Viktoria Petrova | National Institute of Archaeology and Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (original) (raw)

Papers by Viktoria Petrova

Археология, 2023

This article presents a study of two prehistoric sites located in a small micro-region in Southea... more This article presents a study of two prehistoric sites located in a small micro-region in Southeastern Bulgaria. A major contribution is the proposed local periodization of the Late Neolithic, based on the combination of relative chronology and 51 radiocarbon dates.

Neolithic circular ditched enclosures of the early sixth millennium BC in Southeast Bulgaria The ... more Neolithic circular ditched enclosures of the early sixth millennium BC in Southeast Bulgaria The archaeological site Kazlacha is situated in SouthEastern Bulgaria, 13 km northwest of Yambol. It occupies an area of 6 hectares and includes five overlapping circular enclosures-A, B, C, D, and E. The circular enclosures are 60 to 170 m across and consist of one to four concentric circular ditches. The site was registered in 2011, archaeological excavations began in 2015, and continued after a hiatus in 2020-2023 1. In 2023, the first stage of the study of this archaeological site was completed. Тhe chief objective of the investigations was to ascertain the principal characteristics and the dates of the individual circular enclosures through separate test trenches (https://clada.iict.bas.bg/VirtualTours/Kazlacha/). The earliest are enclosure В and C, dated to the beginning of the Early Neolithicthe Karanovo I period. The enclosure В is 60 m wide and consists of a ditch with a V-shaped cross section. The ditch is 3.30 m wide at the top and 0.60 m at the bottom; its depth is 2.00 m. The pottery material recovered from the ditch does not manifest a wide range of shapes or decorative motives. Most distinctive are the rounded bowls, the pierced lug handles, the high pedestals and the profiled bottoms. Decoration is scanty and consists of embossed bands and pits. The enclosure C has a diameter of 60 m and consists of two ditches (C1 and C2). They have a V-shaped section, and the distance between them is 6.40 m.

Археологически открития и разкопки, 2021

was reached at a depth of 5.70 m from the surface (143.76 m altitude) (fig. 3.2). The ditch was f... more was reached at a depth of 5.70 m from the surface (143.76 m altitude) (fig. 3.2). The ditch was filled by three main layers. The topsoil layer covers it together with the two border pits. The characteristics of the pottery and the finds, found in the trenches, date ditch A to the beginning of the Late Neolithic in Thrace-the Karanovo III period. Radiocarbon dates place it in the timespan 5673-5554 cal BC. The more characteristic ceramic forms include inverted-conical bowls (fig. 4.1-2), cylindrical cups with high handles (fig. 4.7), bowls (fig. 4.4), closed pots (fig. 4.3, 4.5), legs from vessels (fig. 4.9), vertical handles (fig. 4.6, 4.8) etc. The decoration is mainly stabbed (fig. 4.10, 4.13), but also includes channels and reliefs (fig. 4.11-12).

Археологически открития и разкопки, 2021

Списание на Българското геологическо дружество, Dec 1, 2022

The archaeological sites Gradishte 2 and Gradishte 3 are located along the Haemus Motorway. The a... more The archaeological sites Gradishte 2 and Gradishte 3 are located along the Haemus Motorway. The area was inhabited for a long period of time-from the late Neolithic-Chalcolithic period, Early Iron Age up to late antiquity. All excavated structures such as pits, dwellings, and EIA necropolis were situated in a similar type of sedimentsclayey loess. Differences between the loess in the these sites are the clay content, freshness, and roundness of quartz and feldspars. They are explained by different watershed areas, variations in the source area, and weathering intensity.

The Human Face of Radiocarbon, 2016

Археологически открития и разкопки, 2021

ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES AND EXCAVATIONS BOOK 1, 2020

The planned 2019 excavation season was supported by the Ministry of Culture within the framework ... more The planned 2019 excavation season was supported by the Ministry of Culture within the framework of the project 'Social, Cultural and Environmental Aspects of the Neolithization along the Middle Maritsa Valley: Archaeological Investigations at the Prehistoric Site of Nova Nadezhda'. The South area was extended by 52.5 m 2 , thus totaling to c. 130 m 2 ( ).

ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES AND EXCAVATIONS BOOK 1, 2020

ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES AND EXCAVATIONS BOOK 1, 2020

Arheologicheski otkritia i razkopki, 2019

Archaeological sites from the Late Bronze Age and Early Medieval Period, situated 13 km north-wes... more Archaeological sites from the Late Bronze Age and Early Medieval Period, situated 13 km north-west of Yambol town, are located over the northern slopes of Tandarski bair, directly north of Hadzhidimitrovo village. The excavations took place due to the development and construction of gas-station, truck parking and motel. A total of 11 dka, situated north of Trakia Highway, were examined.
Archaeological excavations were undertaken at the end of 2012 and in 2013. A total of 121 sondages were excavated. They measured 1.00 x 5.00 m and 0.50 x 5.00 m, and were oriented by the four cardinal points. The soil profile on the western border of the site included 5 stratigraphic layers (from the base upwards): sterile base with displacement around 5.00 – 5.50 m in north-east direction; brown colour, solid layer excluding artefacts (sondages 77, 77а, 78, 78а, 79, 79а), in which the structure from Early Medieval period was dug; gray-brown colour, solid layer with inclusions from small, isolated finds (sondages 54, 61, 62, 88, 93, 97), with thickness 0.40 – 0.50 m and dated to Late Iron Age; grey colour layer with inclusions from archaeological finds, measuring 0.30 – 0.40 m thick, covered the archaeological structures from the Late Iron Age and Early Medieval period; embankment, piled up during construction of Trakia Highway.
During the archaeological excavation, 15 pits and 5 concentrations of ceramic fragments and animal bones, dating to the Late Iron Age period were examined. The pits are mainly comprised of circular or oval hole, ranging in dimensions from 0.90 to 1.50 m. They have a bell-shape or conical section. The pottery found in them was both hand-made and wheel-made. The vessels are turned-conical, or shaped with a cylindrical neck, spherical belly and turned-conical bottom part. They are decorated with horizontal relief lines with holes, and oval-shaped relief protrusions or handles. Part of an amphora rim with stamp was found. The pits and the concentration of pottery fragments, animal bones and remains from wattle-and-daub constructions continued beyond the trench boundaries. The size and function of some of them remain unknown.
A damaged pit-house and one oven dug into the sterile layer were found from the Early Medieval Period. The oven is ovoid measuring 1.2 x 1.0 m. The maximum height of the oven is 0.85 m. In the northern part there is an oval entrance measuring 0.57 x 0.36 m. In front of it there is a 0.03 m step. The oven has two floors, a lower and upper floor are connected by a hole of irregular form, close to the oval measuring 0.32 x 0.40 m in size. The thickness of the layer between two floors varied from 0.08 to 0.26 m. On the periphery there are 4 holes with diameters between 0.08 and 0.10 m. The upper floor is 0.42 m high. Two stones and piece of brick were found on the bottom of upper floor. The bottom floor is 0.40 m high and 1.20 m in diameter. In it pieces of hand-made and wheel-made pottery were found.
Two graves were also examined. They belong to an infant and adult. The orientation is north-south. The grave of the infant is dug 0.30 m shallower than the adult grave. The dictation between the two graves pits is 0.15 m. The skeletons are orientated with the heads to the north. It is difficult to accurately date the graves due to the lack of artefacts contained within them.

Redaktion: Rashida Hussein-Oglü (Münster), Krum Bacvarov (Sofia) Satz: Renate Roling (Münster) Fr... more Redaktion: Rashida Hussein-Oglü (Münster), Krum Bacvarov (Sofia) Satz: Renate Roling (Münster) Front cover: White painted anthropomorphic pot from the Neolithic site of Mursalevo, Southwest Bulgaria (early 6th mill. BC). © Mursalevo Salvage Excavation Project. ISBN 978-3-7749-4066-6 Bibliografische Information der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek verzeichnet diese Publikation in der Deutschen Nationalbibliografie; detailliertere bibliografische Daten sind im Internet über ‹http://dnb.dnb.de› abrufbar. VORWORT DER HERAUSGEBER Die Reihe "Universitätsforschungen zur prähistorischen Archäologie" trägt dem Bedürfnis Rechnung, Examensarbeiten und andere Forschungsleistungen in die Öffentlichkeit zu tragen. Thematisch findet darin die ganze Breite des Faches vom Paläolithikum bis zur Archäologie der Neuzeit ihren Platz. Ursprünglich hatten sich fünf Universitätsinstitute in Deutschland zur Herausgabe der Reihe zusammengefunden, der Kreis ist inzwischen deutlich größer geworden. Alle interessierten Professoren und Dozenten sind einge-laden, als Mitherausgeber tätig zu werden und Arbeiten aus ihrem Bereich der Reihe zukommen zu lassen. Für die einzelnen Bände zeichnen jeweils die Autoren und Institute ihrer Herkunft, die im Titel deutlich gekennzeichnet sind, verantwortlich. Sie erstellen eine druckfertig gestaltete Datei (PDF). Bei gleicher Anordnung des Umschlages haben die verschiedenen beteiligten Universitäten jeweils eine spezifische Farbe. Finanzierung und Druck erfolgen entweder durch sie selbst oder durch den Verlag Dr. Rudolf Habelt GmbH, der in jedem Fall den Vertrieb der Bände sichert. Herausgeber sind derzeit: Kurt Alt (Mainz) François Bertemes (Halle) Nikolaus Boroffka (Berlin) Peter Breunig (Frankfurt am Main)

