeologist Finds 14th Century Monogram, Coins of Bulgarian Tsars at Ancient and Medieval Rock City Perperikon
A monogram of Bulgarian Tsar Mihail III Shishman Asen (r. 1323-1330) and a number of coins of the Bulgarian Tsars from the 14th century AD, the last decades of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185-1396 AD) before it was conquered by…
Archaeologists Find Maimed Figurine of Roman God Mars in Ancient City Missionis near Bulgaria’s Targovishte
A mutilated figurine of Ancient Roman god Mars has been found by archaeologists 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…
Bulgarian Archaeologist Concludes Roman Artifacts Seized from Smugglers Authentic, Originated in Asia Minor and the Middle East
The 19 statues and slabs which were seized from several treasure hunters and antique traffickers, including a citizen of Turkey, by the Bulgarian police in the northeastern city of Shumen back in March 2015 are fine examples of Ancient Roman art…
Shepherd Finds 8th Century AD Gold Coin of Byzantine Emperor Constantine V Copronymus near Medieval Bulgarian Capital Pliska
A gold coin of Byzantine Emperor Constantine V Corponymus (r. 741-775 AD) has been discovered by a shepherd near the northeastern Bulgarian town of Pliska which was the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018 AD) between 680 and 893…
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…
Archaeologist Discovers Gold Coin of Byzantine Emperor Basil II the Bulgar-Slayer in Bulgaria’s Perperikon
A gold coin of Byzantine Emperor Basil II also known as the Bulgar-slayer (r. 976-1025 AD) has been discovered by the team of Bulgarian archaeologist Prof. Nikolay Ovcharov during the ongoing archaeological excavations of the ancient and medieval rock city…
