A new book by the National History Museum (NIM) reveals the secrets of ancient settlements and a port at the mouth of the Kamchia River

The National History Museum presents a new scholarly publication: Prof. Dr. Ivan Hristov’s online monograph, Erete: A Study of the Archaeological Sites at the Mouth of the Kamchia River and the Waters off Cape Kilik. The publication is now available for free on the museum’s website.

In the book’s introduction, the author highlights the so-called “blank spots” on Bulgaria’s archaeological map—areas that have been little or only sporadically studied. One of these areas is located on the western Black Sea coast, between Pasha Dere, the mouth of the Kamchia River, and the Longoza area, covering an area of approximately 30 square kilometers. The long-standing lack of systematic research is largely due to the presence of military facilities in the area, including a restricted-access zone south of Pasha Dere and north of Cape Ilandzhik. The coastal waters between Cherni Nos (north of Byala) and Cape Ilandzhik also remain poorly studied.

This monograph is an expanded and updated continuation of Prof. Hristov’s research, originally published in the work Archaeology of the Pontic Coast. Coastal Fortresses, Settlements, and Harbor Zones in the Province of Moesia Secunda (2025). The new edition includes previously unpublished results from the archaeological investigations of the Erete fortress and its harbor area, conducted between September and November 2025.

The book also presents an analysis of little-known descriptions of archaeological sites preserved in the Shkorpil brothers’ archive at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAN), as well as unpublished numismatic finds from the collection of the Regional History Museum (RIM) Varna.

A particular contribution of this study is its new focus on the medieval history of the region around the Kamchia River. In this regard, Ottoman archival data has been analyzed, providing evidence of shipbuilding activity at the river’s mouth and the existence of the settlement of Boazköy in the 16th century. For the first time, attention is also drawn to the presence of a late medieval watchtower and guard tower, built on the ruins of a late antique fortress.

The monograph is divided into five chapters and includes an extensive collection of photographs and illustrations. The scientific editor of the publication is Prof. Dr. Sergei Torbatov (NAIM at BAN).

This publication is part of the National History Museum’s efforts to promote scholarly research and provide free access to Bulgaria’s cultural and historical heritage.