Archaeologists have uncovered over 1,500 artifacts during this year’s excavation season at the ancient city of Heraclea Sintica in southwestern Bulgaria, announced Prof. Lyudmil Vagalinski, the project’s lead, on Friday.
The discoveries include clay lamps, intricately crafted glass jugs, depictions of deities such as Aphrodite, Athena, and Heracles, gold earrings, and nearly 800 coins retrieved from the forum and necropolis. These finds offer valuable insights into the city’s economic and cultural life. After restoration, the artifacts were presented to the media, with Dimitar Brachkov, Mayor of Petrich Municipality, also viewing the treasures. Conservator-restorers from the National Archaeological Institute with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the National History Museum handled the preservation work before returning the items to Petrich.
“I am particularly delighted with the glass jug featuring a lion’s head—it is both rare and exquisite. The lamps are fascinating too, many adorned with intriguing images of gods and animals. We also uncovered a captivating family funeral scene,” Vagalinski said. Among the finds were children’s toys shaped like a rooster and a horse. One standout piece is a glass lamp decorated with a lion motif. While many of the artifacts date to the Roman imperial period (1st–3rd centuries CE), several date back to the Hellenistic period (3rd–1st centuries BCE), including a rare bronze lamp. Tombstones and inscriptions, cleaned and preserved, were also unearthed and are remarkably well-preserved.
“Our work extends beyond excavation; it also involves restoring and conserving the items we find. There is much information to share with the public, which we will publish. Just last week, we released details about two sculptures, including their dating, stylistic analysis, and the origin of the marble,” Vagalinski explained. Among the sculptures, the hands of Heracles have been restored. The right hand rests on the hero’s iconic club, found near two previously discovered pieces: a portion of the club and a finely sculpted marble leg of a muscular man unearthed in 2018. The left hand holds the three golden apples from the Garden of the Hesperides. This summer, archaeologists also recovered the torso of the statue, completing the figure.
“Our collaborative efforts continue to yield remarkable results, gaining recognition worldwide,” said Katya Stoyanova, Director of the Petrich History Museum. She added that the newly restored artifacts will be displayed in the museum’s exhibition in 2026 and will be accessible to visitors during the Night of Museums 2026.
