Five gold coins from the era of Byzantine Emperor Justinian the Great were discovered during archaeological excavations at the Kaleto Fortress above Debnevo, the largest village in Troyan Municipality, Northern Bulgaria. The discovery was announced by ᴀssoc. Dr. Stiliyan Ivanov from the National Archaeological Insтιтute with a Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, who led the excavation.

Medallion of Justinian I. Credit: Classical Numismatic Group, CC BY-SA 2.5

The coins, dating back to the 6th century, were found scattered on the floor of a burned-out dwelling that dates to the time of the Bulgarian Tsars Simeon and Peter, in the 10th century. “The most interesting archaeological situation this year is an early medieval dwelling that was burned down,” said Dr. Ivanov. “In other cases, similar dwellings are found without remains of the internal structure, but here we have the rare opportunity to see the wooden lining of the dwelling, which, although charred, is clearly discernible.”

“What is intriguing about the coins is that they are much older than the early medieval dwelling where they were found. They date back to the 6th century, from the time of Emperor Justinian I,” explained Dr. Ivanov. The coins were likely discovered and preserved by the builders of the medieval dwelling, despite not being in circulation during that time. “Although the coins were no longer in circulation, they were still valuable because they were made of gold—a material that was prized even in the Middle Ages,” he added.

Emperor Justinian I, who ruled from 527 to 565, is renowned for his efforts to reconquer former Roman territories and for his contributions to Byzantine law, culture, and architecture. His reign is often considered the pinnacle of Byzantine cultural and economic prosperity.

In addition to the coins, a variety of items were found in the burned dwelling, including two iron sickles, iron tools, a belt buckle, three bronze rings, and various-sized ceramic vessels. These items suggest that the dwelling’s inhabitants were involved in agriculture. “The owners left behind all their inventory, which helps us understand their way of life and the economy of the time,” noted Dr. Ivanov.

The archaeological site of Kaleto Fortress has been studied intermittently since 1974. The renewed archaeological efforts, led by Dr. Ivanov, have included a team of experts and young archaeologists from Veliko Tarnovo University, as well as specialists like Dorothea Ivanova and Miroslav Markov from the Chiprov Museum.

The fortress, located on a naturally fortified hill near the river and arable land, has revealed multiple layers of historical occupation, including traces of a large Thracian settlement from the 4th-3rd centuries BC, three phases of habitation from Late Antiquity (4th-6th centuries), remains from the First and Second Bulgarian Kingdoms, and evidence of activity during the Ottoman period. Some of the fortress walls are well preserved, while others have deteriorated over time, with some materials being repurposed for nearby constructions.

Research on the site will continue until the end of August, after which the team plans to begin the conservation of the newly discovered structures.