site.btaRecently Unearthed Ancient Statue Elicits Promise of Further Government Support for Archaeology

Visiting the ruins of the ancient city of Heraclea Sintica near Petrich on Tuesday, caretaker Minister of Culture Naiden Todorov was shown a more-than-life-size marble statue, probably representing the Greek god Hermes, which was unearthed at the site days ago. It made Todorov exclaim: "I was very impressed by what I saw. I must say that the government has provided and will continue to provide support, and such findings are a good reason to increase the support."

Todorov commented: "What we see here is extraordinary and it shows what we have inherited."

Taking a journalist's question about the trouble caused by the fact that part of the archaeological site lies within the limits of a private property, the Culture Minister noted that all archaeological artifacts discovered in Bulgaria are public state property. "Private land owners are asked to cooperate in such cases, and if they don't, there are other legal provisions. I expect an official response from the municipality to give the green light to the necessary procedure," Todorov said.

He explained that the government has provided BGN 30,000 in funding for archaeological work at Heraclea Sintica, which is but a small part of its support for such projects. "When such sites are discovered, it makes sense for the government to back their exploration, because the government needs it, the people need it," he said.

Prof. Lyudmil Vagalinski, who leads the excavations, said that experts cannot do their part of the job without the government. The problem of private land ownership is quite common, he added. Vagalinski asked the authorities for assistance in settling the ownership dispute over another landplot situated in the centre of the town of Petrich, where archaeologists have discovered an ancient gate and shrines.

The marble statue is to be placed in the museum of Petrich by the end of the week, Vagalinski said.