Very recently, in the Varna region, a mystical fortress revealed more interesting and unknown facts about itself. This is Petrich Kale - a place where ancient history and hidden mysteries intertwine, NOVA reported.
And although most of the curious facts about the fortress have already been told, scientists have recently shed light on something new - a possible visit by Vikings to our lands. Is it really possible that this is the case, what exactly were they doing here and what are the latest artifacts discovered by archaeologists?
Since 2014, Assoc. Prof. Maria Manolova - Voikova and her team have been conducting annual excavations in the area.
“If there is one thing that makes Petrich Kale truly special, it is that the development of architecture can be traced over a long period“, explains Assoc. Prof. Maria Manolova - Voikova from RIM-Varna. “Every year we manage to discover a small part of the puzzle, but many questions remain, since it is about continuous habitation in the same place“, she adds.
Archaeological finds show that since the second century the fortress has been visited and inhabited by different civilizations – from Romans and Goths, through Avars, Proto-Bulgarians and Slavs, to late medieval nomadic tribes. Of particular interest are the artifacts related to the northern peoples, which can be linked to Vikings or Varangians.
“These are objects that came through trade or direct contact with the northern peoples and are included in the collection of the Varna Museum“, adds Assoc. Prof. Voykova.
However, the mystery of the fortress is not limited to the artifacts. A huge hole dug into the rock on the edge of the fortress, about 160 meters long and 4 meters wide, has long been considered a reservoir. However, archaeologists question this explanation due to its scale and difficult-to-access location.
“We still cannot answer why and who excavated this facility. Such questions motivate us to continue our research persistently“, says Assoc. Prof. Voykova.