ARCHEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION

Kazanlak valley is strewn with Thracian funeral mounds, records of the past, visible from all the roads passing through it. Fewer than 100 are the Thracian undermounded constructed structures in Bulgaria, which are usually called tombs. Fifteen buildings like these are put up in Kazanlak valley. Concentrated on a confined geographic region, they are much more than anywhere else in the country.

The first serious discovery in the Valley, which wasn’t still called "of the kings", was made on 19^th April 1944. Kazanlak Thracian Tomb is world – famous for its remarkable mural paintings in the corridor and in the beehive premises, one of the most well preserved works of ancient art painting.

On 27^th September 1995 the team of archaeologists found the tomb Kran II. It is in the mound of Saraphova near Kran village. The Artistic merit of the temple in the mound of Saraphova are the several horizontal belts (zones), covered with an unruffled surface in white, yellow, black, orange and red.

In 1993 treasure-hunters unearthed one of the biggest Thracian complexes in the mound Ostrusha near Shipka town. The burial chamber is set up of two monolithic ashlars with a total weigh of 60 tones. Similar outfit hasn't been discovered in the whole south-east so far.

The temple in Goliama Arsenalka was opened on 31^st August 1995 in the close proximity of a branch of arms factories "Arsenal" – Kazanlak, of which it is named. It is built from well worked stones of purple granite. The Goliama Arsenalka in no time was defined as the most imposing beehive edifice in Thrace. This mound surpassed the familiar ones at that time

In 1996 were discovered three Thracian tombs of The Shushmanec necropolis near Shipka. The Tomb of The Griphonite mound is the most well preserved beehive tomb used in V – VI century BC as a mausoleum. The floor is covered with a thick coat of plaster and the two-leaved doors are broken at the time of the raiding. The Thracian tomb Helvecia date back to V – IV century BC. And­ the tomb Shushmanec consists of a burial chamber and right-angled anteroom with a half-tubular vault, propped up with a Doric column.

On 19^th August 2004 from the wombs of the Svetica mound, situated about 2 km away from Shipka town was found a stone tomb suchlike  sarcophagus type with amaizing for the Thracian culture finds­ –­­ an unique golden mask, a golden ring and the bronze armour, the antique utensils and parts of weapons supplement the treasure.

In the mound of Goliama Kosmatka near Shipka is hidden one of the biggest and richest Thracian tombs on our lands.

The future of  The Valley of  the Thracian Kings may be considered surely as a representative, profitable and flourishing tourist  centre  thanks to all of these findings on its lands.