For a tenth year in a row the National Institute of Archaeology with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences organizes the National Archaeological exhibition “Bulgarian Archaeology 2016”. Traditionally, it presents the results from the last season of archaeological fieldwork by displaying some of the most interesting finds, along with extensive illustrative material. Contributions to the exhibition come from thirteen museums of history and archaeology in the country, co-organizers of the event.

The exhibition presents more than 350 artefacts from a total of 18 archaeological sites of different type and chronology, ranging from the Early Prehistory to the Middle Ages. Among these are well-known sites explored by long-term research, such as the Palaeolithic site in the Kozarnika cave, the Yunatsite and Provadia-Solnitsata prehistoric tells, the Gluhite Kamani rock complex, the Black Sea colony of Apollonia Pontica, the Roman cities of Deultum and Serdica, the first Bulgarian capital of Pliska, as well as the archaeological excavations of burial mounds by Primorsko and the village of Izvorovo, Harmanly region, the rescue excavations of the prehistoric settlement Damyanitsa, along the “Struma” motorway and others.

Some of the most impressive finds include the golden “treasure” (horse-trappings decoration) from Primorsko, a golden bead from Yunatsite tell (one of the earliest golden artefacts in Europe and the world known so far), golden adornments from a burial mound near Izvorovo and from the necropolis of  Apollonia, a golden button from Pliska, exquisite silver and bronze adornments from Thracian graves near Benkovski, a richly decorated and completely preserved bukel-amphora from Gluhite kamani, a bone anthropomorphic figurine with copper adornments from Provadia-Solnitsata tell, a Late Antique clay hearth from Yakoruda fortress, and bronze legs of monumental statues from Debelt.

The discovery context of all finds, as well as the results of many other investigations in 2016, is illustrated by posters for nearly 50 sites.