Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

1,500 year-old Roman furnace discovered during construction work in Silistra on the Danube

Photo: BGNES

The fully preserved furnace has two tiers. On the bottom tier are the two combustion chambers where a fire is lit to heat up the grate. Above the grate is the second tier of the furnace. The surface area of the grate is about 15 square metres, says archeologist Kristian Mihailov, as quoted by BGNES.

“Actually the temperature it developed was around 900 degrees C,” says on his part Prof. Georgi Atanasov. “If we take a look at the size of the bricks and especially their ornamentation the furnace may well have produced bricks for the construction of the magnificent fort erected on the bank of the River Danube by Justinian the Great around 620-630 AD,” Prof. Atanasov says further.

Archaeologists say this is the biggest Roman-era furnace for building ceramics ever found in the Bulgarian lands.




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

All Souls Day is an expression of our love for the souls of the departed

In today’s world, where material values overshadow the spiritual, reflections on the salvation of souls somehow remain in the background. The constant race against time and the stream of daily tasks muffle the voice of the soul, which struggles to..

published on 11/1/25 5:10 AM

Tsars Peter and Asen restored the Bulgarian state 840 years ago

In 1018, after half a century of struggle, the First Bulgarian Empire was conquered by Byzantium. Despite the many uprisings of the Bulgarians, the power of Constantinople lasted for nearly two centuries. In the autumn of 1185 or the..

published on 10/26/25 5:05 AM

St John of Rila – the Miracle-Worker of the Rila Wilderness

On 19 October, Bulgarians commemorate St Ivan Rilski, also known as St John of Rila, who is considered the country’s heavenly protector. He founded the Rila Monastery, which is the largest and most influential spiritual centre in Bulgaria. Ivan..

published on 10/19/25 7:30 AM