Premium
Roman, Ottoman coins, discovered at border in Bulgarian treasure hunters' luggage
A numismatic treasure was discovered by border police at Negru Voda in the luggage of Bulgarian treasure hunters.
On Sunday afternoon, a Bulgarian-registered car with three Bulgarians in it showed up for border control at the Negru Voda Border Crossing Point on the way out of Romania.
"The border police officers of the Coast Guard discovered during the thorough control of the vehicle, in a plastic bottle, no less than 62 coins with Latin inscriptions, as well as four objects. Three metal detectors were also found, most likely used by the occupants of the vehicle to discover archaeological treasures," the Border Police informed on Tuesday.
The national authorities in charge with the protection of the national cultural heritage were notified, and a criminal file was drawn up for illegal export of heritage goods, according to Law 182/2000, as well as for access with metal detectors or their use in areas with archaeological heritage, provisions contained in Government Ordinance 43/2000.
Investigations are being carried out to verify whether Bulgarian citizens were legally using metal detectors for archaeological discoveries on the territory of Romania, and whether the area where the discovery was made is registered as an archaeological site in the List of Historical Monuments.
"A numismatic expert from the Museum of National History and Archaeology of Constanta has carried out a preliminary examination of the objects discovered by the border police, stating that the four objects (an arrowhead, three atypical elements that may represent parts of a whole) and 62 bronze and silver coins are of Roman origin (4th century AD), with Latin inscriptions, respectively of medieval (probably Ottoman) origin. They may come from several archaeological sites," the source said.
The objects and coins have been given into the custody of archaeologists from the Museum of National History and Archaeology of Constanta, who will take preventive conservation measures, will carry out a detailed expert assessment of the objects found, and will subsequently determine their value and importance for the heritage of Dobrogea.
AGERPRES
