The earliest evidence
of human presence in
the Varna region can
be traced back to the
Early Palaeolithic Age,
some 100,000 years
ago. But it was during
the Chalcolithic period,
typically defined as a
transition between the
Neolithic and the Bronze
Age, that the inhabitants on the shores of
the Black Sea entered
a new stage of development. As archaeologists undertook more
and more excavations
in the region, they
began to see evidence
of mastery of metallurgy, skilled craftsmanship, extensive trade,
social differentiation,
agriculture, and religion. It became clear
that they were looking at the remnants of
6
a once advanced and
highly-developed society that existed from
at least the 5th millennium BC. It has come
to be known as the
cradle of civilization in
Europe.
“The Black Sea is the
earliest center of civilization in human history,” said Prof. Dr.
“Sceptre, bone and gold, Eneolithic necropolis –Varna” Photo credit: Varna Regional Museum of History is licensed under CC-BY-SA-3.0
Sceptre, bone and gold, Eneolithic necropolis – Varna,
grave 4 - late Eneolithic period