THE REGION OF MONTANA (NORTHWETERN BULGARIA) DURING THE

MIDDLE AGES

K rassim ira Luka

Montana is located in present-day western part of the Balkan (Stara Planina), the ancient
Haemus mons. The region of Montana in general includes the lands in the drainage basin of the
Ogosta River and its tributaries or contemporary Central Northwestern Bulgaria (Fig. 1). In Roman
Ages this area is divided between three Roman provinces: Moesia Superior, Moesia Inferior and
Thracia. In Late Antiquity Montana became part of Dacia Ripensis.
This region even now remains poorly studied mainly due to its location in periphery of the
First Bulgarian Kingdom and focusing of the efforts of Bulgarian researchers on the territory of the
modern Northeastern Bulgaria. Until now, in the Central Northwestern Bulgaria completely excavated
archaeological sites belong to the Medieval period remain extremely few and summarizing researches
are totally missing. The main goal of this article is to provide an overview of the studies conducted so
far in order to facilitate further researches and to provoke a scientific interest in this "forgotten" by the
Bulgarian Archaeology territory.
The region was devastated by the great Gothic incursions in 376-378. As far as the Hun
invasions in Montana are concerned, we do not have any certain indications. However, the city of
Ratiaria on the Danube was affected 1, and in 408 Hun troops, led by Ildris, seized Castra Martis
(Castramartis) 2. By 453 in the vicinity of the same city, a small group of Huns as well as Sarmatians
and Kemandri were given the right to live there as foederati.
At the very end of the 5th and the beginning of the 6th c., the name of the Bulgars occurred in
sources (Vulgares/Bulgares, Βούλγαρι) 3; their attacks, according to the reports of Marcellinus Comes,
Cassiodorus and Ennodius, were localized from west to east around Sirmium, Horreum Margum, the
Tsurta River (Tsibritsa?) and the Iatrus River 4. It can be assumed that the area of Montana which
falls between the last two rivers was also affected. According to Veselin Beshevliev, the early
Bulgarian tribes launched these attacks from the region between the rivers Tisa and Danube or the
southern districts of the Carpathian Mountains: “From the constant mention of praefecture Illyricum, it
can be concluded that they must have lived somewhere near the regarded district, since it is unlikely

1
Динчев 2002, p. 15.
2
Атанасова 2005, p. 12.
3
Златарски 1994, p. 36-37.
4
In 499: “... Arist, commander of the troops of Illyricum headed … against the Bulgarian (Bulgares), who were
devastating Thracia. The battle took place by the Tsurta River.” (Marc. Com., Chr., 502 (X); ЛИБИ, I, 1958, 317). In 535: “The
patrician Cita clashed at Iatrus in Moesia with enemies – Bulgarians, and came out victorious.” (Marc. Com., Chr., 535 (XII);
ЛИБИ, I, 1958, 320). In 504 the Bulgarians took part in the defense of Sirmium as allies of the Gepids against the Ostrogothian
King Theodorich (Cass., Var., 504; ЛИБИ, I, 1958, 306). In 505 Bulgarians took part in the battle at Margus between the army
of Mundo supported by Picia – the military commander of Theodorich, and the Byzantine military forces led by Sabinian
(Ennod., Pan., XII; Marc. Com., Chr., 505 (XIII); ЛИБИ, I, 1958, 299-302, 317).
that they undertook their raids from the settlements on the coast of the Black Sea or even further
from the Sea of Azov or the Caucasian districts, because in that case the path of the invading Huns
would have run through Scythia Minor, which has not been mentioned in any source.” 5. Confirmation
of such an idea is a late source (Riders to the Old Bulgarian translation of the Chronicle of Manassas)
where it is stated: “Under Emperor Anastasius the Bulgarians started to conquer this land. When they
crossed from Bdin and at first started to seize the Lower land of Ohrid and afterwards the entire land.
Since the exit of the Bulgarians, it has been 870 years” 6.
In the period after AD 534 when the Byzantine military commander Belisarius transferred his
troops and thus started the Byzantine – Gothic war 7, the names of Antes and Sklaveni occurred for
the first time in sources. In AD 548 they also come into contact with the Illyrian territories of the
Empire 8. A study by S. A. Ivanov on the age of Justinian I shows that the Danubian Limes was
fortified most strongly from the area of the present-day city of Orshova to the east to the mouth of
the Iskar River and Oescus 9. On the other hand, L. Hauptmann presumes contact with the Byzantine
Limes by Slavs who, while moving along the line which runs from the inner ridge of the Carpathian
Mountains and which leads to the Tisa River, turned in the Valley of Wallachia 10.
With the settling of the Avars on the Middle Danube another stage in the ethnic shift was
completed. The literary sources point to a series of military actions undertaken by the Avar
Khaganate, the ultimate target of which was the occupation of the region east of the Olt River 11. Very
likely, the status of the lands west of this river was in relation to the Avar politic hegemony. However,
the historical data regarding the region of ancient Montana discussed here is indirect and the
archaeological evidence is insignificant. It is known that in AD 582 the Avars destroyed the fortress of
Augustae 12, and in 586 the capital of Dacia Ripensis – Ratiaria, also fell 13. In the beginning of the 7th

