WORLD> Europe
Bulgarian archaeologists discover ancient chariot
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-08-08 07:58

SOFIA, Bulgaria - Archaeologists have unearthed a 1,900-year-old well-preserved chariot at an ancient Thracian tomb in southeastern Bulgaria, the head of the excavation said Thursday.


An archaeologist cleans a chariot found at a Thracian mound near the village of Borisovo, some 360 km (223 miles) east from the capital Sofia, August 7, 2008. A team of archaeologists led by Bulgarian archaeologist Daniela Agre found the fully preserved chariot in the mound, dated back to the 2nd century A.D. Not much history has survived of the Thracians, who some experts say settled on what is now Bulgaria, Romania, northern Greece and Turkey's European territory from as early as 4000 B.C. until they were finally incorporated into the Roman Empire in A.D. 46. [Agencies] 

Daniela Agre said her team found the four-wheel chariot during excavations near the village of Borisovo, around 180 miles east of the capital, Sofia.

"This is the first time that we have found a completely preserved chariot in Bulgaria," said Agre, a senior archaeologist at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

She said previous excavations had only unearthed single parts of chariots -- often because ancients sites had been looted.

At the funerary mound, the team also discovered table pottery, glass vessels and other gifts for the funeral of a wealthy Thracian aristocrat.

In a separate pit, they unearthed skeletons of two riding horses apparently sacrificed during the funeral of the nobleman, along with well preserved bronze and leather objects, some believed to horse harnesses.

The Culture Ministry confirmed the find and announced $3,900 in financial assistance for Agre's excavation.

Agre said an additional amount of $7,800 will be allocated by the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences for an initial restoration and conservation of the chariot and the other Thracian finds.

The Thracians were an ancient people that inhabited the lands of present day Bulgaria and parts of modern Greece, Turkey, Macedonia and Romania between 4,000 B.C. and the 6th century, when they were assimilated by the invading Slavs.

Some 10,000 Thracian mounds -- some of them covering monumental stone tombs -- are scattered across Bulgaria.