Gold vessels from the biggest ancient treasure found in Bulgaria were recently displayed in Brussels making for a stir that spread even beyond Belgium's frontiers. Parts of the 12.5 kg Valchitran gold treasure featured in the "Golden Thrace" exhibition that was the most visited event of the Europalia 2002 Bulgaria culture festival. These unique Thracian vessels exited European archaeology fans as they are a truly rear view outside Bulgaria.

The Valchitran find that spans 13 ritual vessels is the biggest gold treasure ever discovered in Bulgaria. The amazing gold collection was unearthed in 1925 in a vineyard near the village of Valchitran, some 160 km north of Bulgaria's capital Sofia. It was dated back to the 16th -12th century B.C. The vessels are made of pure gold with natural silver, copper and iron alloys. The Valchitran treasure consists of seven cymbal-like articles, four cups, a crater-like pot with shanks and a triple-form vessel.

The unusual shape of the vessels made archeologists think that they were used by the Thracian priest-kings for religious rituals.

The ancient Thracians, ruled by a powerful warrior aristocracy rich in gold, inhabited an area extending over most of modern Bulgaria, northern Greece and the European part of Turkey.

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