5
Бешевлиев 1980, p. 52, 54.
6
M. Kaymakamova links the data containing in the riders with the movement of the Bulgars of Kuber in the second
half of the 7th c. However, in the text the time when the Bulgars started “to conquer this land” has been precisely indicated –
under Emperor Anastasius (491 - 518) - Каймакамова 1993, p. 36, 39-40.
7
Ангелов 1965, p. 25-26.
8
In 548, the Sklaveni, crossing the Istros River “created a huge evil across whole Illyria as far as Epidamnos …”; in
550 “hordes of Sklaveni” appeared in the outskirts of Naissus; in 551 “a huge horde of Sklaveni, attacking Illyricum, caused
indescribable disasters there.” (Proc. BG.VII.29.11; VII.40.1-7; VIII.25.1; Свод, 1991: p. 188-189; 194-197; 200-203).
9
Иванов 1983, p. 42-44.
10
Hauptmann 1929, p. 142.
11
According to the reports by Menandros, and earlier by Ioannes of Ephesus, in the second half of the 6th c., the
Antes – Avars conflict was evolving (Io. Eph. II, III; Men. Fr. 6; Свод, 1991, p. 284-285, 316-317). Besides the Antes, the Avar
expansion was aimed against some Slavs who have usually been localized in the northeastern part of the Balkans (Men. Fr. 48).
Against these tribes was the raid of Bayan in 578. In 580 the Avar Khagan started building a bridge across the Sava River “…in
order to go against the Slavs and get across the Sava and enter the lands of the Byzantines, to cross the Istros afterwards and
turn against them…” (Men. Fr. 63). The same year an Avar emissary was attacked by Slavs in Illyricum (Men. Fr. 64).
12
Машов 1980, p. 42.
13
Динчев 2002, p. 16.
c. the Byzantine defensive system along the Valley of the Danube collapsed once and for all 14, and at
the end of the same century the area of Montana was already a border territory between the
Bulgarian State and the Avar Khaganate 15.
The most popular fact regarding this border territory are the so called Western Bulgarian
Trenches or the three defensive facilities known as Lomski, Hayredinski and Ostrovski ramparts (Fig.
2). Most researchers of these problems set their construction in the age of the First Bulgarian State 16.
According to Vasil Zlatarski, they mark the western border of the Bulgarian state union from the
period of its foundation to the annexation of the Avar Khaganate at the beginning of the 9th c. 17 while,
according to other authors, the Western Bulgarian Ramparts are inner defensive lines and the western
border of the Bulgarian state itself reached the Timok River 18. The three ramparts were consecutively
studied in the ‘70s by Georgi Aleksandrov (Lomski Rampart) 19, in 1978 by Rasho Rashev and Spas
Mashov (Hayredinski Rampart) 20 and in 2010 - 2011 by Valeri Grigorov (Ostrovski Rampart). 21 Their

