9 AM – 5 PM
Explore how old are the most interesting objects in the museum exhibition halls.
25 million years ago
During the coal extraction in the years since the establishment and operation of the mine, fossils of ancient animals have been found at various depths, the formation of which took millions of years.

Neolithic period
6300/6200 BC – 4900/4850 BC
In this late Neolithic site, fragments of more than 20 anthropomorphic female ceramic figurines, zoomorphic figurines, and triangular tables have been discovered, which are indicative of the religious beliefs of the people at that time.
What else did archaeologists discover about the ancient people in Sarnevo?


Chalcolithic period
4900/4850 BC – 4100/3800 BC
The village of Gudzhova mogila mound and nearby open settlements show the development of the Sokolitsa river area.
In addition to expensive imported ceramic vessels, there is an artefact made of an exotic material among the findings – a glaucophane schist axe. There are no known deposits of this rock type in the territory of Bulgaria.
Besides communicating with each other, the settlements also traded with the northeastern Balkans.
Bronze Age
3200/3150 BC– 1100/1000 BC
Near the village of Ovchartsi, a mound necropolis consisting of three mounds with graves from the Early Bronze Age has been discovered. In one of them, a woman over 65 years old was buried with interesting grave goods.


Bronze Age
3200/3150 BC – 1100/1000 BC
The settlement mound near Galabovo is the largest in the valleys of Sazliika, Ovcharitsa and Sokolitsa rivers. The population had developed trade relations with the western Black Sea, Anatolia, and the northern coast of the Aegean Sea.




Iron Age
1100/1000 BC – 1st c. BC
Some pits with sacrifices have been found in some of the studied sites near the village of Gledachevo. Among them are the skeleton of a 16–year–old girl in a sacrificial position, a man about 25 years old, an 8–year–old child, a man between 25–40 years old, a child aged 1.5–2 years and a horse, the most revered animal in the religious tradition of the Thracians.


Iron Age
1100/1000 BC – 1st c. BC
The site is located in the territory of the former village of Ovchartsi. In some pits, animal skeletons as well as human remains have been found. Among the archaeological materials, there are fragments of ceramic vessels, tools, pieces of plaster, fireplaces, quern-stones, domestic and game animal bones.

1st – 2nd c. AD
The large mound near the village of Madrets is the most representative mound in the area. A rich grave has been excavated within it, where the individual was cremated on site on a wooden bed.
Luxury jewelry and vessels made of gold, silver, bronze, and glass indicate that the buried person was wealthy and of a high status in society.




2nd c. AD
You can see the tomb of Theodora in its authentic state in the museum. The burial chamber has been lifted and moved to one of the halls.
How did archaeologists discover the name of the noble maiden who was burnt and buried in the grave?


4th – 6th c. AD
In the area “Selishte” near the village of Polski Gradets, three early Christian basilicas have been excavated, located one on top of the other, along with a catacomb grave.
The burial rite is contrary to Christian canons and is associated with the culture of the so-called Sarmatian-Alans, who during this period were federates of the Byzantine Empire.
Their presence in Southern Bulgaria is recorded very rarely, as they usually guard the northern border of the Empire.


5th – 6th c. AD
The fortress is located in “Alekov bair” locality 7 km away from the town of Radnevo, nearby the village of Znamenosets. Its location was strategically chosen – it was adjacent to a main road, and it had visibility toward the nearby fortresses in the region.
The fortress was probably built by emperor Justinian I (527-565) and it functioned for a brief period of about 60 years.
It was destroyed most likely during the Slavic-Avar invasions at the end of the 6th c.


7th c.
A young man and three children with impressive burial gifts and personal belongings were buried in this mass nomadic grave.
The burial facility dated in the end of the 7th – the beginning of the 8th c. and it is similar to the burial complexes of the so-called Kuber’s Bulgarians and to present-day North-Eastern Bulgarian sites, Targshor in the Wallachian plain, Malaya Pereshchepina in present-day Ukraine, etc.
Are the buried the ancestors of the Bulgarians or their ethnicity should be attributed to another nomadic people?




11th – 12th c.
Тraces of the so-called “late nomads” are scarce in Southern Bulgaria.
They were laid in embryonic position in round burial pits and the grave was usually piled with stones.
Find out what animals the Pechenegs were buried with.

