The Aleksandrovo Tomb

The Aleksandrovo Tomb was discovered in 2000, during excavations of the Roshava Chuka (“Rockpile Peak”) Thracian burial mound, which is located in the western part of Aleksandrovo village, roughly 20 km from the city of Haskovo. This Thracian tomb is one of the most important archeological discoveries ever made in Bulgaria.
It was built during the second half of the 4th century BCE as a final resting place for a wealthy Thracian ruler whose name is not known. The frescoes in the tomb are unique and relatively well preserved. The tomb’s architecture is also remarkable. The Roshava Chuka burial mound is approximately 15 meters high, with a diameter of 70 meters. The tomb has a 15-meter corridor, and its entrance is to the east. The corridor leads to a rectangular chamber that is 1.92 meters by 1.5 meters. Beyond this chamber there is another circular chamber with a diameter of 3.3 meters and a height of 3.4 meters. The chamber’s arch is bell-shaped and begins from the chamber floor. At the southern periphery there is a stone couch that was already vandalized in antiquity. It is thought that the tomb had two periods of use, since there are two floor levels in the circular chamber – one made of stone blocks and the other of tamped-down clay.
The Aleksandrovo Tomb is one of the largest complexes of its type, and its unique frescoes on a variety of subjects cover the whole tomb, from the corridors to both burial chambers. The most complex of the frescoes are in the circular chamber. They are arranged in six horizontal strips of different heights, on on top of the other. Most of the images depict hunting scenes.