Gold Articles Recovered from Ancient Thracian Tomb in Bulgaria

Archaeologists have unearthed golden artifacts while excavating the ancient Thracian tomb in Bulgaria.

The 2,400-year-old golden treasure includes artifacts like bracelet with snake heads, tiara with animal motifs and rings.  It was found Thursday in the biggest tomb of the 150 tombs that belong to the ancient Thracian tribe. The site is located near the village of Sveshtari, about 250 miles north-east of Sofia, reports Reuters.

The artifacts date back to the end of the fourth century B.C. "These are amazing findings from the apogee of the rule of the Getae," Diana Gergova, head of the archaeologist team and a researcher of Thracian culture with the Sofia-based National Archaeology Institute, told Reuters.

"From what we see up to now, the tomb may be linked with the first known Getic ruler, Cothelas," she said.

The gold treasure is said to belong to the Getes tribe of the Thracians, who were skilled goldsmiths, reported AFP.

The Thracians lived between 4,000 B.C. and seventh century A.D. They lived in a place what is now called as Bulgaria and extended their range to northern Greece, Romania, Macedonia, and Turkey, before they were absorbed by Slavs, a report in Associated Press said.

One of the Thracian tombs called as the Thracian tomb of Sveshtari was discovered in 1982. This tomb built during the third century B.C. shows evidence of cult Thracian buildings. It has been listed as a UNESCO world heritage site.

The Thracians have remained a mystery as they have not left any written language records that could give details about their culture. However, archaeologists have recovered lot of artifacts from the Thracian tombs in recent decades.