14
Комша 1992, p. 263-264.
15
Златарски 1994, p. 152.
16
Рашев, Иванов 1986, p. 19 and the review there.
17
“To the west the border initially ran along the Isakr River to the mouth of Panega River, along the ridge
Dryanovitsa by the village of Gabare; then it continued along the Ostrovski Trench and reached the Danube where there was an
earthenwork fortification on Alibash Hill; but later, when Isperih, according to the report by the Armenian geographer, drove
back the Avars to the west, the border from the outlet to the Iskar Defile ran along Vratsa Mountain to the north towards the
Ogosta River; along this river – to the village of Hayredin from where it coincided with the old trench existing today, which runs
directly northwards to the Danube west of the village of Kozloduy at the mountain top Kiler-bair … Shkorpil associates this
extension of the Bulgarian border with the extension of the South-Balkan border which, in our view, is not quite compatible
because the latter one in the range submitted by Shkorpil, refers to the 9th c. (814 - 815), i.e. at the time when the western
border mentioned here was displaced even further westwards” (Златарски 1994, p. 152 and note 5).
18
Коледаров 1979, p. 25-26; Петров 1981, p. 245-247.
19
Lomski Rampart starts about 3 km east of the city of Lom and runs southwards to the road from Lom to the village
of Kovachitsa. Here Georgi Aleksandrov has localized a stronghold with rectangular shape and sides of 35 to 40 m long. From
here, the rampart runs in direction north-south across the arable lands of Mladenovo Quarter (the former village of Golnitsi).
After a slight turn to the southwest the rampart runs through the arable lands of the villages of Zemfir, 1.5 km away from the
latter and 2-3 km from the village of Traykovo. Afterwards, it makes a turn to the southeast where the highway Sofia –
Montana – Lom crosses it for the second time, exactly at kilometer 149. From here, southwards across the outskirts of the
village of Rasovo, the rampart reaches Dushilnitsa River, a left tributary of the Tsibritsa River. It runs southwards between the
villages of Yakimovo and Dalgodeltsi. The road from Dalgodeltsi to Yakimovo crosses it about 300 m east of the last houses of
Dalgodeltsi (Александров 1980, p. 202-205).
20
From south to north the rampart emerges by the last houses at the northwestern part of Hayredin; it reaches the
western slope of Vlashkoselska Hollow. In the locality Pripeka, a branch parts from the rampart at an acute angle. The length of
the main rampart from Ogosta to the branch is about 3 km. The branching section starts from the locality Pripeka and heads
southwestwards. The rampart runs up to the ridge of Lozarski Gred, crosses Valkova Hollow and heads towards the Ogosta
River across the village of Manastirishte. The length of the branching, according to Shkorpil, is 4.8 km. From the locality
Pripeka, the rampart heads northwards with a declination of 15° to the northwest and follows this direction with slight
declinations to the west and north for 5 km, reaching Brestoveshka Hollow where a micro-dam has been built. North of
Brestoveshka Mountain the rampart changes its direction twice and at 12 km from the branching it heads directly northwards
following this orientation for 3 km. Fifteen km from the branching the rampart follows direction 15° northwestwards, and at the
17th km the declination from the north is 10°. After it crosses Yakva Hollow, the rampart reaches Berech Dam. Here it is called
positions at a comparatively small distance from each other, as well as the common elements of
construction, give grounds to assume that they were built simultaneously or within a short interval of
time. Their purpose as defensive facilities is determined by the steppe geomorphology of the region
and their frontal orientation to the west. However there has been no categorical archaeological
evidence of their dating. In the last study on this topic, Valeri Grigorov uses as proof the dense
settlement network in this region which in his view occurred by the second half of the 8th and the
beginning of the 9th c. 22 Namely the early medieval settlement structures, however (including the
settlement studied in Montana itself on Kaleto Hill), along with the data from the necropoles, raise a
number of questions, foremost among them their chronology (Fig. 2).
As early as the first studies of the region conducted by Zhivka Vazharova and Prof. Atanas
Milchev in the ’50s and the early ‘60s of the 20th c. 23, the two researchers have given diametrically
opposed dates of the settlements revealed by them. Prof. Milchev dates almost all settlements
localized by him within the end of the 6th and the 7th c. 24, while Zhivka Vazharova sets the existence of
the settlements along the river valley of Tsibritsa and Ogosta within the age of the 9th – 11th c. 25
Furthermore, despite the fact that he defines the settlement structures as “Early Slavic”, the
necropoles from the same area are dated by Prof. Milchev two centuries later – in the 9th – 10th c. 26
Some sounding surveys followed, consecutively conducted by the two researchers at the same sites:
in 1957 Zhivka Vazharova started excavations at the medieval settlement in the locality Gradishteto by
the village of Yakimovo which were carried on by Prof. Milchev in 1958-1962 27; in 1964 Milchev
performed soundings at the necropolis in the locality Greda by the town of Valchedram which were
carried out by Zhivka Vazharova in turn 28. Zhivka Vazharova carried on the research of the necropoles

