The Main Stage of the Archaeological Survey of Akve Kalide, Burgas, Has Been Completed
In 2022, the Municipality of Burgas fully funded the archaeological excavations of the most famous Roman spa center on the Balkan Peninsula – Aquae Calidae, in Vetren neighborhood, Burgas.
In 2021, archaeological research was concentrated in the northeastern sector and went through several stages. The first two of them were related to the construction of building № 3 (Archaeological Museum and Bath – a replica of a Roman bath). During these excavations, two ancient aqueducts and an open-air facility for open-flowing cold water and several graves, part of the Gothic necropolis, were discovered.
In the final stage is the further investigation of the northeastern apoditerium from the 4th century of the early Byzantine bath, with complete depletion of the cultural layers in the lower levels, where remains of a fire related to the Gothic destruction of the Roman bath were discovered. The mass pottery is from the III-IV century, and the coin material is from the reign of Constantine the Great and his successors.
The scope of the research also included the final discovery of the outer eastern face of the Eastern building of the early Byzantine bath with a length of over 14 m and a well-preserved height in places up to 3 m, two ancient ceramic water pipes and a control shaft.
During the archeological season of 2021, many archeological materials were discovered, among which a large number of coins – over four hundred, of which the dominant ones are again those from the IV century; a considerable number from the thirteenth century; medieval seals from the XI century; and two inscriptions.
In the current year 2022, the main stage of the archaeological survey of the Akwe Kalide site was carried out in the period June 2 – July 13. According to the preliminary planning, the archaeological investigations were already entirely concentrated inside the bath complex at the northeastern end of the early Byzantine bath and on part of the earlier Roman one.
2022 was a particularly successful year for the archaeological team investigating Akwe Kalide, both in terms of architectural structures uncovered and finds.
The newly discovered architectural elements are:
1. Part of an early Roman canal from the 1st century – so far one of the few architectural structures from the early Roman bath.
2. Part of the caldarium channel.
3. About 15 m from the north wall of the early Byzantine bath (north end) towards the west, the east end of which, connected to the north-east apodytherium, was detected at the end of the last archaeological season in November 2021.
4. Structures of medieval premises of mortar and mud solder, as well as part of a medieval wall.
5. The inner face of the northeast corner of the eastern body of the early Byzantine bath with several pilasters.
The findings:
1. First of all, this is again the large number of coins – a total of 95 pieces. And this year, those from the 4th century prevail among them.
2. For another year, the number of medieval seals found is large – for the archaeological season summer 2022, they are a total of 5 pcs. In general, their dating refers to the 11th century.
3. It is interesting to find large quantities of medieval artistic ceramics from the 12th-13th centuries – for the first time in the current year, this pottery is many times more than in previous archaeological seasons.
4. Undoubtedly the most impressive discovery is an altar with an inscription from the 2nd century AD. The inscription is very well preserved, in Latin. It informs us that the altar was erected in gratitude to the nymphs with the dedication of a Roman officer. The inscription was read by Ch. assistant professor Nikolay Sharankov, PhD (Kliment Ohridski University) and a full scientific publication is forthcoming.