site.btaArchaeologists Present New Finds from Medieval Misionis Fortress near Targovishte

Finds from the Medieval Misionis Fortress near Targovishte, most of which were discovered this year, were presented at a BTA press conference in Shumen by archaeologists Prof. Nikolay Ovcharov and Stefan Ivanov, scientific consultant and head of the study, respectively.

In the 14th century, during the rule of the kings Ivan Alexander and Ivan Shishman, Misionis or Kosovo, as the ancient settlement near Targovishte was called, flourished, noted Prof. Ovcharov. This and the high status of the people who lived in the area were evidenced by the archaeological findings, pointed out Stefan Ivanov from the Regional History Museum in Targovishte who has been involved in the archaeological research of the site for 20 years.

At the press conference, Ivanov presented an exposed Viking pommel of a sword scabbard. "There are only two other similar ones in Bulgaria, but this one is the best-preserved and complete artifact. It is characteristic of the northern peoples, from the 10th to the first half of the 11th century. It is double-sided, with the image of a human face, and is associated with a group of mercenaries in these lands at that time," said Ivanov. Prof. Ovcharov presented a part of a bishop's necklace made of silver, with two saints, from the 11th - 12th century, worn until the beginning of the 13th century.

Archaeologists added that in what was likely a 14th century stately building, they came across the most beautiful findings so far, including a silver earpiece with gilding.

"The site is attractive and a good place for tourists to visit. The whole walk of the sites takes about two hours. The surveyed area four or five years ago was 5%, and now it is just over 10%. This allowed us to accurately determine the time periods of occupation of this place, which began in the 70s and 80s of the 5th century,” explained Ivanov, adding that the settlement reaches huge scales and is one of the largest in the territory of Bulgaria, about two kilometres long.

The artifacts discovered so far are over 4,000. The  late antique settlement lasted until the first decade of the 7th century, and was then restored at the end of the ninth century, most likely after the capital was moved to Preslav, when a Christian population settled in, added Ivanov and recalled that the medieval settlement was captured and destroyed by the Ottoman Turks in the 14th century after battle.