The British Archaeological Expedition to the ancient emporium of Vetren - Pistiros, central Bulgaria
Zofia Archibald, 2009. https://doi.org/10.5284/1000165. How to cite using this DOI
Data copyright © University of Liverpool, Dr Zofia Archibald unless otherwise stated
This work is licensed under the ADS Terms of Use and Access.
Primary contact
Dr
Zofia
Archibald
School of Archaeology, Classics and Oriental Studies
University of Liverpool
Abercromby Square
Liverpool
L69 3BX
England
Tel: 0151 7945044
Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 359
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1000165
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
Adjiyska Vodenitsa (Hadji's Water Mill), near Vetren, central Bulgaria, is a premier archaeological site of the European Iron Age. It was an inland emporium, acting as a centre of exchange between Continental regions of the East Balkans and the Mediterranean between 5th and 2nd centuries BCE. A granite inscription, found 2km north-east of the site, is one of the earliest documents from the chancery of a European prince, granting privileges to Greek merchants from named cities of the Aegean. It refers to Pistiros, an emporium, which has been identified with the site at Adjiyska Vodenitsa.
An international team was created in 1992 to investigate the site, which is one of a tiny handful of Iron Age settlements that have been examined systematically in the whole east Balkan region. The project described here, funded by an AHRB grant (1999-2000), aimed to
- conduct a geophysical survey to determine the size and character of the fortified area, and of the colluvial/alluvial deposits that brought about the site's demise;
- conduct a limited on-site excavation and post-excavation analysis;
- create an electronic database of finds;
- conduct a preliminary examination of faunal remains.
