Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - Ancient Thracian Dagger found in Bulgaria

TVV · 8th August 2006, 07:16 PM

No better pictures ara available currently, but here is some information. Firs of all, the dagger is not Thracian, but a earlier. I could not find a dating, unfortunately, but as the Varna Achaeology Museum contains the oldest golden trasure in the world, this is not so surprising - there is plenty of evidence of a mysterious prehistoric civilisation in the lands of nowadays Bulgaria which had advanced gold working skills. Regardless of what BBC think, it is unlikely that it was used in sacrifices, but most probably had a symbolic purpose, such as being part of ruler's regalia.
Interestingly enough, the more than 15,000 golden objects are not parts of burials, as there are no bones and pottery dicovered around them, and it is believed that they were placed in small man made hills as an offering to deities. I will see if I can find better pictures. The dagger will be put on display in the National History Museum in Sofia on August 9th. I am looking forward to seeing it next time I go back home.

8th August 2006, 07:16 PM	#2
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,659	No better pictures ara available currently, but here is some information. Firs of all, the dagger is not Thracian, but a earlier. I could not find a dating, unfortunately, but as the Varna Achaeology Museum contains the oldest golden trasure in the world, this is not so surprising - there is plenty of evidence of a mysterious prehistoric civilisation in the lands of nowadays Bulgaria which had advanced gold working skills. Regardless of what BBC think, it is unlikely that it was used in sacrifices, but most probably had a symbolic purpose, such as being part of ruler's regalia. Interestingly enough, the more than 15,000 golden objects are not parts of burials, as there are no bones and pottery dicovered around them, and it is believed that they were placed in small man made hills as an offering to deities. I will see if I can find better pictures. The dagger will be put on display in the National History Museum in Sofia on August 9th. I am looking forward to seeing it next time I go back home. Last edited by TVV; 8th August 2006 at 07:31 PM.