In 4500BC, Old Europe was among the most sophisticated and technologically advanced regions in the world. The phrase 'Old Europe' refers to a cycle of related cultures that thrived in southeastern Europe during the fifth and fourth millennia BC. The heart of Old Europe was centered in the Danube River’s fertile valleys, where agriculturally rich plains were exploited by Neolithic farmers who founded long-lasting settlements—some of which grew to substantial size, with populations reaching upward of 10,000 people. Today, the intriguing and enigmatic remains of these highly developed cultures can be found at sites that extend from modern-day Serbia to Ukraine. The Lost World of Old Europe: The Danube Valley, 5000–3500 BC presents extraordinary finds from the three countries with the richest Old European archaeological heritage—Bulgaria, the Republic of Moldova, and Romania.
Submitted by Sean Williams on Mon, 09/21/2009 - 15:15
Three men have been arrested in Iraq on charges of trafficking eight priceless ancient artefacts, as the war-torn nation clamps down on a burgeoning black market. The men were foiled after trying to sell one item for $160,000 to an undercover intelligence officer of the Iraq Army 12th Division, just outside the northern city of Kirkuk. A fourth trafficker is yet to have been caught by the police. Among the treasures was the bust of a Sumerian king, local army chiefs told Associated Press. All of the objects date from the region's Sumerian era, between 4,000 and 2,000 BC. Major General Abdul Amir al-Zaidi told reporters the sting was based on information from local residents, and stressed the Iraqi authorities' commitment to retrieving vital artefacts in the face of civil unrest: "The duty of Iraqi army is not only to chase the terrorists but also to protect state treasures," he said.
A hat-trick of victories have been won around the world this week in the global fight against the theft and sale of archaeological artefacts – a multi-million dollar international industry. The arrest of three men in Bulgaria in connection with their possession of a number of precious Roman coins and other items is particularly heartening, since it offers some sign that the tide might be turning in the struggle against a black-market industry that has been destroying the country’s rich ancient heritage.
Submitted by Sean Williams on Mon, 08/10/2009 - 09:52
A total of 25 people have been arrested in a sting operation on the illegal ancient artefacts trade in the United States. Federal authorities say they have already seen a marked dip in the black market following the bust in Salt Lake City, Utah. Of the suspects detained, 23 have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them - while two have taken their own lives.
Submitted by Sean Williams on Thu, 08/06/2009 - 16:19
Archaeologists from the Varna Archaeological Museum working near the picturesque Black Sea town of Byala, Bulgaria have rediscovered a late antiquity fortress from the country's early Byzantine period. A Christian basilica has also been discovered at the site, which is believed to have been a settlement of some importance during the reigns of Anastasius I (491 - 518 AD) and Justinian I (527 - 565 AD). However the settlement has not yet been located. The impressive fortress has in fact been discovered before, by Hermingild and Karel Skorpil - the founders of Bulgarian archaeology - as far back as 1892.
Varna Archaeological Museum is one of Bulgaria's biggest museums, based in the popular Black Sea resort town of Varna. Founded in 1888 as part of the City Library, the vast museum features archaeological finds from the area's rich history, such as Thracian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Revival eras. Under the museum jurisdiction are also the city's Roman baths, and the medieval splendour of the Aladzha Monastery. Four other outlying sites will be added to the museum's roster soon, pending more archaeological work: a 4th-5th century basilica; basilica and monastery at Dzhanavara; the Theotokos Monastery; and the medieval fortified settlement of Krastritsi in the opulent grounds of Euxinograd. However the museum's most treasures possessions are the earliest recovered human gold items, called Varna Gold. Dating to around 4,600 - 4,200 BC, the multitude of items take up three exhibition halls at the museum, and attract thousands each year. There is also a library, a children's study museum, a shop and a cafeteria.
Submitted by Sean Williams on Mon, 08/03/2009 - 13:58
There has been no shortage of sad stories surrounding the economic hardship of those living in the former Soviet Union. Nearly all of its satellite states, as well as the Russian homeland, have suffered an economic black hole after the Berlin Wall came down, where a tremendous chasm swells between the monied Mafioso and super-rich oligarchy, and the rural peasantry and jobless. And in Bulgaria, a country hiding millennia of prosperity beneath its soil, the tragedy has extended below surface level - as thousands of people loot national treasures to make ends meet.
The tomb of Kazanlak was made a UNESCO world heritage site in 1979 and contains Bulgaria's best preserved artistic masterpieces from the Hellenistic period. Discovered in 1944, the tomb is the burial place of a Thracian king and is situated in a large necropolis nearby to the Thracian capital of Seutopolis. The tomb consists of a narrow ante-chamber and a large, round, vaulted-brick burial chamber in the form known as a "beehive" or tholos tomb.
The walls of the ante-chamber and burial chamber are decorated with splendid murals depicting. Scenes depicted include fighting, a meeting between armies of different tribes, and a chariot race. One mural is also revealing of Thracian elite practices and funerary ritual as it shows the final farewell between the gold-wreathed king and his grieving widow who, seated, grasp each other's wrists tenderly. Around them are relatives and servants approaching with fruit and funerary gifts. The tomb itself is not open to visitors but an exact copy has been made nearby for tourists to view instead.
