Footsteps of Cumans, Pechenegs, and DNA reveal the secrets of Ryahovets fortress near Gorna Oryahovitsa

published on 11/26/25 10:50 AM

Photo: g-oryahovica.bg

A 5,000-year-long history lies hidden in the ruins of the medieval fortress “Ryahovets” near the town of Gorna Oryahovitsa where active excavations began ten years ago. On this occasion, on November 17, the Historical Museum in Gorna Oryahovitsa opened an exhibition featuring photographs and artifacts that tell the story of times when these lands were home to Thracians, Pechenegs, Cumans, and the Asen dynasty.

Cuman settlement discovered near fortress of Ryahovets in Gorna Oryahovitsa

“The site was inhabited continuously from the Early Bronze Age - 3000 BC - until the 14th century,” says Maya Ivanova, chief curator of the museum and deputy head of the archaeological excavations led by Iliyan Petrakiev. She adds:

“We have individual structures, such as dwellings typical of these nomads. There are also finds that are highlights of the museum exhibition, such as a ceramic cauldron with inner handles, characteristic only of the Pechenegs; a small knife connected to the Cumans; a necropolis of 15 graves and pits around them, where we found horse and cattle bones - clear evidence of pagan burial practices typical of the nomads of that time.”

Today the archaeological site spans several acres. But when Maya Ivanova and Iliyan Petrakiev first visited the area - 25 years after the earliest excavations - they discovered it completely hidden under vegetation.

“We walked into a forest! We knew about the site from literature and photographs, but we had no idea how vast it truly was. Even in the outskirts of the military fortress from the time of the Second Bulgarian Empire, civilian life flourished, with its own customs, culture, and beliefs,” the researcher explains, listing artifacts that are significant even in global archaeology:

“A ceramic set of seven vessels, now 5,000 years old, but they were completely untouched by time. These are finds that would be noteworthy even on a world level. There are fascinating items from the Thracian period - amphora handles from the 3rd–1st century BC, showing the trade links between the Thracians and the Greek colonies of that era, as well as bronze and lead Thracian coins. We presented some of these materials at an international conference in Romania in 2021. The objects from the Second Bulgarian Empire would also take an honorable place - we have an exceptional sgraffito bowl decorated with cypress trees, and more.”

With the development of technology in recent years, archaeologists have begun paying increasing attention to interdisciplinary research, combining DNA analysis, archaeobotany, and archaeozoology.

“In the American journal Nature, we managed to publish information from an experiment conducted at the Genetics Institute of Harvard University. We had to extract DNA and make comparative analyses - this helps with dating, so we plan to use it for the children’s graves discovered this year. A month ago, we were also invited to join an international project studying diseases such as smallpox, whooping cough, and others. We will participate, and we hope to soon have results to publish in a large, comprehensive volume.”

Years ago, the team of archaeologists was joined by the Ryahovets Archaeology School, where students work on site alongside researchers, learning excavation techniques and helping with documentation. “It seems what they love most is digging - grabbing the pickaxes,” Ivanova says with humor. She adds that encountering history inspires some young people to choose it as their profession.

“We have one girl - Yoana Katreva - who completed a master’s degree and has been working for two years on various projects in Germany, Greece, etc., and now she is about to start a PhD. Two other girls completed their bachelor’s degrees. One will continue with anthropology, and the other with a master’s degree in archaeology, and she continues to work closely with us.”

And while the young generation follows in the footsteps of their mentors, archaeologists are already turning toward future projects, in which excavations, DNA studies, and new technologies may allow us to hear even more clearly the echo of footsteps among the ruins - footsteps testifying to the millennia-old history of Bulgaria's Ryahovets fortress.

Learn more about the town of Gorna Oryahovitsa:

English publication: R. Petkova

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