by the residents of the city of Kozloduy “Shishmanov Okop” (“The trench of Shishman”, TN). North of the dam the rampart
reaches the road Kozloduy – Lom and afterwards it crosses a deep hollow and reaches the high vertical bank of the Danube
River about 6 km west of Kozloduy. The total length of the rampart from the Ogosta to the Danube is 24 km (Рашев, Иванов
1986, p. 13-14).
21
Of the three ramparts the Osogovski one is the longest – about 58 km. The trench starts from the eastern end of
the village of Ostrov, runs along the western slope of Alibash Hill and heads to the southwest. Afterwards, it crosses the
localities of Dimov Dol, Zahlupen Kladenets, Varbitski Dol and the water shed between the rivers Skat and Gostilya. The trench
passes between Tranak and Byala Slatina and west of Vranyak it heads towards Ivanov Kladenets (between Vranyak and
Tlachene). The southern end of the trench reaches the foot of Usoya Mountain between Tlachene and Gabare (Григоров 2011,
p. 128-130).
22
Григоров 2011, p. 131.
23
In 1959-1962 Prof. Milchev undertook a large-scale survey along the river valley of Tsibritsa. He registered and
undertook partial excavations of a great amount of sites belonging not only to the medieval, but also to the late-antique and the
Roman ages, as well as to the Iron Age. The results of these surveys are still unpublished today. The field scans of Prof. Milchev
were followed in 1962-1963 by Zhivka Vazharova’s surveys in the same area (the valleys of the rivers Tsibritsa and Ogosta) -
Мuлчев Manuscript; Въжарова, 1965 а.
24
Милчев Manuscript, pp. 120-123.
25
Въжарова 1965 а, p. 232-236.
26
Милчев Manuscript, p. 152-153.
27
Въжарова 1965 а, p. 235, note 1; Милчев 1963; Милчев, 1964, p. 23; Милчев Manuscript, p. 124-139.
28
Милчев Manuscript, p. 152; Въжарова 1965 b, p. 146-148; Въжарова 1976, p. 345.
in the locality Bosovite Kamani at the village of Galiche and in the locality Orehovski Dol by the village
of Bukyovtsi (today’s town of Miziya), started by Bogdan Nikolov 29.
In 1983 Stanislav Stanilov and Georgi Aleksandrov published some results from the surveys in
Montana as well as of a necropolis partly excavated by them in the locality Savini Blyasove at
Valchedram 30. Both researchers refrain from giving a particular dating of the necropolis the age of
which they simply set to “the Christian age” 31, while the existence of the medieval settlement in
Montana has been set “widely in the 8th – 11th c.” 32
In 1984 Rasho Rashev and Plamen Ivanov undertook field scans in the area of Hayredinski
Rampart and they also localized a number of settlements which, in their opinion, could not be dated
earlier than the 9th c. 33 In 1985 – 1986 Stefka Angelova and Rumiana Koleva conducted field surveys
and sounding excavations in the area of Kozloduy. The dating they suggest of the settlements
localized by them is the end of the 7th – 9th/10th c. 34
As can be seen, most of the data related to the medieval stage in the region of Montana have
been gathered during field surveys and the published materials are scanty and the dates set by the
researchers should be taken with reserve. The problems of dating and interpretation of medieval sites
in the discussed region can also be seen in the contradiction of the results of sites which are
thoroughly studied, such as the two necropoles at Gradeshnitsa and Galiche, with clearly different
burial custom and inventory, but comparatively identical dating: the second half of the 9th – the
beginning of the 11th c. – Gradeshnitsa 35 and the 10th – 11th c. (later – just the 10th c.) – Galiche 36.
The consequences of “the large-scale” surveys of Zhivka Vazharova and Prof. Atanas Milchev
in the vicinity of Montana which are characteristic for the gathering of enormous amount of materials
and a strive for its analyzing (but not for its documentation) for a very short time become most clearly
visible by the occurrence of the theory about the so called “culture Valchedram – Yakimovo”, the
bearers of which are defined as population formed by “… the mixing of the Slavic group with the non-
Romanized local Thracian population” in the 7th c. (!?) 37. As stated, a serious flaw of this theory is
taking out of context and treating selected elements of the pottery complex (in this case – the
handmade pottery) without subjecting this complex to overall analysis 38. In fact, the modern surveys

