Ovchartsi reveals archaeological traces from different periods. Notable themes include an Early Bronze Age necropolis, settlement remains from antiquity and the Middle Ages, and the Starite Sai site. The finds can be distinguished by period: they do not tell the story of a single era, but of several historical layers in the area around the settlement.
Tumulus 3 and Four Archaeological Complexes
The tumulus necropolis lay north of the former settlement of Ovchartsi, within the Maritsa-East Energy Complex. Mining destroyed the second tumulus; Tumulus 3 remained available for archaeological investigations. It measured 12 meters in diameter and 0.40 meters in height. Four archaeological complexes were investigated inside it. Based on the burial rite and grave goods, the mound and its finds are dated to the Early Bronze Age.
Different Finds in the Same Tumulus
The four complexes differ considerably. The first was a primary burial in a supine position: the knees were bent, and a stone adze lay in the deceased person’s right hand. The second complex was a severely damaged secondary burial. The interpretation that it was probably a mother and child remains explicitly a hypothesis; this find also included a partially perforated stone axe.
The third complex consisted of a pit containing human bones scattered without order and no grave goods. The fourth was a round pit with brown soil and a single thigh bone. The contrast makes the differences between the finds tangible: a burial with a grave good is followed by a probable double burial and two pits with different contents.
Settlement Phases from Antiquity to the Middle Ages
The archaeological site “Pod Yamacha” is associated with Ovchartsi. Rescue excavations investigated an ancient and medieval settlement there. Ancient traces include building structures from the 1st to the 4th century; residential remains and pits are documented for the 11th to the 12th century. These two periods therefore represent different settlement phases, not a single undated assemblage of finds.
Two Roman-period settlements have also been investigated near Ovchartsi. A nearby medieval settlement is under investigation and contains material from the beginning of the 13th century. The area’s archaeological record also includes Iron Age settlements, sanctuaries, and ritual pits; some of these finds have been partially or fully investigated. Together, the evidence spans a period in which Bronze Age burials stand alongside settlement remains from later eras.
Starite Sai and the Site’s Landscape
Another archaeological point of reference is Starite Sai. The site lies within the former territory of Ovchartsi, within the Maritsa-East Complex. Its location is described as the northern, non-flooded terrace of the former Goliamata reka. The area recorded during the archaeological investigation covered approximately 25 decares. This figure refers to the Starite Sai site, not to the territory of Ovchartsi as a whole.
Additional Archaeological Context in Radnevo
In the wider destination of Radnevo, the “New Life for the Past” Archaeological Park offers a distinct regional point of interest. The park covers about 13 decares, recreates Grave No. 7 from the Great Tumulus near Ovchartsi, and presents archaeological finds dating from the Bronze Age to the Middle Ages. The Maritsa-East Archaeological Museum in Radnevo also displays and preserves unique finds from rescue excavations in the Maritsa-East region.
For a clear thematic overview, it is worth distinguishing between the locations: here, Ovchartsi refers to the necropolis, settlement remains, and the Starite Sai site. The park and museum, on the other hand, are located in Radnevo. This keeps Ovchartsi’s local archaeology distinct from the additional cultural offerings in the wider destination of Radnevo.
For the wider travel overview: Radnevo.
