[MR] BBC Article--Bulgaria

[Jeanne]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3999145.stm

Bulgaria hopes to exploit golden heritage  
By Albena Dimitrova 
BBC Bulgarian service  


Bulgaria's ancient Thracian heritage has been thrust into the 
spotlight this year with a number of key archaeological discoveries 
in the so-called "Valley of the Thracian Kings". 


The find near Shipka uncovered beautiful gold artefacts 
The golden treasures are attracting international attention and there 
is a push to make the Thracian heritage Bulgaria's trademark abroad 
in a bid to boost tourism in one of the poorer East European 
countries. 

Even the local people cannot believe that Bulgaria, with an income 
per capita reaching less than a third of the EU average, has managed 
to unearth kilos of pure gold worth millions of dollars. 

But, for many, there is more interest in a tapping a richer vein as 
property sales to foreign buyers are going through the roof. 

Among the latest archaeological finds was the discovery of a 2,400-
year-old Thracian shrine near the small town of Shipka, in the very 
heart of Bulgaria. Experts say it contains the burial of local king 
Seutus III - a mighty rival to Alexander the Great. 

The shrine consisted of three chambers buried under a big hill. The 
entry was sealed with a marble door, a masterpiece in itself. 

Gold valley 

In the first chamber, there lay the skeleton of a horse. But the real 
treasure waited in the third. The team went in to find a lavishly 
arranged burial place, a gold wreath and objects lying around. 

THE THRACIANS 

Lived in what is now Bulgaria, Romania, northern Greece and Turkey 
from around 4000 BC 
Conquered by Romans in AD46 
Not thought to have had own alphabet 
Described by Herodotus as "savage, blood-thirsty warriors" 
Finds include ceramics, bronze, gold and silver jewels  
It took the archaeologist several minutes to realise that the 
cracking sound under their feet came from smaller gold parts lying 
all over the place. 

Ancient findings such as this are not uncommon for this area south of 
the Balkan Mountains, aptly named the "Valley of the Thracian Kings". 

Weeks earlier the same team had discovered a rare gold mask. 

Scientists compare the new find to the discovery of King Agamemnon's 
tomb in Mycenae by Sir Arthur Evans in the 19th century. 

Archaeological excavations have therefore taken centre stage in 
Bulgaria. The Bulgarian media rediscovered the Indiana Jones type 
mystery of ancient civilizations and 2004 became "The Year of the 
Archaeologists". 

Public emotion went as far as the idea of using the new gold treasure 
to promote Bulgaria, under the logo "The Valley of the Thracian 
Kings". 

But can ancient gold change Bulgaria's image and attract foreign 
tourists and investment? 

  
Historians themselves are not really fond of the idea. 

The director of The National Archaeological Museum told the BBC the 
real treasures are not the gold objects, but the tombs discovered in 
the area. 

About a dozen of these tombs are really interesting and can attract 
foreign visitors if an adequate infrastructure is developed. 

Putting the ancient gold to work is not a new idea for Bulgaria. 
Three other earlier, and much bigger treasures, are touring Europe, 
America and Japan under the general title "The Thracian gold". 

These exhibitions started long back in communist times. The result so 
far is that they can hardly ever be seen in the country. However, 
public relations experts admit it is difficult to judge to what 
extent, if any, these exhibitions have increased interest in Bulgaria 
abroad. 

Property prospecting 

Even if such treasures were to prove worldwide success (the 
organisers of the Expo 2005 in Japan have already invited the new 
treasure for an exhibition), for Bulgarians there might be a better 
shortcut to prosperity. 


Many Bulgarians hope foreigners will bring them wealth 
The last two or three years registered record property sales in areas 
close to the Black Sea coast and in Bulgaria's mountain resorts. 

Many British and German buyers are being drawn to Bulgaria, attracted 
by lower property prices, a longer summer, beautiful countryside, 
cheap natural food and a generally easier living for people with 
Western pensions in a country with a much lower cost of living. 

The trend is welcomed by local people who can otherwise barely 
subsist on their own modest pensions. 

Gossip between neighbours over the fence as to who sold what for how 
much to a foreigner has become a common subject for conversation - an 
interest the Thracian gold is yet to arise even in the hearts of 
Bulgarians themselves.