Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Sunken Ottoman ship and lead ingot from Roman Britain found by archaeologists near the mouth of Kamchia River

Photo: National Museum of History

Bulgarian underwater archaeologists led by the Deputy Director of the National History Museum Professor Ivan Hristov found a lead ingot, which reached the waters of the Black Sea from the Roman mines in the Cornwall area. The ingot was found during underwater searches in September and November 2023 north of the mouth of the Kamchia River. The object is dated to the 2nd-4th century. Cornwall and Devon dominated the European tin market from the late Roman times, beginning around the 3rd century AD, as many Spanish tin mines were exhausted. 

This is the first find in Bulgarian territorial waters of such a nature and dating. It weighs 5,35 kg and contains 98% pure tin. Ingot from the Black Sea was prepared for delivery to some workshops on land for making bronze objects or coins. Another important find is the location of the remains of a sunken ship from the Ottoman period. A perfectly preserved wooden keel lies on the seabed. The divers also recovered two cannons and fragments of pottery. The ship probably sank in bad weather. It is believed to have crashed on shallow jutting reefs that are hard to see in a storm.




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Sunny weather in most of Bulgaria on Thursday, with fog near rivers

Overnight it will be clear. The wind will die down in most areas. After midnight along the Danube River, in lowlands and near rivers fogs will form and visibility will be reduced with low clouds. Minimum temperatures will be between minus 3°C and 2°C,..

published on 11/27/24 7:25 PM

EU ambassadors reach agreement on Bulgaria’s entry into Schengen by land

The ambassadors of the EU Member States have reached a preliminary agreement on the draft decision to abolish checks at internal land borders for Bulgaria and Romania. This is planned to happen on January 1, 2025. The decision is expected to be finally..

published on 11/27/24 5:45 PM

Shopping malls vow to step up security after series of aggressive acts

Shopping malls in Sofia and across the country will increase the number of security guards where needed. Additional panic buttons are also to be put in place if retailers wish, the Bulgarian Retail Association said. Groups of suspicious persons will be..

published on 11/27/24 4:44 PM