Archaeologists discover “the Bulgarian Machu Picchuâ€
Friday 23, July 2010
A team of archaeologists recently discovered a unique residence of the rulers of the Odrysian Kingdom - a union of the ancient Thracian tribes that lasted between the fifth and the third centuries BC, in central Bulgaria.
Called “the Bulgarian Machu Picchu” by Bulgarian archaeologists because of the similarities in the two ancient cities’ organization, the site is located at 1,200 metres above sea level in the Kozi Gramadi mount, close to the resort town of Hisar in the outskirts of the Sredna Gora mountain range.
“The residence of the Odrysian kings is a monument unrivaled in scope in Southeastern Europe. I am convinced there is no other fortress-sanctuary dating back to the fourth-fifth centuries BC which is so well-preserved,” Dr. Ivan Hristov, head of the archaeological team and Deputy Director of the Bulgarian National History Museum, told national media.
Archaeologists believe the construction of the residence was started by the Thracian ruler Cotys I (384 BC - 359 BC).
The team led by Dr. Hristov has uncovered the remains of the palace of the Odrysian kings Amatokos II (359 BC - 351 BC) and Teres II (351 BC - 342 BC).
The Odrysian Kingdom consisted largely of present-day Bulgaria, spreading to parts of Romanian Northern Dobrogea, parts of Northern Greece and modern-day European Turkey.
As BalkanTravellers.com reported, a collection of over 200 of the treasures of the rulers and warriors of the Odrysian Kingdom is currently on display in an exhibition at Sofia’s National History Museum until the end of October.
(Source: balkantravellers.com)
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