Archaeologists from the Haskovo Regional Museum of History have uncovered a Thracian tomb believed to date back to the late 4th and early 3rd century BCE near the village of Teketo in the Haskovo region of Bulgaria.
This discovery has drawn attention due to the presence of murals on the tomb’s walls, similar to those found in other notable Thracian tombs in the region, such as Kazanlak and Alexandrovo.
The Thracian tomb was associated with the Odrysian Kingdom, established around 460 BCE by the Thracian tribe known as the Odrysians. This kingdom once covered vast territories, including present-day Bulgaria, Northern Greece, parts of Turkey, and a small portion of Southeastern Romania.
While this tomb’s murals have been damaged over time, only indicative pieces were found within a treasure hunter’s pit near Teketo village.
The archaeological excavation and research are still ongoing, but the condition of the tomb has surprised archaeologists. Despite some damage to the murals caused by treasure hunters, the tomb reveals valuable insights into Thracian culture and history.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Georgi Nehrizov, one of the archaeologists involved in the discovery, explained, “Here we have only the top layer, the finest, the stucco. It is made of very fine mortar plaster with marble dust usually to make it so fine, and the colored decoration is applied over it.”
He pointed out features such as deep red-orange colors and decorative elements like a kymation, a wave-like pattern, similar to those seen in other Hellenistic tombs, not only in Thrace but also in Greece and Italy.
Besides the murals, archaeologists have also found fragments of protective clothing within the tomb. These fragments appear to be part of a chasuble, constructed with small plates sewn onto a leather or cloth garment. The presence of such clothing between two stones has raised questions and sparked further investigation.
The discovery of this Thracian tomb was announced by archaeologists from the National Archaeological Institute with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Funding efforts to support the excavation, research, and future display of the tomb are ongoing, with approximately BGN 26,000 collected thus far.
Despite the challenges posed by treasure hunters and the passage of time, this Thracian tomb promises to contribute valuable information to the study of Thracian history and open a new chapter in understanding the Odrysian Kingdom’s legacy.
