The Varna Necropolis () is a burial site in the western industrial part of Varna (approximately half a kilometre from Lake Varna), Bulgaria. Accidentally discovered in October 1972 by excavator operator Raycho Marinov, the relics contained within this burial site are believed to be the oldest examples of worked gold in the world.

Research excavation was under the direction of M. Lazarov (1972-1976) and I. Ivanov (1972-1991) until 1991.

294 graves have been found in the necropolis, many containing sophisticated examples of metallurgy (gold in particular). The graves have been dated back to 3200-3000 BC during the Eneolithic period, making them older than both Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. The corpses within were found in various positions (on their side with knees bent, on their back and others being merely symbolic cenotaph). Interestingly, the symbolic (empty) graves are the richest in gold artifacts. 3000 golden artifacts were found, with a weight of approximately 6 kilograms. One grave contained more gold than has been found in the entire rest of the world for that epoch.

External links

• Varna Archaelogical Museum contains many of the Varna Necropolis artifacts.
• Varna Necropolis Cultural Tourism page on the Golden Sands Resort web site.

References

• Bahn, Paul G. ed. 100 Great Archaeological Discoveries (New York: Barnes & Noble, 1995) (No. 34).
• Bogucki, Peter, Pam J. Crabtree eds. Ancient Europe: an Encyclopedia of the Barbarian World, 8000 B.C. – A.D. 1000 (New York: Scribners, 2004) (p. 341).
• Ivanov, I., M. Avramova. Varna Necropolis (Sofia, 2000).

Archaeological sites in Bulgaria | Varna