Ancient Roman sarcophagus unearthed on Bulgarian beach!
A surprising discovery was made recently on the beach near Saints Constantine and Helena, a resort on Bulgaria's northern Black Sea coast. An ancient sarcophagus from the Roman era was found abandoned near the shore.
The discovery was first reported by a former policeman who was vacationing in the area. He noticed the sarcophagus near a newly constructed, but not yet operational, complex. He promptly informed the Fifth Regional Department in Varna, leading to a quick response from local authorities and specialists.
Photo Credit: Bulgaria Ministry of Interior
Upon receiving the report, a team of police officers, archaeologists from the Varna Archaeological Museum, and representatives from the Culture Ministry Directorate for the Protection of Cultural Heritage arrived to inspect the artifact.
Their preliminary assessment dated the sarcophagus to the 2nd or 3rd century CE, during the Roman era. Measuring about 90 x 235 x 75 cm, the sarcophagus features elaborate relief decorations, including garlands, animal heads, rosettes, and the labris, a double-edged ax. These intricate designs are typical of Roman funerary art.
The sarcophagus was missing its original lid, presenting a unique challenge for the specialists. Milen Marinov, a restorer at the Varna Historical Museum, noted that the artifact had a modern marble lid with three niches, suggesting it might have been repurposed as a table. It had also been painted with facade paint, which the team is now carefully removing to reveal any remaining original coloring and to study the techniques used in its creation.
Marinov emphasized the importance of this thorough analysis in determining whether the sarcophagus is an authentic Roman relic, a modified original, or a contemporary creation designed to resemble an antique. "We want to see what is under it, whether any of the original coloring has remained, what technique was used to make it – all of the information that will tell us if the sarcophagus is authentic. We have just started, we can’t say anything for sure," Marinov stated.
Photo Credit: Bulgaria Ministry of Interior
Varna, known for its prehistoric heritage, including the 7,000-year-old Varna culture and the renowned Varna Necropolis, has been a significant cultural and historical site for millennia. The area became a Thracian settlement, later an Ancient Greek colony, and eventually part of the Roman Empire in 15 CE. The Roman baths in Varna, constructed in the late 2nd century, are among the largest preserved in the Balkans.
Transporting the heavy sarcophagus to the Varna Archaeological Museum required the assistance of the Regional Department for Fire Safety and Civil Protection and specialized heavy equipment to ensure its safe relocation. The artifact is now under further examination by experts at the museum.
The circumstances surrounding the sarcophagus’ discovery remain unclear, and the ongoing investigation aims to uncover more details about its journey to the coastal resort. This fascinating find adds another layer to the rich tapestry of Varna's historical and cultural heritage.