# Preslav Treasure

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Artifacts found in Castana, Bulgaria

The **Preslav Treasure** was found in autumn of 1978 at the vineyard in Castana, 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) to the north - west of the second [Bulgarian](/source/Bulgaria) capital – Veliki [Preslav](/source/Preslav).[1] The excavations that followed revealed more than 170 golden, silver and bronze objects including 15 silver [Byzantine](/source/Byzantine) coins belonging to [Constantine VII](/source/Constantine_VII),[2][3] [Romanos II](/source/Romanos_II) (945 and 959) and other artifacts dating far back to the period between 3rd and 7th centuries.[4][5]

The [Preslav](/source/Preslav) Treasure was concealed during the turbulent events between 969 and 972 - when [Preslav](/source/Preslav) was conquered first by [Kiev](/source/Kiev) royal prince, [Sviatoslav I of Kiev](/source/Sviatoslav_I_of_Kiev)[6] and two years later by the [Byzantine](/source/Byzantine) Emperor, [John Tzimisces](/source/John_Tzimisces).[7][8]

Several techniques of jewelry making were used in producing adornments, buttons, appliques etc.: not limited to casting in moulds, welding of small gold balls (granules) or fine gold wire [filigree](/source/Filigree), inlays of pearls and multi-colored [enamel](/source/Vitreous_enamel).

The owner of the necklace (see on the left) was probably under the protection of [Virgin Mary](/source/Virgin_Mary), who is portrayed on both central medallions. It is possible that [Peter I of Bulgaria](/source/Peter_I_of_Bulgaria) gave this beautiful jewelry as a wedding gift to his bride, [Irene Lekapene](/source/Irene_Lekapene), the [Byzantine](/source/Byzantine) princess, in 927 in [Constantinople](/source/Constantinople). It is assumed that the necklace was a wedding present because the images of water-birds symbolize family happiness and fidelity.

## See also

- [Treasure of Nagyszentmiklós](/source/Treasure_of_Nagyszentmikl%C3%B3s)

- [Pereshchepina Treasure](/source/Pereshchepina_Treasure)

- [Avar Treasure](/source/Avar_Treasure)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Bulgaria - Land of Ancient Civilizations by Dimiter Dimitrov, Foreign Language Press, Sofia 1961, p.37

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Constantine the Great and the Christian Revolution by G. P. Baker (2003) p.61

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** The Roman Empire from Severus to Constantine by Miss P Southern (2001) p.286

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Southeastern Europe in the Middle Ages, 5001250 (Cambridge Medieval Textbooks) by Florin Curta (2006)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** East Central and Eastern Europe in the Early Middle Ages by Florin Curta (2005)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Dutch Contributions to the Thirteenth [International Congress of Slavists](/source/International_Congress_of_Slavists): Ljubljana August 15–21, 2003 - Linguistics (Studies in Slavic & General Linguistics) by Peter Houtzagers, Jenneke Kalsbeek, and Jos Schaeken (2003) p.392

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** A Short History of Byzantium by John Julius Norwich (1998) p.181

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** The City in Late Antiquity (Leicester-Nottingham Studies in Ancient Society) by John Rich (1996) p.191

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Preslav treasure](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Preslav_treasure).

- [Website of the National Historical and Archaeological Museum Veliki Preslav](https://museum-velikipreslav.com/)

[43°10′N 26°49′E / 43.167°N 26.817°E / 43.167; 26.817](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Preslav_Treasure&params=43_10_N_26_49_E_type:city)

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