Archaeologists at the medieval fortress of Rusokastro in western Bulgaria have announced the discovery of a substantial stone structure, measuring 7.60 metres across, that the team believes may have served as a water reservoir or food storage facility. The find, uncovered in late October 2026 near the inner southern wall of the fortress, was reported by the national news agency BTA and local outlet BurgasMedia, both of which highlighted the presence of silver coins from the reign of Tsar Ivan Alexander as well as Venetian grosso tokens.
According to BTA, the monumentat building features walls about 1.1 metres thick, constructed from stone bonded with abundant mortar. The interior surfaces bear a thick coating of pink hydrophobic, or waterproof, plaster, suggesting that the structure was designed to hold liquids or to store perishables protected from moisture. The excavation team believes the edifice constitutes the ground floor of a larger complex, with a second, residential level above it, situated in the central quarter of the medieval town. Artifacts recovered from the site include silver coins minted during the reign of Bulgar Tsar Ivan Alexander, Venetian silver grosso coins known as matapans, and a variety of copper coinage. The coins and other objects are currently being processed in the Burgas Museum’s restoration laboratory. In addition to the material culture, the research is funded by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria and the local Kameno Municipality, and is carried out by the Regional History Museum of Burgas. This coincidence of findings underscores the importance of Rusokastro as a political and military hub in the 14th‑century Byzantine‑Bulgarian frontier.
BurgasMedia reports that the same 7.60‑metre wide structure was found adjacent to the fortress’s inner southern wall, its 1.1‑metre thick walls and pink waterproof plaster matching the description in the national announcement. The local paper emphasises the discovery of silver coins from the reign of Tsar Ivan Alexander and Venetian grosso coins, noting that the monetary artifacts shed light on foreign trade links at the time. The find, made at the end of this season’s digs in November, is described as a cornerstone in the ongoing campaign to document Rusokastro’s medieval layout. BurgasMedia echoes the state’s funding role, citing the Council of Ministers and the Kameno Municipality, and states that the Regional History Museum of Burgas is conducting the work. The article also highlights the graphic description of a large building by the fortress wall, framing the site as a key archaeological interest for cultural tourism.
Both outlets report a stone building measuring 7.60 metres across and 1.1 metres thick. BTA adds that the interior plaster is pink and hydrophobic, indicating a water‑holding or food‑storage purpose, and that a second floor likely provided residential space. BurgasMedia, while corroborating the basic dimensions, focuses mainly on the building’s location and the silver coin assemblage, offering less detail on the floor plan. The two accounts agree that the discovery was part of a state‑funded excavation by the Regional History Museum of Burgas, financed by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria and Kameno Municipality, but they differ slightly in their emphasis on architectural versus material‑cultural aspects.
Historical Context
The medieval town of Rusokastro, situated along Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, appears in the Arabic geographical literature of El Idrisi and was later chronicled under Byzantine sources that drew from the 14th‑century conflicts. According to the sources, the fortress endured a decisive clash on 18 July 1332, when Tsar Ivan Alexander defeated the Byzantine army led by Emperor Andronikos, cementing Bulgarian control in the region. The site fell under Ottoman influence in 1443 when it was destroyed during the campaigns that reshaped the Balkan landscape. Today, the fort remains one of the largest in southeast Bulgaria, and its recent excavation is slated to contribute to a growing cultural‑tourism agenda, making Rusokastro an attractive destination for both scholars and visitors.
