Feb 05 2009
Bulgaria’s Gold Rush: Thracian Gold
Adam and I have been blogging here for over a year now and in all the stories we’ve stumbled across and articles we’ve literally had to “dig” up, we haven’t heard of any buried treasure from Bulgaria.
But if you ask me, Bulgaria looks like the new Egypt. And the Gold Rush article featured on TravelGuide.com gives more details than I can possibly recite in this blog. Let’s just say that they’re finding some really amazing stuff there.
There are royal tombs of Thracians hidden in Bulgaria, built between the fifth and third centuries B.C and hidden in great, overgrown beehive mounds that rise several stories high along roads and tilled fields. There are thousands of these mounds scattered throughout the country. And right now, all of them are subject to illegal and immoral “black looting.”
Metal detectors obviously play a very large part of this illegal treasure hunting. But they’re also key in legitimate excavations that have revealed some truly amazing artifacts.
Now I know what you may be thinking: “Archaeologists are the enemy! They hate metal detectorists!” But in this case they are in the right. These beautiful treasures MUST be excavated to salvage them from falling into the wrong hands, being sold on black markets, and being hidden from the rest of the world who NEEDS to learn about this ancient and artistic culture.
Visit the webpage to view all the amazing picture of the inside of such a tomb, pure gold pitchers, metal detectorists excavating the site, and so many more. Photographed by Kenneth Garrett; you’ll need to visit the article on Travel Guide.com to see them. Each one is amazing and the gold mask… just… wow!
Let us know what you think and if you have found any articles about Bulgarian tombs. We’re intrigued and plan on looking for more information as soon as possible.
- Shaun
Dear Shaun,
First of all I would like to make my greetings from Bulgaria and thank you about this post.
Direct on the question - I must back reply, because I am Bulgarian citizen, I am searcher and I know the truth!
But first, please permit me to introduce Bulgaria here! We have a great history, which starts with Thracian (officially), after that Roman, then Byzantine and Three Bulgarian Kingdoms. I don’t believe that Bulgarians are Slavic, because of that we haven’t artifacts from this culture, which of course is one big Russian lie!
However you are right with little exceptions - Bulgarian archeologists are thieves!!! Yes! And I will told you why - because of that when famous Mr. Kitov was alive and when he made his excavations, he usually used excavators to destroy tombs and etc. And when he had found something interesting, something made from gold metal, it always disappear. Really, I’m wondering how this golden mask “survive” and meet the world!!!!!
About the black market, treasure hunters and etc. - The truth is that we have many stupid treasure hunters, which can only destroy archeological and culture-historical monuments, which can only sold finds, which aren’t interested in history, but as I think that you know every sheep herd has a carrion.
But! But we have a lot intelligent searchers here, which In fact haven’t archeological education, but knows more than archeologist! I can give you many examples but I think it is not necessary at this moment!
In last few months our government accepts new law about culture-historical monuments, private collections and etc! This law cuts our hands literally! But that won’t help overall - we will continue searching, we will hide our collections and this law will not change anything! In fact this law serves to few persons, which are the biggest Bulgarian collectors and which are guilty in illegal exports of not-registered artifacts. But who can touch them? We have song in which the singers sings -
“no laws for millions, no forgiveness for theft of hen”, which means who have millions is immortal in eyes of government, but if you are middle-class person, you will be judged, you will go to the prison for something small (in this case that means if you are searcher, if you have coin collection and etc.)!
If Bulgaria was normal country with normal laws, things will be different in terms of tourism, of economy and we would be rich country. But our politics don’t care about that! They want only to steal money and to eat - nothing more! You can check how things stay in Great Britain, check the searchers, check them moral ethics and laws, check them system, which is PERFECT! You can find it here - http://finds.org.uk/ !
Our wish is to be normal country and I hope one day it will happens!
I will stay awaiting your reply!
Best Regards,
Bulgarian
Hey, nice tips. I’ll buy a bottle of beer to that person from that forum who told me to visit your site