Cuman settlement discovered near fortress of Ryahovets in Gorna Oryahovitsa

Archaeologists from the Historical Museum in the town of Gorna Oryahovitsa have discovered a settlement of the Cumans this summer during the excavations of a medieval necropolis east of the Thracian fortress of Rykhovets near the town of Gorna Oryahovitsa, reports BNR correspondent Zdravka Maslyankova. 

The archaeological site was found accidentally in 2021 during the works for the reclamation of a municipal waste dump in the town.

Nearly 70 archaeological structures have been uncovered. Among them are dwellings, hearths and pits dating back to the 13th century. Fifteen graves were also recorded, indicating some departure from Christian burial rites.

According to the archaeologist prof. Hitko Vachev, scientific consultant of the archaeological team, it is a Cuman settlement.

"The Cumans were an ally of all Bulgarian kings. Several Cuman princesses were Bulgarian queens. We have rich sources in this regard, but until now we have not had the material traces of where the Cumans were settled," he explained. Among the interesting finds are several cult pits with horse skulls laid inside, as well as one with a whole horse skeleton, coins from the first half of the 13th century, bone objects, copper bracelets, and a large furnace.

The archaeological team hopes to be able to join a project to carry out a full survey of the site.