Bulgarian archaeologists have unearthed a peculiar close combat bladed weapon used by the Thracians, Prof Nikolay Ovcharov has said.

The rhomphaias, which can measure up to 1.5 m, are relatively rare finds in Bulgaria where only 13 of them have been found so far.

There are as many as 700 artifacts discovered in this year's excavations, daily Standart quotes Prof Ovcharov as telling journalists on Monday.

With some fresh funding worth BGN 220 000 (EUR 110 000) granted by the government this year, works are expected to continue smoothly through to September, and Perperikon's Acropolis (believed to have been the tallest building there) and a palace-shrine could be completely uncovered by September, Ovcharov believes.

Along with other Bulgarian and international archaeologists, he has often described Perperikon as the country's most famous archaeological site at present.

Summer excavations at the site kicked off in June, and a number of new discoveries have been announced including a Roman temple and an ancient square in the center of the rock city. A number of coins, some dating back to the Byzantine era and others to the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, have also been unearthed.

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