The Regional Historical Museum in Burgas has enriched the chronicle of Aquae Calidae with a new, exceptionally valuable find. Thanks to financial support from the Municipality of Burgas, archaeological research at this significant ancient complex continues to reveal details about the Roman era, while the scientific interpretation of the latest unearthed artifact is being led by the established epigrapher Chief Assistant Professor Dr. Nikolay Sharankov from Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski".
The discovered inscription dates back to the early years of Emperor Trajan's reign (98–117 AD), placing it in the transition between the end of the 1st and the beginning of the 2nd century. Scientific supervision of the excavations that led to this find was entrusted to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dimcho Momchilov. According to experts, this monument serves as an important addition to the existing body of written evidence found at the site and fits organically into the context of the Roman presence in the region.
The current discovery complements a series of significant epigraphic monuments uncovered at Aquae Calidae between 2015 and 2022, which have changed the understanding of construction activity and public life during the Roman era. The history of these finds includes:
- An inscription from the time of Emperor Nero (discovered in 2015), which testifies to the early construction of the baths in the 1st century.
- Votive altars with dedications from the 2nd century, among which the altar to the nymphs, dedicated by Marcus Obsequens in 2022, holds a special place.
The accumulation of such evidence reinforces the status of Aquae Calidae as one of the most key sources for regional research. The new epigraphic monument from the time of Trajan not only adds to the impressive collection of finds but also deepens the understanding of the scale of Roman antiquity in the Bulgarian lands.