NATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESERVE “DEULTUM – DEBELT”

The region around the western shores of the Mantra Lake has a lot of archaeological sites. More than 25 sites from different historical periods – from the late Bronze Age to the late Middle Ages – have been registered here on an area of about 3 sq. km.

A temple of Asclepius, a Roman bath, streets and colonnades have been discovered during the archaeological excavations.

The ruins of the ancient Rome colony Deultum are located 20 km west of Burgas. They can be seen near the village of Debelt. Apart from the Roman colony remains, plenty of other ancient and mediaeval ruins could be seen within the territory of the archaeological reserve: the ancient city of Develt – centre of episcopate in the Haemimont province of Byzantine Empire; the ruins of the Middle Ages Develt; the most preserved parts of the military rampart “Erkesia”, which was used as a border between mediaeval Bulgaria and Byzantium; and the only known Middle Ages custom-house and a church, where Byzantium paid its annual tax to Bulgaria.
 
Lead seal of the Bulgarian king Boris, found during the excavations in Debelt.
  
The mediaeval village Debelt was built later on this place as a border city between the two Empires – Bulgarian and Byzantine – it was the main gate for the Christianization of Bulgaria. The first delegation for the Bulgarian conversion passes through Debelt. Thracian ritual complex and a basilica from the IX century were found lately in the area called “Kostadin cheshma”, located in the vicinity of modern village Debelt. The unique finding is on the territory of the ancient Deultum city. It is supposed that there Kniaz Boris I has accepted the Christianity and his new name Michael. During the XIII and the XIV century because of the sea level rise the port was covered with mud and the city life declined.

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