In December 2023, a farmer unexpectedly came across two large graves of a wealthy family from the Roman era. However, the graves appear to tell a sad family story.
Roman Tombs in Bulgaria From 1,800 Years Ago
The farmer discovered the graves as he was plowing his field in Nova Varbovka village. As this region used to be a Roman province known as Moesia, Veliko Tarnovo Regional Museum of History archaeologists came for grave excavation.
The two graves consisted of brick and had plaster lining their walls. There was also a huge limestone slab that covered them. The larger tomb was roughly three meters in length and contained two adult remains. These remains belonged to a woman and a man who were roughly 45 to 60 years old when they died. Both of them were buried with coins, jewelry, and glass and ceramic vessels.
The smaller one, which was made earlier, had the skeleton of a two to three-year-old child. There was also a rare bronze medallion that depicted the visit of Roman emperor Caracalla to Pergamon in A.D. 214. Back then, the emperor sought the temple towards Asclepius, the deity of healing.
Altogether, the two graves could signify the final resting place of the family.
Some of the grave's limestone is apparently from a quarry close to Nicopolis ad Istrum, which is an early Byzantine and Roman town that emperor Trajan founded in the early second century. Archaeologist Kalin Chakarov explains that the oddness and other indicators give the idea that the deceased could be connected to the area of Nicopolis ad Istrum.
Chakarov notes that the medallion could mean that the grave's occupants could have originated from Asia Minor. This would align with the fact that Nicopolis ad Istrum was mainly constructed by Asia Minor settlers. Chakarov explains that they are looking into an opportunity to verify the hypothesis through DNA analysis and other methods, which the museum is unable to afford.
A Sad Family Story
Ivan Tsarov, the director of the museum, explains that the tombs' discovery in Bulgaria does not come as a surprise as the soils and climate are good for agricultural crop growth. Tsarov explains that the tombs could have belonged to rich landowners, as it was practiced by landowners from Moesia Inferior to live in warmer months and be buried within their estates.
The uncovered artifacts are still undergoing processing in the museum's lab, where they are going through restoration and conservation. Objects include those that the deceased used during their lifetime as well as other items that were believed to accompany them into the afterlife.
On top of the gold and glass bead jewelry, there were also six coins from 200 to 225 A.D., as well as a leather shoe, a lamp, and several glass bottles. Three of these bottles were lacrimaria, which are small flasks used for gathering the tears of those who mourn.
Chakarov explains his thoughts regarding how the grave could be telling a sad family story from the third century. The archaeologists note that the dead infant may have been buried by their parents, who finally rested on the same spot where their child was buried.
The archaeologist plans to further conduct work on the area to discover where the individuals lived.
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