Valchitran Treasure Explained

Valchitran Treasure
Material:	gold
Discovered:	1924 at Valchitran
Location:	National Archaeological Museum, Sofia

The Valchitran Treasure (Bulgarian: Вълчитрънско златно съкровище) is an early Thracian treasure.

Discovery

It was discovered on 28 December 1924 by two brothers who were working in their vineyard near the village of Valchitran, 22 km southeast of Pleven, Bulgaria.^{[1] [2]}

Description

The hoard consists of 13 receptacles, different in form and size, and weighs in total 12.5 kg:

• two round platters
• five round domed pieces, two with central handles
• three cups with handles
• a jug with handle
• three leaf shaped vessels with handles
• a bowl with two handles (4.5 kg of gold)

The gold metal has a natural mixture of 9.7% silver.

The scientists dated the treasure back to 1300 BC, at the time of the Thracians.

It is now one of the most valuable possessions of the National Archaeological Museum in Sofia.^[3]

See also

• History of Bulgaria
• Panagyurishte Treasure
• Rogozen Treasure
• Lukovit Treasure
• Borovo Treasure

Bibliography

• Book: Mikov, V. . Zlatnoto sukrovishte ot Vulchitrun. Izdanie na Bulgarskata akademiia na naukite . Sofia . 1958 .
• Markotic. Vladimir . Reviewed Work: Zlatnoto Sukrovishte ot Vulchitrun by V. Mikov Pp. 68, figs. 40, pls. XXI, Izdanie na Bulgarskata akademiia na naukite. Sofiia, 1958, Lv. 18.30. American Journal of Archaeology. 63. 3 . July 1959 . 285 . 501853 .
• Popovitch. Vladislav . Encore le Trésor d'orfèvrerie de Vâlčitrân . Revue Archéologique . 2 . 1959 . 106–110 . 41753852 .
• Moorey . P. R. S . Roger Moorey . Thracian Treasures . The Burlington Magazine. 118 . 876 . March 1976 . 174, 179 . 878327 .
• Casson. Lionel . Lionel Casson . The Thracians . The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin . 35. 1 . Summer 1977 . 2. 3258667 .
• Venedikov . Ivan . Ivan Venedikov . The Archaeological Wealth of Ancient Thrace . The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin . 35 . 1 . 1977 . 3258668 . 13 (color plate 1, figures 11–13) . via- Met Publications
• Book: The Vulchitrun Treasure (Pleven District); Late Bronze Age, Thirteen to Twelfth Centuries B.C.; Archaeological Museum, Sofia. Thracian Treasures from Bulgaria: Checklist of The Special Exhibition, June 11 - September 4, 1977, coordinated by Dietrich von Bothmer, items 107-119 . Metropolitan Museum of Art . 1977 . New York . Digital Collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art . 21 June 2018.
• Book: Marazov . Ivan . Fol . Alexander . Thrace and the Thracians . St. Martin’s Press . New York . 1977 . 10, 60–64, 145, 148, 149 . Internet Archive . 21 June 2018 .
• Book: Venedikov, Ivan . Ivan Venedikov . The Vulchitrun Treasure . Sofia. Svyat . 1988 .
• Eisenberg . Jerome M. . The Wealth of the Thracians: A Spectacular Exhibitions of Thracian Treasures Travelling America . The International Review of Ancient Art & Archaeology - MINERVA . January 1998 . 9 . 1. 9 . 22 June 2018.
• Book: Sotirov. Ivan . Ilieva. Pavlina . Vulchitrun Gold Treasure . Borina . Sofia . 2002 .
• Book: Valeva, Julia. Chapter 14: Gold, Silver and Bronze Vessels. A Companion to Ancient Thrace . Valeva, Julia . Nankov, Emil . Graninger, Denver. Hoboken. John Wiley & Sons. 2015. 197–198.

External links

• The Valchitran Gold treasure
• Bulgaria Travel - image

Notes and References

1. Book: Ovcharov, Dimiter . The Vulchitrun Treasure . Fifteen Treasures from Bulgarian Lands . Pencheva, Maya . Bulgarian Bestseller, National Museum of Books and Polygraphy . Sofia . 20–21 . 2005 .
2. Book: Crampton, R. J. . A Concise History of Bulgaria . limited . 2005. 2nd . Cambridge University Press . Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore, São Paolo . 1.
3. Book: Thracian Treasures from Bulgaria . The Metropolitan Museum of Art . 1977 . New York . 13–14, 24–25 . registration . 23 February 2018 . Internet Archive.