PROTO-BULGARIAN PRODUCTION CENTER NEAR THE VILLAGE OF NOVOSEL (Stela Doncheva – donchevastela@yahoo.com) The discovery of metal ornaments and lead production moulds justified conducting archaeological excavations in order to localize the center for their production. Thirteen sondages were carried out up to 1.10 m in depth. A Proto-Bulgarian cultural stratum was discovered up to 70 cm in depth. It contained pottery of the 9th – 10th centuries. Six Byzantine coins of Romanos I Lekapenos, minted in the period 934 – 941 AD, were found. A Thracian cultural stratum containing pottery of the 6th – 5th centuries BC was explored from 80 cm to 1 m in depth. Metal ornaments produced in the 10th century by the Proto-Bulgarian art industry were found during the excavations. The metal objects were discovered on the ground surface and up to 70 cm in depth. Their total number reached 146, including the objects discovered by chance and bought by the Shumen Museum. The first group of objects includes belt appliques with various shapes and decoration, while the second group includes objects related to the production process on the site: predominantly lead production moulds, but also few dozens ingots and scrap that remained after the moulding. Two ornithomorphic amulets, four conical and pyramidal seals with depicted animals, a pendant, six fragmentary crosses, a book clasp, four finger rings, buttons, weights and nodules were also found. A specialized production center related to Veliki Preslav, the second Bulgarian capital, functioned on the site during the 10th century.

PRODUCTION CENTER NEAR THE VILLAGE OF NOVOSEL (Stoicho Bonev, Stela Doncheva – donchevastela@yahoo.com) Explorations of a center for producing metal ornaments began in 2004. Seven trenches were excavated in 2005. A cultural stratum of the First Bulgarian Kingdom was discovered at 60 – 70 cm in depth and fragmentary Thracian pottery of the 6th – 5th centuries BC was found below 80 cm in depth. Fragments of melting-pots were found in trench No. 14, at 50 cm in depth. Several hearths were discovered and burnt bones, charcoals and fragmentary lath-and-plaster were found. The boundaries of an earthen construction were outlined. A workshop that measures 4.30 m by 3.80 m was excavated at 1.50 – 1.60 m in depth. The foundation of the oven measures 70 cm by 80 cm and its diameter is 60 cm. A construction consisting of a hearth and an area confined by stones was discovered in trench No. 19, at 70 – 80 cm in depth. The workshop measures 4 m by 4.30 m and had at least three stages of functioning. An oven, 60 – 70 cm in diameter, was discovered at 1.50 m in depth. A production pit, containing a melting-pot, an iron knife, bronze appliques, slag and two bone awls was excavated in front of the oven. During the excavations in 2005, 117 objects were found and thus, their total number increased up to 263. The first group includes appliques, belt points, small seal-amulets with depicted animals, earrings, finger rings, book nasps and crosses. The second group includes lead and bronze production models, bronze and silver ingots, and lead scrap. Eleven Byzantine coins minted by Romanos I Lekapenos and by Romanos II and Constantine VII were found. Decorated pottery of the 9th – 10th centuries was found, too. The production center functioned during 930s – 940s and produced ornaments for the Bulgarian capital Preslav.

