The real Roman sarcophagus was once getting used as ornament at a lodge close to Varna within the Black Sea.
An historical sarcophagus courting again to the Roman technology was once found out on a seashore and used as a bar at a Black Sea lodge close to Varna.
Following its discovery, archaeologists from the Regional Historical past Museum in Varna tested the traditional artefact, figuring out its wealthy ornamentation as a part of the “garland sarcophagi” from Roman instances.
The sarcophagus is comprised of shelly limestone, feature of northwestern Bulgaria. It options intricate aid decorations on all 4 aspects, together with garlands, animal heads, rosettes, and a labrys.
In spite of its historic worth, footage on social media published that the sarcophagus was once getting used as a bar in a well-liked seashore membership for a while, elevating issues about retaining Bulgaria’s cultural heritage.
Archaeologist Alexander Minchev stated that every one archaeological artefacts legally belong to the state, without reference to the place or how they’re discovered. He known as for an investigation into how the sarcophagus ended up at the seashore, suggesting that this is probably not an remoted incident.
The invention got here to gentle when a former police officer spotted the sarcophagus at the seashore whilst on vacation in Varna and reported it to the native government.
The case was once referred to the Varna District Prosecutor’s Place of job, resulting in a pre-trial investigation. With the help of the Inside Ministry and heavy apparatus, the sarcophagus was once transported to the Varna Archaeological Museum for additional exam.
The case has sparked a broader dialog across the preservation of cultural heritage in Bulgaria and the desire to offer protection to and correctly retailer archaeological treasures.