currently in position at the mixed laboratory Archéologies et Sciences de l'Antiquité at Nanterre... more currently in position at the mixed laboratory Archéologies et Sciences de l'Antiquité at Nanterre (UMR 7041). She is a specialist of the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods in the Aegean and the Balkans, and codirector of the Greek-French research project at the tell of Dikili Tash in Northern Greece.

Culture Karanovo VІ has been differentiated for the first time by G. Georgiev by the end of the 5... more Culture Karanovo VІ has been differentiated for the first time by G. Georgiev by the end of the 50s and the beginnings of the 60s of the XX century and is claimed as being part of cultures Gumelnitsa or Kodzhadermen. Simultaneous to this, D. Berciu defines within the borders of culture Gumelnitsa three regional phenomena (versions/variants) each with a specific geographical spread of distribution. The fist is located in Dobrudzha, the second covers the region between the Carpathian Mountains and the Balkans, and for the third variant, which partially coincides with culture Karanovo VІ, it is noted that it covers the eastern part of the Upper Thrace plain with the valley of Maritsa river as its centre.

Археология, 2023

This article presents a study of two prehistoric sites located in a small micro-region in Southea... more This article presents a study of two prehistoric sites located in a small micro-region in Southeastern Bulgaria. A major contribution is the proposed local periodization of the Late Neolithic, based on the combination of relative chronology and 51 radiocarbon dates.

Neolithic circular ditched enclosures of the early sixth millennium BC in Southeast Bulgaria The ... more Neolithic circular ditched enclosures of the early sixth millennium BC in Southeast Bulgaria The archaeological site Kazlacha is situated in SouthEastern Bulgaria, 13 km northwest of Yambol. It occupies an area of 6 hectares and includes five overlapping circular enclosures-A, B, C, D, and E. The circular enclosures are 60 to 170 m across and consist of one to four concentric circular ditches. The site was registered in 2011, archaeological excavations began in 2015, and continued after a hiatus in 2020-2023 1. In 2023, the first stage of the study of this archaeological site was completed. Тhe chief objective of the investigations was to ascertain the principal characteristics and the dates of the individual circular enclosures through separate test trenches (https://clada.iict.bas.bg/VirtualTours/Kazlacha/). The earliest are enclosure В and C, dated to the beginning of the Early Neolithicthe Karanovo I period. The enclosure В is 60 m wide and consists of a ditch with a V-shaped cross section. The ditch is 3.30 m wide at the top and 0.60 m at the bottom; its depth is 2.00 m. The pottery material recovered from the ditch does not manifest a wide range of shapes or decorative motives. Most distinctive are the rounded bowls, the pierced lug handles, the high pedestals and the profiled bottoms. Decoration is scanty and consists of embossed bands and pits. The enclosure C has a diameter of 60 m and consists of two ditches (C1 and C2). They have a V-shaped section, and the distance between them is 6.40 m.

Археологически открития и разкопки, 2021

was reached at a depth of 5.70 m from the surface (143.76 m altitude) (fig. 3.2). The ditch was f... more was reached at a depth of 5.70 m from the surface (143.76 m altitude) (fig. 3.2). The ditch was filled by three main layers. The topsoil layer covers it together with the two border pits. The characteristics of the pottery and the finds, found in the trenches, date ditch A to the beginning of the Late Neolithic in Thrace-the Karanovo III period. Radiocarbon dates place it in the timespan 5673-5554 cal BC. The more characteristic ceramic forms include inverted-conical bowls (fig. 4.1-2), cylindrical cups with high handles (fig. 4.7), bowls (fig. 4.4), closed pots (fig. 4.3, 4.5), legs from vessels (fig. 4.9), vertical handles (fig. 4.6, 4.8) etc. The decoration is mainly stabbed (fig. 4.10, 4.13), but also includes channels and reliefs (fig. 4.11-12).

