Bulgarian Archeologists Discover Oldest Settlement in Europe

Bulgarian archeologists have discovered walls, a door, and a ditch with a platform, believed to have belonged to the oldest settlement in Europe. Photo by actualno.com

Bulgarian archeologists have discovered near the village of Yunatsite in the southern Pazardzhik Region the oldest settlement in Europe.

According to Yavor Boyadzhiev, Head of the joined Bulgarian-Greek expedition, the find relates to a civilization that existed 6 800 years ago on Bulgarian land, much older than the Mycenaean one.

The archeologists discovered walls, the door of a large settlement and a ditch with a platform aimed to protect the dwelling from enemy attacks.

The scientists further explain the civilization had excellent knowledge and skills in various crafts and arts.

According to Boyadzhiev, there are strong reasons to say the find is the prototype of the European city, and its residents have been skilled and advanced. The settlement covered an area of 100 000 square meters with its most prominent inhabitants living inside the fortress wall.

The archeologist further found the skeletons of a male and a female, right near the door, and scores of clay dishes near the ditch.