site.btaAugust 5, 2008: First Fully Preserved Four-Wheeled Thracian Chariot in Bulgaria Discovered in Archaeological Excavations

On August 5, 2008, a team of archaeologists, headed by Prof. Daniela Agre, discovered a fully preserved chariot belonging to a Thracian aristocrat from 19 centuries ago near the village of Borisovo, Elhovo Municipality, Southeastern Bulgaria. This was the first four-wheeled chariot found in Bulgaria and the second in Europe.

BTA’s English Service reported on the archeological excavations a day later:

Second Ritual Pit Found in Funerary Mound at Village near Elhovo

Elhovo, Southeastern Bulgaria, August 6 (BTA) - A team of archaeologists under Prof. Daniela Agre has found a second ritual pit in a funerary mound near the Village of Borisovo, Elhovo Municipality. The skeletons of two riding horses were discovered in the pit. The horses were apparently sacrificed during the funeral of a rich Thracian aristocrat at the end of the 1st and the beginning of the 2nd c. BC, Prof. Agre said on Wednesday.

Other finds include two bronze shields with umbos (reinforcement bosses applied to the centre), and fragments of elaborate bronze and leather horse trapping, the director of the dig said.

The archaeologists expect new significant finds within days.

Earlier, the same team uncovered in the same mound a fully preserved four-wheel chariot of a Thracian aristocrat (the first in Bulgaria and the second one in Europe), table pottery, glass vessels and other funerary gifts.

The Ministry of Culture is allocating 5,000 leva, and the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences 10,000 leva for an initial restoration and conservation of the chariot and the other Thracian finds, BTA learnt from Prof. Agre.

"I am delighted with the instant reaction of the Ministry and the Academy: this is hapenning for the first time. This is the right thing to do," Prof. Agre said.

"Culture Minister Stefan Danailov and Academy President Nikola Subotinov have promised us full cooperation for the restoration, conservation and exhibition of the chariot, because it is really worth it," the archaeologist added. IT/LG