site.bta Archaeologists Find Early Christian Crypt, One of Largest in Balkans

Archaeologists Find Early Christian Crypt, One of Largest in Balkans

Abrit Village, Northeastern Bulgaria, September 4 (BTA) - Archaeologists have discovered one of the largest early Christian crypts during excavations near the village of Abrit near Dobrich, Northeastern Bulgaria, Prof. Georgi Atanassov told journalists. Atanassov and Assoc. Prof. Valeri Yotov head the archaeological expedition.
    
The crypt was found on the territory of a bishop's basilica which archaeologists found last summer. The crypt, dated to the end of the 5th century, is unusually large at 3.80 metres by 2.50 m, and 2.50 m high. According to Atanassov, the dimensions indicate that it contained the remains of more saintly martyrs.
     
Archaeologists say the beautiful basilica is comparable to the largest Early Christian churches in Odessos, Histria and Tomis along the Black Sea coast. More than 1,000 unique marble details were found in it.
    
Zaldapa was the largest late Roman and Byzantine fortified town in the interior of Dobrudja. It is considered as the local equivalent of Pompeii and Karel Skorpil (1859-1944) was among the first archaeologists to study it.