Archaeological work continues between the old and new town in Sozopol - site selected for construction of new bus station , NOVA reported.
Archaeologists have discovered new valuable artifacts. Parallel to this site, archaeological excavations continue around Kavatsi in the perimeter, part of the history of Apollonia Pontius. A unique vessel from the funeral ceremony of a newlywed has been discovered.
Construction activities on the new bus station are sure to be delayed due to ongoing field work where scientists continue to come across interesting artefacts. It is possible that the project of the bus station will also undergo changes, in which the finds will be included as exhibits for visitors, installation of glass walls and other options. It is possible that some of the exhibits will again visit the Louvre, as the established Bulgarian-French relationship has already presented artefacts from the history of Bulgaria.
„I am very pleased, this is really a leading partnership in our general cooperation between Bulgaria and France and it is a cooperation that is exemplary and which I can say is quite unique in this region of the Balkans,” says the ambassador of France in Bulgaria Joel Meyer.
We leave the team at the site above an archaic 6th century baby burial urn next to an ancient Christian temple. “In it, in the chancel in the main part, to the left and to the right of the church, a Christian necropolis is developing on three horizons, on three levels. It was painted, high-quality frescoes, probably from Constantinople, 13th century at the beginning of the 13th century are the frescoes from when the church itself ceased to exist, after which it was used as a place of worship, says the scientific director of the site Dr. Yavor Ivanov.
It is interesting and still inexplicable to archaeologists that after the temple was asleep to function, architectural elements of the church were deliberately, ritually buried together with discovered coins-scyphates.
„The fact is that architectural details of the church were buried deliberately in three places and then it was sealed with one structure of small, medium-sized stones, between which there are glass bracelets, there are no stones to be interpreted as a road . This is a ritual sealing of the temple," adds Dr. Ivanov.
The Roman level reached by archaeologists revealed brick necropolises, in which several glass vessels with ancient aromatic oils used for the dead were found, significantly larger than those found months ago. The fragile expensive antique perfumes are to be cleaned and restored. Lead sling weights, stamped with an inscription in ancient Greek denoting the warlord, as well as bronze arrows were also discovered.
„We have a coin treasure in one grave in the church of 22 pieces of scyphatas that are silvered, an amphora – they are rare for Bulgaria and the Black Sea, of course they exist, of course they were studied in Sozopol before that. The valuable, as well as in archeology, is the different layers in this multi-layered object shows a history from the 6th century BC. Hr. - over 2,500 years of history with different necropolises on several levels”, adds Dr. Ivanov.
A tomb wall with a dancing man with a dog reveals a funeral ceremony. Although medieval burial rites were standardized, scholars believe that wealthier people were laid to rest here.
„Above average citizens can afford a grave well-shaped from tombstones and a tombstone made of marble, which was most likely imported from the nearest ancient quarry from Prokonez”, says the director of the Regional History Museum in Sozopol, Dimitar Nedev.
Scientists are adamant that rich nobles lived in Apollonia Pontica after similar artifacts were discovered in 60 other graves from the 4th century BC. Hr. around Kavaci.
„What is interesting is that during this period there is a limit to the lavishness of the funeral ritual. That is, there is a law that imposes a certain amount that could perhaps be spent on the funeral, and already individually each family or each person decided for himself whether this amount should go to the burial facility or the burial equipment, says chap. assistant Teodora Bogdanova from NAIM to BAS.
A unique red-figure vessel has been discovered that suggests a buried Athenian bride. “The unique lebes gamicus - a vessel that was used only in Athens, and was part of the wedding ceremony of the newlyweds there. Interesting, but we find it at this object we are investigating. It is the only one on the entire Black Sea coast, not only on the territory of Bulgaria. Obviously, the woman buried there was from Athens or had some kind of relationship,”, Bogdanova explains.
An anthropological analysis of the remains is pending, which will provide more historical data before they are put on display for the tourists of the new season.