New Archeological Findings at Bulgaria’s Perperikon

A stone bath for newborn babies from the 6th century and a second mausoleum-rotunda are the latest unique finds of Perperikon, announced Prof. Nikolay Ovcharov.

According to him, his team is already in the middle of the excavations planned for this year. More than 60 workers are on site - from early July to late September.

Explorations continue this summer in the southern quarter, where the largest early Christian church in the Rhodopes was discovered a few years ago. This is a huge three-nave basilica with a length of 34 meters. It was probably the center of the great Rhodope archbishopric from the 5th-6th century. Immediately to the west, the majestic episcopal residence of the same era is revealed.

Ovcharov reminds that in the first days, a tomb of a bishop from the 5th-6th century was discovered in this sector, which, unfortunately, was looted in antiquity. Like many other Perperikon facilities, it was completely carved into the rocks and was covered with a massive stone cover. Today, the skeleton of the high priest is missing, but the purpose of the tomb is evident from the characteristic north-south orientation and the specific seat that kept the body of the deceased in a semi-sitting position. These are the hallmarks of hierarchical burials from those of ordinary people.

The tomb, no doubt, is associated with the unique mausoleum-rotunda discovered last year in the same area, the scientist explains. This is a remarkable building with only a few analogies in the late Roman Empire. It is a monumental building partially carved into the rocks, built of massive worked stone blocks. The plan is an ideal circle with a diameter of 7.5 meters. From the east it was entered through a rectangular vestibule, opened to the outside by a solemn...

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