Increased trading
activity allowed the
metallurgists to accumulate wealth and very
quickly, a societal gap
developed with metallurgists at the top, followed by merchants in
the middle, and farmers making up the
lower class. Incredible
discoveries made at a
nearby cemetery also
suggest that Varna had
powerful rulers or kings
– but we will come back
to that.
And so, the foundations had been laid
for the emergence of
a powerful and flourishing culture, whose
influence permeated
the whole of Europe
for thousands of years
to come.
Discovering ancient
Varna
The first evidence of
Varna’s ancient civilization came in the
form of tools, vessels,
utensils, and figurines
made from stone, flint,
bone, and clay. Then an
incredible cha nce discovery came to light,
that made headlines
around the world. In
October, 1972, excavator operator Raycho
Marinov stumbled upon
a vast Copper Age
necropolis containing
the oldest gold artifacts
ever discovered. It was
to become one of the
most important archaeological
discoveries
ever made in Bulgaria.
Extensive excavations
were launched under
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