ПРОГРАМИ
en de ru fr es sr gr al tr ro
Podcast in English
Share
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Cuman settlement discovered near fortress of Ryahovets in Gorna Oryahovitsa

Photo: Zdravka Maslyankova, BNR correspondent

Archaeologists from the Historical Museum in the town of Gorna Oryahovitsa have discovered a settlement of the Cumans this summer during the excavations of a medieval necropolis east of the Thracian fortress of Rykhovets near the town of Gorna Oryahovitsa, reports BNR correspondent Zdravka Maslyankova. 

The archaeological site was found accidentally in 2021 during the works for the reclamation of a municipal waste dump in the town. 

Nearly 70 archaeological structures have been uncovered. Among them are dwellings, hearths and pits dating back to the 13th century. Fifteen graves were also recorded, indicating some departure from Christian burial rites. 


According to the archaeologist prof. Hitko Vachev, scientific consultant of the archaeological team, it is a Cuman settlement. 

"The Cumans were an ally of all Bulgarian kings. Several Cuman princesses were Bulgarian queens. We have rich sources in this regard, but until now we have not had the material traces of where the Cumans were settled," he explained. Among the interesting finds are several cult pits with horse skulls laid inside, as well as one with a whole horse skeleton, coins from the first half of the 13th century, bone objects, copper bracelets, and a large furnace. 


Children volunteers and their parents took part in cleaning the latest finds.

The archaeological team hopes to be able to join a project to carry out a full survey of the site.

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.
Radio Bulgaria History and religion    archeologists archeology Cumans necropolis Ryahovets the Cumans Thracian fortress

More from category

In the footsteps of medieval monks – the hidden face of the Ivanovo Rock Monastery

High in the canyon of the Rusenski Lom River lies one of the most impressive spiritual centers of Bulgaria. It is a complex of dozens of rock-hewn cells, chapels and churches carved on both sides of the river , which came to life in the 13th century..

published on 8/31/25 11:35 AM

A liturgy was held on St. John Island near Sozopol for the first time in 500 years

For the first time in 500 years, the chants of the Divine Liturgy echoed through the ruins of the medieval monastery ''St. John the Baptist'' on St. John Island near Sozopol. The occasion was the commemoration of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist,..

published on 8/29/25 11:30 AM
Photo: Holy Trinity Church in Madison, Ilinois

Bulgarian Orthodox community in Madison needs a priest for the Bulgarian Holy Trinity Church

The church board of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church “Holy Trinity” in Madison, Illinois (USA), has announced on its Facebook page that it needs a priest to serve in the church. “We humbly ask all brothers and sisters in Christ – in the wider..

published on 8/27/25 1:34 PM

WEATHER
Pick city: Sofía
Partly cloudy, chance of rain
Min: 11 | Max: 21
Cloudy
Min: 11 | Max: 21
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 12 | Max: 20
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 7 | Max: 21
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 7 | Max: 20
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 9 | Max: 23
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 9 | Max: 21
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 10 | Max: 21
Partly cloudy, chance of rain
Min: 10 | Max: 21
Cloudy
Min: 9 | Max: 21
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 11 | Max: 22
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 8 | Max: 21
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 7 | Max: 21
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 6 | Max: 19
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 9 | Max: 22
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 6 | Max: 22
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 11 | Max: 21
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 11 | Max: 21
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 11 | Max: 21
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 10 | Max: 20
Overcast, rain
Min: 5 | Max: 16
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 8 | Max: 20
Cloudy
Min: 8 | Max: 21
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 9 | Max: 22
Partly cloudy, chance of rain
Min: 9 | Max: 22
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 8 | Max: 21
Cloudy
Min: 9 | Max: 22
BULGARIA IN PICTURES
Which world-famous Bulgarian artist designed QSL cards for Radio Bulgaria?
Yasen Gyuzelev
Theodore Ushev
Christo Javacheff - Christo
Ilia Peikov
Lika Yanko

BULGARIANS ABROAD

Български English Русский Deutsch Српски Français Ελληνικά Español Shqip Türkçe Română

english@bnr.bg

+359 2 9336 661

Общи условия за използване на сайта | Политика за поверителност | Политика за "бисквитки"