Exhibit of the month – March 2026

GLASS CORNUCOPIA (HORN OF PLENTY)

Ancient site at Krushko / Oluklui locality at the village of Blaskovo, Provadia region

3rd – early 4th c. (?)

Photo Ch. Chomakov

The exquisitely crafted glass vessel was discovered during a 2025 rescue archaeological excavation of an ancient site (No. 27 along the route of the Luping gas pipeline from Rupcha to Vetrino) located in the Krushko/ Oluklui, southeast of the village of Blaskovo, Provadia municipality. As a result, 33 archaeological structures were studied, including an above-ground building, metallurgical furnaces, pits from the late Hellenistic and Roman periods, as well as dugouts, probably related to Roman cult practices. The building was discovered in the southern part of the site, in the form of a concentrated accumulation of brick fragments, scattered stones, large pieces of charcoal, iron nails, animal bones, large quantities of pottery, fragments of glass vessels, metal objects, and coins dating to the second half of the 3rd century. East of the building, metallurgical furnaces for processing iron ore were uncovered. South of them, a glass cup with two-colour paste and a shape representing a cornucopia was found—a discovery that has few parallels in Bulgaria and even in Europe.

The artefact is part of the temporary exhibition Bulgarian Archaeology 2025 and is on display in the National Archaeological Museum until June 7th, 2026.

Bibliography:

Иванов, Ст., Драгоев, Д., Йорданов, С. 2026. Античен обект в м. Крушко / Олуклуй при с. Блъсково, община Провадия. – Бояджиев, К., Иванова, Н. (ред.). Българска археология 2025 – каталог към изложба. Национален археологически музей, Каталози, том XLIII, Серия „Българска археология”, 28 – 29.