Археологически открития и разкопки, 2021

Списание на Българското геологическо дружество, Dec 1, 2022

The archaeological sites Gradishte 2 and Gradishte 3 are located along the Haemus Motorway. The a... more The archaeological sites Gradishte 2 and Gradishte 3 are located along the Haemus Motorway. The area was inhabited for a long period of time-from the late Neolithic-Chalcolithic period, Early Iron Age up to late antiquity. All excavated structures such as pits, dwellings, and EIA necropolis were situated in a similar type of sedimentsclayey loess. Differences between the loess in the these sites are the clay content, freshness, and roundness of quartz and feldspars. They are explained by different watershed areas, variations in the source area, and weathering intensity.

The Human Face of Radiocarbon, 2016

Археологически открития и разкопки, 2021

ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES AND EXCAVATIONS BOOK 1, 2020

The planned 2019 excavation season was supported by the Ministry of Culture within the framework ... more The planned 2019 excavation season was supported by the Ministry of Culture within the framework of the project 'Social, Cultural and Environmental Aspects of the Neolithization along the Middle Maritsa Valley: Archaeological Investigations at the Prehistoric Site of Nova Nadezhda'. The South area was extended by 52.5 m 2 , thus totaling to c. 130 m 2 ( ).

ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES AND EXCAVATIONS BOOK 1, 2020

ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES AND EXCAVATIONS BOOK 1, 2020

Arheologicheski otkritia i razkopki, 2019

Archaeological sites from the Late Bronze Age and Early Medieval Period, situated 13 km north-wes... more Archaeological sites from the Late Bronze Age and Early Medieval Period, situated 13 km north-west of Yambol town, are located over the northern slopes of Tandarski bair, directly north of Hadzhidimitrovo village. The excavations took place due to the development and construction of gas-station, truck parking and motel. A total of 11 dka, situated north of Trakia Highway, were examined.
Archaeological excavations were undertaken at the end of 2012 and in 2013. A total of 121 sondages were excavated. They measured 1.00 x 5.00 m and 0.50 x 5.00 m, and were oriented by the four cardinal points. The soil profile on the western border of the site included 5 stratigraphic layers (from the base upwards): sterile base with displacement around 5.00 – 5.50 m in north-east direction; brown colour, solid layer excluding artefacts (sondages 77, 77а, 78, 78а, 79, 79а), in which the structure from Early Medieval period was dug; gray-brown colour, solid layer with inclusions from small, isolated finds (sondages 54, 61, 62, 88, 93, 97), with thickness 0.40 – 0.50 m and dated to Late Iron Age; grey colour layer with inclusions from archaeological finds, measuring 0.30 – 0.40 m thick, covered the archaeological structures from the Late Iron Age and Early Medieval period; embankment, piled up during construction of Trakia Highway.
During the archaeological excavation, 15 pits and 5 concentrations of ceramic fragments and animal bones, dating to the Late Iron Age period were examined. The pits are mainly comprised of circular or oval hole, ranging in dimensions from 0.90 to 1.50 m. They have a bell-shape or conical section. The pottery found in them was both hand-made and wheel-made. The vessels are turned-conical, or shaped with a cylindrical neck, spherical belly and turned-conical bottom part. They are decorated with horizontal relief lines with holes, and oval-shaped relief protrusions or handles. Part of an amphora rim with stamp was found. The pits and the concentration of pottery fragments, animal bones and remains from wattle-and-daub constructions continued beyond the trench boundaries. The size and function of some of them remain unknown.
A damaged pit-house and one oven dug into the sterile layer were found from the Early Medieval Period. The oven is ovoid measuring 1.2 x 1.0 m. The maximum height of the oven is 0.85 m. In the northern part there is an oval entrance measuring 0.57 x 0.36 m. In front of it there is a 0.03 m step. The oven has two floors, a lower and upper floor are connected by a hole of irregular form, close to the oval measuring 0.32 x 0.40 m in size. The thickness of the layer between two floors varied from 0.08 to 0.26 m. On the periphery there are 4 holes with diameters between 0.08 and 0.10 m. The upper floor is 0.42 m high. Two stones and piece of brick were found on the bottom of upper floor. The bottom floor is 0.40 m high and 1.20 m in diameter. In it pieces of hand-made and wheel-made pottery were found.
Two graves were also examined. They belong to an infant and adult. The orientation is north-south. The grave of the infant is dug 0.30 m shallower than the adult grave. The dictation between the two graves pits is 0.15 m. The skeletons are orientated with the heads to the north. It is difficult to accurately date the graves due to the lack of artefacts contained within them.

