BULGARIAN ARCHAEOLOGISTS FOUND GOLD HEART ORNAMENT IN PRESLAV’S ROYAL PALACE

23-carat gold heart with coloured enamel incrustation was found by Bulgarian archaeologists in the Royal residential palace in Preslav, the second capital of the First Bulgarian Empire in 893-970 AD. The medieval jewel was made by Byzantine craftsmen and was a garment decoration likely to Queen Mary, wife of King Peter. So far, gold objects of this kind could be seen only in the Louvre and the Hermitage Museum.

The gold heart is a magnificent specimen of the Byzantine Jewelry School, which used to make unique jewelry for the rulers. The ornament is a gift to the Byzantine Mary, who became the wife of King Peter. It is part of the arch decoration that was placed at the top of the garment.

The ornament’s size is 3, 5 cm by 4 cm. It was found in the western part of the palace, under the colonnade. One of the working hypotheses is that it can be part of Preslav gold treasure discovered in 1978. It contains numerous gold ornaments also decorated with enamel and filigree. The palace of the ruler has been studied for several years, but still amazes archaeologists with its stylish stone decoration.