Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Excavations resumed at the Thracian sanctuary after a 15-year hiatus

Archaeologists unearth large cult complex near the grave of Orpheus by the village of Tatul

The Thracian sanctuary of Orpheus near the village of Tatul.
Photo: Anelia Kryndeva

After a 15-year hiatus, excavations have resumed at the Thracian sanctuary of Orpheus near the village of Tatul. They were financed by the municipality of Momchilgrad with 11 250 euros, reports BNR-Kardzhali. 

"The site near Tatul has been functioning since ancient times. Over the years, we have managed to explore the part located around a large rock with a carved sarcophagus," said archaeologist Nikolai Ovcharov, who led the research. He noted that the great Bulgarian archaeologist prof. Ivan Venedikov had a hypothesis that this was the grave of Orpheus, which was later proven during the excavations.
Nikolay Ovcharov (left) and his team have resumed excavations of the Thracian sanctuary of Orpheus near the village of Tatul.
Currently, the expedition is exploring a hill a hundred meters from the rock tomb of Orpheus. According to one testimony from the early 20th century, there were remains of a medieval church there. Today, archaeologists came across walls that testify to the presence of a large cult complex. In the course of the excavation they will be able to better estimate its size.

Every year tens of thousands of tourists visit the historic site associated with the name of the mythical Orpheus. 



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

When was the Glagolitic alphabet created?

Is the Slavic alphabet Bulgarian? With the different interpretations of the historical facts taken out of the specific context, more and more often we can read that the brothers Cyril and Methodius from Thessaloniki..

published on 5/24/24 5:15 AM
Photo: The Bulgarian Orthodox municipality

Father Ivan from Rome: Bulgarians welcome the bright holiday of May 24 with immense spiritual joy

The biggest celebration of the Day of the holy brothers Cyril and Methodius, of the Bulgarian alphabet, education and culture and of Slavic literature - May 24, outside the borders of Bulgaria, is traditionally held in Rome. Every year, on the eve of..

published on 5/23/24 8:25 AM
Peter Bogdan Bakshev, painted by Vasil Goranov

Presentation of the historical manuscript by Petar Bogdan at the Bulgarian Presidency

A reproduction of Petar Bogdan's manuscript "On the Antiquity of the Fatherland and on Bulgarian Affairs" - the first treatise on the history of Bulgaria, written almost a century before the famous "Istoriya Slavyanobolgarskaya" (Slav-Bulgarian..

published on 5/21/24 7:45 AM