Archaeologists have uncovered over 1,500 artifacts during this season’s excavations at the ancient city of Heraclea Sintica in southwestern Bulgaria.
The finds include clay lamps, finely crafted glass jugs, depictions of deities such as Aphrodite, Athena, and Heracles, gold earrings, and nearly 800 coins recovered from the forum and necropolis. These artifacts offer valuable insights into the city’s economic and cultural life. After restoration, the items were presented to the media, and the Mayor of Petrich Municipality, Dimitar Brachkov, also viewed the discoveries. Conservator-restorers from the National Archaeological Institute with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the National History Museum oversaw the preservation of the artifacts, which have now been returned to Petrich.
Among the highlights is a rare glass jug with a lion’s head, along with lamps featuring intriguing images of deities and animals, and a unique family funeral scene. Children’s toys, including a rooster and a horse, were also found. The collection spans the Roman imperial period (1st–3rd centuries CE) as well as earlier Hellenistic artifacts (3rd–1st centuries BCE). A rare bronze lamp was also discovered, alongside beautifully restored tombstones and inscriptions.
The excavation team emphasized that their work extends beyond fieldwork, involving careful restoration and conservation. Recent publications have shared analyses of two sculptures, including their dating, stylistic features, and marble origins. The hands of a Heracles statue, found during the excavations, have been restored—the right hand rests on the hero’s iconic club, while the other holds three apples from the garden of the Hesperides. Earlier discoveries in 2018 included part of the club and a sculpted leg of a muscular figure, and this summer, the torso of the statue was also recovered.
The collaborative project continues to yield remarkable results, according to Petrich History Museum Director Katya Stoyanova. The newly uncovered artifacts are scheduled to be featured in the museum’s exhibition in 2026, which will be open to visitors during the Night of Museums event.