12th – beginning of 13th c.
The medieval settlement is situated in Gerena locality. Numerous residential and farm buildings were excavated. The roof of some of the houses was laid with tiles, which was uncommon for the medieval settlements of that type.
The necropolis of the settlement was registered nearby and a total number of 550 graves have been studied to this day.
What else did the archaeologists discovered about the life of these medieval inhabitants?


19th – 20th c.
Recently the museum has founded a new ethnographic collection in a new exhibition room where a small quantity of ethnographic materials has been arranged – ceramic vessels, traditional dresses, agricultural tools, etc. The objects were donated to the museum by local people.
19th – 20th c.
The great poet Geo Milev was born in Radnevo. Currently, his house is not open to the visitors.
What do you need to know about his life and home?

20th – 21st c.
Archaeological Museum “Maritsa-iztok” was established due to the coal mine that operates on the territory of the municipalities of Radnevo and Galabovo.
How did the coal mining lead to the establishment of the museum that you are visiting today?
As a result of the intensive archaeological excavations of sites, hundreds of artefacts are being added annually to the museum depository. Most of them undergo conservation and restoration in the specially equipped studio of the museum.
What is being restored and who are the restorers?

Explore the halls and find out more about the region and its rich history here. We wish you a pleasant visit!





Вид пластична украса на вносни луксозни керамични съдове, използвани през Римската епоха
A megalithic burial facility comprising of large stone slabs arranged to construct a burial chamber, covered with another slab.
Мегалитно гробно съоръжение, състоящо се от големи каменни плочи, подредени така, че да образуват камера, покрита с друга каменна плоча.

(Oт гръцки език: amphi – „двоен“, и phoréus – „носач“) специфичен керамичен съд с характерна форма. Употребяват се за съхраняване и пренасяне на вино, маслиново масло, зърнени храни и др. Дъното им завършва с издължен пъпковиден израстък, който се е забивал в насипан пясък в трюмовете на корабите, с които са се транспортирали ценните стоки.

From Greek amphi – “double” and phoréus – “bringer”. A specific ceramic vessel with a typical shape. They were used for the storage and transporting of wine, olive oil, grains, etc. The bottom of the amphora has an elongated bud-like ending which is intended for sticking them in sand in the holds of the ships by which the valuable goods were transported by sea.
A cult fireplace.
Култово огнище.
A specific type of ceramic ware which appeared at the end of the Early Iron Age and the very beginning of the Late Iron Age. They are characterized by the even greyish hue of the surface of the vessels.
Специфичен тип керамични съдове, които се появяват в края на ранножелязната и началото на късножелязната епохи. Характеризират се с равномерен сив цвят.
Manually driven mill for grain milling, comprising of two disc-shaped stones.
Мелница за мелене на зърно, състояща се от два камъка, която се задвижва ръчно.
A burial position of the body in which the deceased was laid on his side with limbs bent /embryonal position/.
Погребална позиция на тялото, при която мъртвият е положен на една страна със свити крака и ръце /ембрионална поза/.
A double-edged battle or ceremonial axe.
Двустранна бойна или церемониална брадва.
An artificial embankment alike a hill, accumulated as a result of continuous habitation of the place. The settlement mound contains layers with remains of houses, dwellings, objects, trash, and other evidence of human activity.
Изкуствен насип, наподобяващ хълм, натрупан в следствие на продължително обитаване на едно и също място. Селищната могила съдържа напластявания с останки от жилища, сгради, предмети, отпадъци и други признаци на човешка дейност.
Комплекс от археологически паметници, които характеризират развитието на даден географски район в определен период от време.
A complex of archaeological monuments which characterize the development in a certain geographical region for a certain period.
Neolithic Revolution; a fundamental stage of humankind history when human societies made a transition between the nomadic life of hunters and gatherers to the settled life of farmers and stockbreeders.
Неолитна революция; фундаментален етап от историята на човека, при който човешките общества преминават от номадски начин на живот на ловци и събирачи към уседнало земеделие и отглеждане на животни.
A person who donate finances for a charitable purpose – like the painting of icons and frescoes in a church.
Меценат, човек, който дарява средства за благородна кауза – като зографисването на храм.
Комплект от ремъци и принадлежности, използвани за яздене на кон. Много често са украсени с бронзови пластинки (апликации).
A set of equipment used for the harnessing of horses. Usually consisting of various bronze inlays and finials once attached to leather straps.

