site.btaFirst European Map of Old Bulgarian Erkesiya Boundary Wall Donated to UN Library

First European Map of Old Bulgarian Erkesiya Boundary Wall Donated to UN Library

Yambol, Southeastern Bulgaria, July 27 (BTA) - The first European map of the old Bulgarian Erkesiya boundary fortification is one of the itmes in a donation of a Bulgarian map collection to the Library of the United Nations in New York. The donation was handed over by Bulgarian UN Ambassador Stefan Tafrov and is shown on the web site of the International Cartography Association.

The 142 km long Erkesiya wall was a defensive wall between Medieval Bulgaria and Byzantium. It is the longest defensive fortification in Europe, longer than the famous Hadrian's Wall in England. The wall passes through seven present-day municipalities in Southeastern Bulgaria: Bourgas, Sredets, Karnobat, Straldja, Toundja, Gulubovo and Simeonovgrad.

The Erkesiya wall is a monument of culture with national importance. The entire fortification has been mapped and a strategy has been adopted for its preservation and sustainable development.

Although abandoned after the later changes of the boundaries, the fortification has attracted the keen interest of travelers, cartographers and military strategists on account of its size.

The work on the wall started after 705 AD when, according to an agreement between Han Terval and Byzantine Emperor Justinian II, the region of Zagora was ceded to Bulgaria.

The Old Bulgarian fortifications are a unique combination of a ditch and a wall whose total width varies between 10 and 40 m depending on the strategic purpose. The ditch was about 3 m deep, and the wall was 3 to 4 m high. The fortifications had special entryways with wooden gates, observation towers and moveable wooden bridges. Stakewalls were built at vulnerable locations along the fortifications.