Redaktion: Rashida Hussein-Oglü (Münster), Krum Bacvarov (Sofia) Satz: Renate Roling (Münster) Fr... more Redaktion: Rashida Hussein-Oglü (Münster), Krum Bacvarov (Sofia) Satz: Renate Roling (Münster) Front cover: White painted anthropomorphic pot from the Neolithic site of Mursalevo, Southwest Bulgaria (early 6th mill. BC). © Mursalevo Salvage Excavation Project. ISBN 978-3-7749-4066-6 Bibliografische Information der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek verzeichnet diese Publikation in der Deutschen Nationalbibliografie; detailliertere bibliografische Daten sind im Internet über ‹http://dnb.dnb.de› abrufbar. VORWORT DER HERAUSGEBER Die Reihe "Universitätsforschungen zur prähistorischen Archäologie" trägt dem Bedürfnis Rechnung, Examensarbeiten und andere Forschungsleistungen in die Öffentlichkeit zu tragen. Thematisch findet darin die ganze Breite des Faches vom Paläolithikum bis zur Archäologie der Neuzeit ihren Platz. Ursprünglich hatten sich fünf Universitätsinstitute in Deutschland zur Herausgabe der Reihe zusammengefunden, der Kreis ist inzwischen deutlich größer geworden. Alle interessierten Professoren und Dozenten sind einge-laden, als Mitherausgeber tätig zu werden und Arbeiten aus ihrem Bereich der Reihe zukommen zu lassen. Für die einzelnen Bände zeichnen jeweils die Autoren und Institute ihrer Herkunft, die im Titel deutlich gekennzeichnet sind, verantwortlich. Sie erstellen eine druckfertig gestaltete Datei (PDF). Bei gleicher Anordnung des Umschlages haben die verschiedenen beteiligten Universitäten jeweils eine spezifische Farbe. Finanzierung und Druck erfolgen entweder durch sie selbst oder durch den Verlag Dr. Rudolf Habelt GmbH, der in jedem Fall den Vertrieb der Bände sichert. Herausgeber sind derzeit: Kurt Alt (Mainz) François Bertemes (Halle) Nikolaus Boroffka (Berlin) Peter Breunig (Frankfurt am Main)

currently in position at the mixed laboratory Archéologies et Sciences de l'Antiquité at Nanterre... more currently in position at the mixed laboratory Archéologies et Sciences de l'Antiquité at Nanterre (UMR 7041). She is a specialist of the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods in the Aegean and the Balkans, and codirector of the Greek-French research project at the tell of Dikili Tash in Northern Greece.

Culture Karanovo VІ has been differentiated for the first time by G. Georgiev by the end of the 5... more Culture Karanovo VІ has been differentiated for the first time by G. Georgiev by the end of the 50s and the beginnings of the 60s of the XX century and is claimed as being part of cultures Gumelnitsa or Kodzhadermen. Simultaneous to this, D. Berciu defines within the borders of culture Gumelnitsa three regional phenomena (versions/variants) each with a specific geographical spread of distribution. The fist is located in Dobrudzha, the second covers the region between the Carpathian Mountains and the Balkans, and for the third variant, which partially coincides with culture Karanovo VІ, it is noted that it covers the eastern part of the Upper Thrace plain with the valley of Maritsa river as its centre.

This communication presents the results of the first stage of the excavations of a new archaeolog... more This communication presents the results of the first stage of the excavations of a new archaeological site – Kazlacha, which is located in Southeastern Bulgaria. It was registered as a result of a large-scale geophysical survey. The site represents a concentration of five circular ditched enclosures dating from the first half of the 6th millennium BC. They are built one after the other, partially overlapping.