In brief
In a dig at the medieval fort of Rusokastro, Bulgarian scientists found a 7.6‑metre wide structure with thick stone walls and pink waterproof plaster, likely used for water or food storage. Silver coins from Tsar Ivan Alexander’s reign and Venetian grosso coins were recovered, underscoring the site’s role in 14th‑century trade and conflict. The find is expected to boost cultural tourism and deepen understanding of the town’s past.
Archaeologists in Burgas announced that they have uncovered a massive 7.60‑metre wide structure right next to the inner southern wall of the medieval fortress at Rusokastro on the Black Sea coast.
The walls of the building are 1.1‑metre thick and are built from stone bonded with a lot of mortar. Inside, the walls are coated with a thick layer of pink, hydrophobic plaster that would have made the building watertight. This suggests the structure was used as a water reservoir or as a food‑storage wing. The archaeologists estimate that the building had a second, residential floor above the ground level.
During the dig a large number of artefacts were recovered, including silver coins issued during the reign of Bulgarian Tsar Ivan Alexander and Venetian silver grosso coins known as matapans. The team also found copper coins and a variety of other objects. The coins were already being cleaned and conserved at the Burgas Museum’s laboratory.
The excavation project is funded by the Council of Ministers of Bulgaria and the municipality of Kameno and is carried out by the Regional History Museum of Burgas. Rusokastro played a key role in the 14th‑century Bulgarian‑Byzantine wars, notably winning a decisive battle against Emperor Andronicus in 1332, and the site is now one of the country’s priority archaeological locations for cultural‑tourism development.
Researchers say the new building will help historians better understand daily life and defensive logistics in the fortress, and the recovered coins will provide further evidence of the region’s trade links with Venice and other Mediterranean traders.
