Scientists have completed their annual exploration program for an early medieval settlement in the Sborjanovo Archaeological Reserve in the northeastern region of Razgrad.

The excavations were funded by the Ministry of Culture within a project of the History Museum in Isperih and the University of Sofia, BTA learned from the deputy head of the archaeological team, Maria Nikolaeva, who is the deputy director of the Isperih Museum.

The early medieval settlement consists of many dwellings, including pits and half-pits, as well as newer above-ground buildings. The country's exploration has gone into its 16th year. The latest work has focused on the southwestern part of the settlement, with special emphasis on the discovery of the still buried parts of the structures, mainly dwellings.

Nikolaeva described the archaeological season as successful. "Our goals were to go deeper, to determine the outer limits of the excavated structures, which we assume are dwellings. The materials we find support our conclusion about when the settlement appeared, which was between the 9th and 10th centuries."

She said most of the finds shed light on the lifestyle of medieval residents. These artifacts include fragments of axes and knives, various other metal tools, needles, bone awls (a shoemaker's tool), and coins from the Roman era.

The archaeological team is led by Elena Pençeva, senior assistant professor at the University of Sofia. Archeology students from the university conduct fieldwork at this site every year. Workers and youth from the area contribute to the excavations, Nikolaeva said. /BTA