Glass vessels found off Bulgaria’s coast

Underwater archaeologists have made an intriguing discovery off the coast of Bulgaria. The Regional Historical Museum Burgas's team has recently retrieved 112 glass objects from Chengene Skele Bay near Burgas. This treasure trove adds to the previous findings of 310 glass vessels from the years 2020 and 2021.

Experts analyzing the find suggest that these glass artifacts are likely remnants from a shipwreck caused by a storm or rough waters. Several iron anchor chains and heavily damaged ceramic vessels in the vicinity support this hypothesis. However, the exact location of the shipwreck is yet to be established.

The newly recovered glass vessels offer valuable insights into trade and production during the Late Ottoman period in the Balkans. One prevailing theory is that these objects were produced in a workshop on the Venetian island of Murano between the late 16th and early 17th centuries. However, further research is required to confirm the precise dating of the glass items and their connection to the possible shipwreck.

Interestingly, the larger area surrounding the site also yielded significant findings. The study unearthed ancient Greek ceramics, a Roman lead weight, late antiquity amphorae, and 12th to 13th-century Medieval ceramics, specifically Type III Gunsenin amphorae. Additionally, the team stumbled upon a medieval pier at the southeastern end of Chengene Skele Bay, validating accounts of its existence given by traders and diplomats from that era.

This ongoing project led by the Regional Historical Museum Burgas continues to contribute invaluable knowledge to the field of underwater archaeology. By juxtaposing various artifacts and unraveling their histories, researchers generate a clearer picture of ancient trade networks and maritime activity along Bulgaria's coast.