In brief
Archaeologists in Burgas have identified a 7.6‑metre wide, stone-built structure at the medieval town of Rusokastro that may have served as a water reservoir or storage facility. The find, located beside the fortress’s inner southern wall, yielded silver coins from the reign of Tsar Ivan Alexander and Venetian grosso coins, underscoring the site’s 14th‑century significance. The discovery is part of a state‑funded excavation program aimed at highlighting Rusokastro’s historical role in Bulgarian‑Byzantine conflicts.
Archaeologists working for the Regional History Museum in Burgas announced the discovery of a monumental building at the medieval town of Rusokastro on 26 February 2027. The structure measures 7.60 metres across, with walls 1.1 metres thick, and sits adjacent to the inner southern fortress wall.
Based on the thick pink hydrophobic mortar lining the interior, researchers believe the ground floor was used either as a water reservoir or a storage facility for food supplies, and that a residential floor likely existed above it. The excavated lot also includes a vast assortment of artefacts, including a large number of silver coins issued during the reign of Bulgarian Tsar Ivan Alexander, Venetian silver grosso coins known as matapans, copper coins, and various other objects.
The find is part of a broader, state‑funded excavation programme sponsored by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria and Kameno Municipality. The work is carried out by the Regional History Museum of Burgas, and artefacts are currently undergoing cleaning and conservation at the museum’s restoration laboratory.
Rusokastro, whose name first appeared in the work of Arab geographer El Idrisi, is noted in Byzantine chronicles for its pivotal role in 14th‑century conflicts. According to Bulgarian historians, on 18 July 1332 the town witnessed a decisive battle in which Tsar Ivan Alexander defeated the Byzantine army led by Emperor Andronicus. The fortress subsequently fell victim to Ottoman campaigns in 1443 and is now recognised as a major fortification guarding the Bulgarian border ridge Erkesiya during the 10th–11th centuries.
The country has included Rusokastro in a list of priority archaeological sites receiving state funding to bolster cultural tourism and preserve its historical heritage.
