The Valchitran Treasure ( bg, Вълчитрънско златно съкровище) is an early
Thracian
The Thracians (; grc, Θρᾷκες ''Thrāikes''; la, Thraci) were an Indo-European speaking people who inhabited large parts of Eastern and Southeastern Europe in ancient history.. "The Thracians were an Indo-European people who occupied t ...
treasure.
Discovery
It was discovered on 28 December 1924 by two brothers who were working in their vineyard near the village of
Valchitran, 22 km southeast of
Pleven
Pleven ( bg, Плèвен ) is the seventh most populous city in Bulgaria. Located in the northern part of the country, it is the administrative centre of Pleven Province, as well as of the subordinate Pleven municipality. It is the biggest ...
,
Bulgaria
Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Macedon ...
.
Description
The
hoard consists of 13 receptacles, different in form and size, and weighs in total 12.5 kg:
* two round platters
* five round domed pieces, two with central handles
* three cups with handles
* a jug with handle
* three leaf shaped vessels with handles
* a bowl with two handles (4.5 kg of gold)
The gold metal has a natural mixture of 9.7%
silver
Silver is a chemical element with the Symbol (chemistry), symbol Ag (from the Latin ', derived from the Proto-Indo-European wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/h₂erǵ-, ''h₂erǵ'': "shiny" or "white") and atomic number 47. A soft, whi ...
.
The scientists dated the treasure back to
1300 BC, at the time of the
Thracians
The Thracians (; grc, Θρᾷκες ''Thrāikes''; la, Thraci) were an Indo-European languages, Indo-European speaking people who inhabited large parts of Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe in ancient history.. ...
.
It is now one of the most valuable possessions of the
National Archaeological Museum in
Sofia
Sofia ( ; bg, София, Sofiya, ) is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria. It is situated in the Sofia Valley at the foot of the Vitosha mountain in the western parts of the country. The city is built west of the Iskar river, and ha ...
.
See also
*
History of Bulgaria
The history of Bulgaria can be traced from the first settlements on the lands of Bulgaria, modern Bulgaria to its formation as a nation-state, and includes the history of the Bulgarians, Bulgarian people and their origin. The earliest evidence of ...
*
Panagyurishte Treasure
The Panagyurishte Treasure ( bg, Панагюрско златно съкровище) is a Thracian treasure.
Discovery
It was accidentally discovered on 8 December 1949 by three brothers, Pavel, Petko, and Michail Deikov, who worked togethe ...
*
Rogozen Treasure
*
Lukovit Treasure
The Lukovit Treasure ( bg, Луковитско съкровище) is a silver Thracian treasure.
Discovery
It was found in 1953 near the town of Lukovit, Lovech Province, north-western Bulgaria.
Description
It consists of two groups ...
*
Borovo Treasure
The Borovo Treasure, also known as the Borovo Silver Treasure, is a Thracian hoard of five matching silver-gilt items discovered in late 1974 while ploughing a field in Borovo, Bulgaria.
The treasure is kept in the history museum at Ruse.
Item ...
Notes
Bibliography
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via- Met Publications*
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External links
{{commonscat, Vulchitrun treasure
Bulgaria Travel
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1924 archaeological discoveries
Treasure troves in Bulgaria
History of Pleven Province
Gold objects