Archaeologists have found 46 coins, 6-7 seals, weapons and jewellery during fresh digs at the Markeli fortress near Karnobat. The work ran through July and August, funded by the culture ministry via the Karnobat History Museum.
Associate Professor Dr Dimcho Momchilov leads the dig, with Dr Rositsa Hristova as his deputy. The first systematic research here began in 1986, so this year marks 40 years since work started.
Some of the coins are early Byzantine, from the 6th century and the reign of Justinian I, while others are unmarked coins from the 10th-11th century. The team also found well-preserved old Bulgarian metal fittings.
This season the team dug a stretch of 30 to 40 metres in the southeast corner of the fortress walls. The south wall runs up to 4.10 metres thick, the east wall up to 3.40 metres. Archaeologists say the huge stone blocks and the quality of the squared masonry show the Byzantine Empire spent heavily on the fortress.
Conservation work at the site for this season has now finished.