site.btaGrave of 2nd Century BC Warrior Discovered near Topolovgrad's Kapitan Petko Voivoda Village

A grave pit dug into the mainland without a mound piled up on it, measuring 3 by 3 metres and a metre deep, was discovered during rescue archaeological excavations by a Bulgarian Academy of Sciences team at the village of Kapitan Petko Voivoda, near the town of Topolovgrad, Haskovo region, Topolovgrad Municipality announced on Friday on its Facebook page.

The team, led by Vladimir Staykov and Deyan Dichev, and consultant Daniela Agre, believes that an aristocratic warrior was laid in the grave along with gifts and some of his weapons. A wreath was placed on his head. His riding horse was placed to the left of the body. Decorations for the horse's harness, made of bronze with gilding, were discovered above the horse's head.

At this stage, archaeologists date the burial to the second half of the 2nd century BC, chronologically linking it to the grave discovered in 2024.

About 60 metres south of the present spot, Daniela Agre's team discovered a rich burial of a Thracian warrior from the Roman troops. Among the finds there were unique gold jewels. Subsequently, funds were allocated for the restoration of the artifacts and for a vault, which has now been built, at the Historical Museum in Topolovgrad where the finds can be preserved.