site.btaPresentation in Ottawa of an Archaeological Discovery in Molise, Italy, Related to the Medieval History of the Bulgarians in Italy in VII-VIII A.D.

On March 1, 2026 after the Bulgarian flag-raising ceremony in Ottawa on the occasion of the National Day of Bulgaria, a presentation was made at the Italian Cultural Center in Ottawa related to the long-term work of the Italian archaeologist Dr. Valeria Ceglia, concerning a medieval archaeological discovery in Molise, Italy. The presentation was done by Maria Saracino, an acclaimed local artist and sculptor, as well by as Anna Romano, President of the “Associazione Molisani di Ottawa”, and by Cristina del Castello, President of the “Centro Giovanile Formativo Italo-Canadese”, who co-hosted the event.

The archaeological discovery presented relates to the early medieval period of the Italian lands, but with a focus on the history of the Bulgarians. A rich photographic material on the archaeological artefacts was presented since the field studies lasted for several decades. The dedicated work of the Italian archaeologists has established that the finds relate to the history of the Bulgarians who settled in the Molise region during the Lombard period in the 6th and 7th centuries, after the demise of the Western Roman Empire.

On behalf of the Bulgarian Embassy in Ottawa Ambassador Plamen Georgiev expressed interest in the historical processes related to the period of the early medieval history in Italy where the participation of the Bulgarians is almost unknown in both Bulgaria and Europe. He shared information about the resettlement after the death of Khan Kubrat of part of the Bulgarians under the leadership of his youngest son Khan Altsek (who was brother of the founder of the nowadays Bulgarian state - Khan Asparouh) in the lands of today's Italy. He mentioned the local Bulgarian toponyms in Italy that have been preserved to this day and draw the attention to the recently erected monument of Khan Altsek in the town of Celle di Bulgari - located precisely in the area identified in historical chronicles as the settlement of this group of Bulgarians and confirmed by the archaeological discoveries of Dr. Valeria Chelia.

Ambassador Georgiev also shared other examples of interaction between the Bulgarian and the Italian people from later times, such as the participation of Bulgarian national hero Captain Petko Voivoda and other Bulgarians in the Giuseppe Garibaldi's company.

The information about the above archaeological excavations and discovery is expected to be presented in Rome and in Sofia later in 2026.