site.btaArchaeologists Begin Rescue Excavations near Ancient City of Heraclea Sintica

Rescue excavations have begun at the ancient city of Heraclea Sintica, Southwestern Bulgaria, Prof. Lyudmil Vagalinski, who leads the project, told BTA. The excavations must take place at speed because of an investment plan by implemented by the Bulgarian natural gas transmission and storage system operator Bulgartransgaz.

The gas transmission network for the Bulgaria-Greece connection is being expanded, which necessitates the archaeologists' urgent work. The excavations are taking place on the outskirts of the ancient city. The archaeologists have split up to explore the pipeline route and to salvage the information that survived the construction process.

Preparations for the surveys have been underway for months. About 35 archaeologists from the National Archaeological Institute with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences are working on the project.

According to a preapproved procedure, once the archaeologists have completed their work, an inter-ministerial committee led by the Ministry of Culture will decide whether it is possible to release the site for construction or whether sections of the site will require additional work.

Vagalinski reported that once the rescue excavations are complete, archaeologists will begin work at another site in the Heraclea area south of the city. He was hopeful that the excavation will be done by the end of June, so that regular excavations can begin at the Heraclea Sintica forum in July.