site.btaAncient Burial Structures Discovered in Stara Zagora's Central Park

Thirteen ancient burial structures were discovered during repair works of a fountain in Stara Zagora's central park, Regional History Museum Director Petar Kalchev told BTA on Wednesday.

The finds are part of a large necropolis located south of the Stara Zagora Municipality building, Kalchev noted, adding that the necropolis was already studied during the construction of the local administration building, as well as during the reconstruction of the square in front of it. The necropolis is located outside the fortress walls of the ancient city, the museum director specified.

Kalchev pointed out that the discovered graves are relatively poor and date from the Christian period after the 4th–5th centuries to the Middle Ages. A glass bracelet from the 12th century stands out among the few artifacts inside the graves, he noted, adding that the graves are currently being studied by a museum team.

A rich grave was discovered at another archaeological site in Stara Zagora, Kalchev emphasized. He recalled that during the excavation of the Eastern Necropolis of Augusta Traiana (ancient name of Stara Zagora) an ancient grave of a young woman was discovered. The grave goods included nine bronze coins, a ceramic amphora, a miniature lamp and a small bone needle, a ceramic bowl, a glass vessel and a bronze lid, as well as a silver bracelet and ring, which were found on the woman’s left hand, and a second bracelet on the right. An iron needle and another iron object were found next to the left foot, and diamond-shaped glass plates near the feet, Kalchev noted, adding that one of the bronze coins dates from the time of Emperor Gordian III (238–244 AD).