Sofia weekenders have been queuing for over an hour to take a glimpse at the unique Thracian gold mask exhibited in the National Museum of Archeology.

Officials of the museum have not witnessed such public interest to its exhibits since January 1998 when Bulgarians flocked to bid farewell to the original script of Istoria Slavyanobulgarskaya (Slav-Bulgarian History) before returning it to Mount Athos.

The whole set of artifacts found by the expedition of Georgi Kitov near the town of Kazanlak a month ago can be seen in the National Museum of Archeology till September 22. Then the treasure will be handed down to experts for restoration.

Meanwhile, a special commission at the National Institute for Cultural Monuments decided two of the mounds unearthed this year by the Bulgarian "Indiana Jones", archeologist Georgi Kitov, to be turned into tourist sites.

The gold mask is so far the only of its kind found in Bulgaria. However, with its very first revelation for the world it overshadowed analogues found and stored in Greece and Macedonia.

The mask is believed to depict the face of a mighty ancient king, probably that of Theres or Seutus III, who ruled over the local tribes around V-IV century BC.

The human-faced mask is unique for several reasons, as it is so far the only one known to be made of a lump of pure gold. It also serves as a drinking vessel - a phial, but it is the first phial in the form of a human face, archeologists explained.

Its discoverer Georgi Kitov suggested that the mighty king it pictures used to drink wine from it and then cover his face with the mask-phial, thus inspiring awe in his subjects.

The gravesite where the mask was unearthed stored also parts of a human body scattered inside, which suggested the person was an Orphic cult follower.

The mound in the outskirts of Shipka Peak, known as the Bulgarian "Valley of Kings", proved to be a real treasure-hearth revealing several more unique artifacts besides the gold mask, which beyond doubt is the most impressive.

The archeologists also found a golden ring, apparently portraying an Olympic rower or a spear-thrower, as well as ancient vessels imaging Hercules, mythological King Priapus and maenads, a unique silver chain armour, silver and bronze vessels, a sword and a unique phial with grips.