EXPLORATIONS AT NOVOSEL (Stoicho Bonev, Stela Doncheva – donchevastela@yahoo.com) A circular Thracian grave construction with a wall 60 cm in width, built of dry-free uneven stones, was discovered at 50 cm in depth. Sherds and a fragment of human mandible were found. The grave dates to the 5th century BC. In trench No. 19, fragments of melting-pots, slag and fragmentary lath-and-plaster were found at 80 cm in depth. The lay-out of workshop No. 2 was outlined. An oval furnace was discovered. Bronze slag, burnt appliqués, iron tools and a bone awl were found around the furnace. The exploration of workshop No. 1 continued. A pit containing charcoal and sherds was discovered. Workshop No. 3 was explored. The domes of two furnaces located close to each other were uncovered at 70 cm in depth. A handle of a pail, bronze appliqués, lead production models, a melting-pot, animal and bird bones were found. During the excavations, 265 items were found and their total number reached 494, while the total number of the melting-pots reached 509. The first group of finds includes bronze products (appliqués, belt points, seals – amulets showing animals, earrings, finger rings, book clasps, crosses). The second group of finds includes lead and bronze production models, bronze and silver ingots, lead scrap. This material testifies to the intensive production process, which is also confirmed by the discovery of exagia, iron and bone tools, and melting-pots. The pottery dates to the 9th – 10th century AD. Eleven follia minted by Romanus I Lecapenus, one follis and one miliarense minted by Romanus II and Constantine VII Porphyrogenetus testify that the production center functioned during AD 930 – 960.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS NEAR THE VILLAGE OF NOVOSEL (Stoicho Bonev - stoi40_50@abv.bg, Stela Doncheva) An area of c. 300 sq. m was explored is Sector East. The proto-Bulgarian stratum was registered at 40 cm in depth. The Thracian stratum of the 5th century BC is situated from 50 – 60 cm to 70 cm in depth. Sherds of proto-Bulgarian pottery and traces from production activities (over 40 bronze objects, lead models, melts, scrap, charcoal and fragments of melting-pots) were found in the proto-Bulgarian stratum. Remains of destroyed workshop were registered. The explorations in the area of the workshops in Sector West continued. Two furnaces close to each other, situated in a workshop room, were discovered. The furnaces have circular foundations of stones and walls of burned clay earth. The openings are from the southern sides of the furnaces. A pavement of stones was discovered around the furnaces, at 70 cm in depth. The level of the proto-Bulgarian terrain is at 80 – 90 cm in depth. Pottery, fragments of melting-pots and bronze melts were found around the two furnaces. The two furnaces belong to a workshop complex consisting of four rooms with two – three occupation levels. A stratum containing burned sherds, melting-pots, several bronze moulds for appliqués and three iron tools was explored. The finds from the excavations also include several bronze crosses, earrings and cone-like stamps.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS NEAR THE VILLAGE OF NOVOSEL (Stoicho Bonev – Stoi40_50@abv.bg, Stela Doncheva) Two metallurgical production complexes of the 10th century were discovered during the previous archaeological excavations: production complex I with three workshops and production complex II with one workshop discovered. The explorations of workshop No. 4, situated in production complex I that was 20.80 m long, continued. One of the walls was constructed of vertical wooden planks or beams, supported by stones arranged in a few courses from both sides. A second workshop was documented in production complex II. A metallurgical furnace, 1 m in diameter, probably beehive, was situated in the northern part of the workshop. Its walls, 30 – 40 cm wide, were constructed of stones and were preserved at 20 cm in height. The opening of the furnace was 30 cm wide. Charcoal, ash and animal bones were discovered inside the furnace and in front of it. A pit, 1 m in diameter and 20 cm in depth, was discovered at 2 m in front of the opening of the furnace. The pit was used to collect the waste from the burning and was filled with charcoal, ash and fragments of melting pots. Waste from the burning was also discovered as a layer, 15 – 20 cm thick, spread over the entire floor of the workshop. The finds included sherds of the 10th century, fragments of melting pots, a bone awl, an iron ring, about dozen metal decorations (mostly bronze appliqués), and bones from domestic and wild animals.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS NEAR THE VILLAGE OF NOVOSEL (Stoicho Bonev – Stoi40_50@abv.bg, Stela Doncheva) The proto-Bulgarian production center functioned during the AD 930s – 940s. The explorations of the second workshop in production complex II, situated in trench No. 14, continued. The metallurgical kiln and the pit situated in front of it, both discovered in 2008, were located in the northeastern corner of the workshop. The kiln was beehive, 1.10 m in diameter. Its walls were 40 cm wide, built of stones. The fire-box was rectangular, 50 cm by 40 cm in size. Its opening was from the south. Two stones from its structure had holes, 3 cm in diameter, which supported a grill situated at 30 cm above the bottom of the fire-box. A sunken-floored workshop with a metallurgical kiln and a pit situated in front of it was discovered at c. 60 m to the east of production center II. The workshop belonged to production center III. The kiln was beehive, 1.10 – 1.20 m in diameter, preserved up to 60 cm in height. Its walls were 40 cm wide, built of stones. The fire-box was rectangular, 40 cm by 60 cm in size. Its opening was from the south. A pit, 1.80 m by 2.80 m in size, was situated in front of the kiln. The finds from the excavations included proto-Bulgarian pottery, metal and bone objects.