A solar sign, symbolizing the life cycle in nature. It has been known to people since prehistoric times

Соларен (слънчев) символ, символизиращ кръговрата на живота в природата. Познат е на хората още от Праисторията.
4th – 6th c. AD; a mass migration of nomadic people from the Northern Black Sea steppes toward our lands. It is suggested that drastic climatic changes resulting in severe iridization and subsequent lack of pastures for the stock, caused the migration.
През периода IV–VI в. започва масова миграция на племена, водещи номадски начин на живот, от Причерноморските степи в източна посока към нашите земи. Смята се, че причината са климатични промени и липсата на пасища за техните стада.

An adornment used by Romans and barbarians for the attaching of their mantles on the shoulder.

Накит, подобен на безопасна игла, с който римляните и варварите са закачали плащовете си на рамото.
A fortress with a square plan and four defensive towers located at its corners.
Крепост с квадратен план и четири отбранителни кули, разположени по ъглите.
An artificial term, established by historians in order to differentiate the Eastern Roman Empire.
Изкуствено създаден термин от историците, с който се обозначава Източната Римска империя.

A type of plastic decoration technique used for the ornamentation of imported luxury ceramic vessels during the Roman period.
Semiprecious stone, usually with relief decoration, used for the incrustation of rings, medallions, and other adornments.
Полускъпоценен камък, често с релефна украса, използван за инкрустация на пръстени, медальони и др. накити.

A glass baby-feeder.

Стъклен биберон.
Spiral adornment, like springs. It is suggested they were used for hairdressing.
Спираловидни накити, подобни на пружинки.

Bronze objects like huge hooks, used by Romans to scrub their bodies in the baths.

Бронзови предмети, подобни на големи куки, с които римляните са търкали телата си в банята.

A luxury box, usually made of ivory, intended for cosmetic cremes and pomades.
Луксозна кутийка, обикновено от слонова кост, предназначена за кремове и помади.
A glass container, like a miniature bottle or ampule, intended for the tears of the mourners.
Стъклен съд, подобен на мъничко шишенце или ампула, предназначен за сълзите на оплаквачите.
A glass or ceramic vessels, like a bottle, intended for fragrant oils and liquids, usually put in Roman burials.
Стъклен или керамичен съд, подобен на шише, предназначен за благовонни течности. Поставя се в римските гробовe.
A cemetery, comprising of several barrows.
Гробище, съставено от няколко могили.
A burial mound, sepulcher; tomb; during the Bronze and Iron Ages and the Roman period a tradition existed for the deceased to be buried under an artificial embankment – the so-called barrows.
През Бронзовата, Желязната и Римската епоха е съществувала традиция хората да се погребват в изкуствени насипи, подобни на хълмове – наречени могили.
Cemetery, graveyard.
Гробище.
A jewelry like an earring which is larger in size and usually it was attached to the headscarf or the hair of the woman.
Накит, подобен на обеца, но с по-голямо кръжило, който обикновено се прикрепя за забрадката или косата.

An offensive arm, typical for the late nomadic people.
Вид боздуган, характерен за късните номади.
Multi-tiered structure built in Christian churches to elevate the preacher above the laity. In some cases, the synthronon evidence that the church was an episcopal one.
Многостъпална конструкция, която се изгражда в християнски храмове, за да се издигне проповядващия над миряните. В някои случаи синтронът е свидетелство, че църквата е била епископска.
A group of nomadic peoples which during the Migration period relocated to different parts of Europe, relatives of the Bulgarians.
Племена, участвали във Великото преселение на народите, родственици на прабългарите.

Glazed ceramic vessels with incised decoration, typical for the 12th – 14th c.

Глазирани съдове с врязана украса, характерни за периода XII – XIV в.
Военни отряди, основно варварски, които империята използва като наемници да бранят границата ѝ.
Usually nomadic military units which the Roman, respectively Byzantine, Empire used as mercenaries to guard its northern border – the Danubian limes.

A pagan memorial tradition for commemoration of the dead – after the funeral the family periodically went to the grave bringing food in ceramic vessels which later were ritually broken.

Поменална практика, при която след погребението се посещава гроба, носи се храна в съдове, които се чупят ритуално.

Usually a coin or other similar artefact, put in burials for the boatman Charon who must took the deceased to the underworld.

Монета, която се поставя в гроба, за да може мъртвият да плати на лодкаря Харон да го преведе в отвъдния свят.
Cult objects with an animal-like shape.
Cult objects with a human-like shape.
Култови предмети с форма, наподобяваща животинска.
Култови предмети с форма, наподобяваща човешка.