29
Николов 1962, p. 33-34; Въжарова 1959; Въжарова 1965 а, p. 236; Въжарова 1965 b, p. 123, 149-150;
Въжарова 1976, p. 220-246.
30
Станилов, Александров 1983 а; Станилов, Александров 1983 b.
31
Станилов, Александров 1983 а, p. 59.
32
Станилов, Александров 1983 b, p. 45.
33
Рашев, Иванов 1986, p. 20-23.
34
Ангелова, Колева 1994, p. 132.
35
Mašov 1979, p. 47.
36
Николов 1962, p. 33-34; Въжарова 1965 а, p. 236; Въжарова 1965 b, p. 123, 149-150; Въжарова 1976, p. 220-
246.
37
Ангелова, Колева 1992, p. 176.
38
Лука 2011, p. 360. The discrepancy between the actual archaeological proof and their interpretation was sensed by
Zhivka Vazharova who, while discussing the settlement in the locality Gradishteto by the village of Yakimovo, emphasized:
in the region (performed over a limited area, but with precise archaeological documentation) show
that the so called “Early Slavic” vessels originating from Prof. Atanas Milchev’s excavations in
Yakimovo and Valchedram, and published by Stefka Angelova and Rumiana Koleva 39, have undoubted
analogues among the materials dated to the end of the 3rd and the 4th c. from the same region and
represent a part of the characteristics of the Late Roman and late-antique culture of Northwestern
Bulgaria 40.
The surveys carried out in 2001 and 2003 of ruins of medieval houses in the locality Bresta by
the village of Altimir and at the ancient fortress Ausgustae by the village of Harlets provided abundant
material belonging to the medieval age which was thoroughly treated by statistical methods and which
allowed the establishment of the characteristic features of the early medieval complexes in this region
in the context of their adjacent types of settlement structures and residential facilities 41.
The precise documentation of the archaeological artifacts allowed us to conclude:
The two settlements reflect the characteristics of two consecutive chronological stages of the
medieval culture in Northwestern Bulgaria. The settlement in the locality Bresta is situated on a
terrace with southerly exposure on the left bank of the Skat River. The studied houses are rectangular
in form, dug at 0.60 – 0.80 m below the ancient surface. Supporting facilities and parts of clay floor
plaster have been registered at one of the houses. The heating facilities represent domed furnaces
built of quarry stones in dry masonry with a rectangular plan, dug at 0.40 m below the floor of the
house (Fig. 3) 42.
The pottery vessels originating from the houses belong to the same type of pots with
elongated proportions, slanted shoulders, a slightly pronounced tall neck and a slightly inwards curved
mouth (Fig. 4). The pottery is marked with the sign of production on a slowly rotating potter’s wheel.
The decoration is superficially laid with simple motifs 43. The comparative analysis of the type of
dwellings, heating facilities and pottery originating from them date the settlement in the locality
Bresta to the end of the 7th – 8th c. (or in the very beginning of the 9th c.) 44.

“According to Milchev, this fortification had been inhabited by the Slavs since their settling south of the Danube. Such a dating
is inacceptable, because it is not supported by the actual material. In our opinion, the fortress Gradishteto dates from the end
of the 9th and the beginning of the 10th c.” - Въжарова 1965 b, p. 135, note. 1.
39
Ангелова, Колева 1992, p. 174, Т. I/9, 12, 17-18; p. 175, Т. II; p. 177, Т. III.
40
Лука, Машов 2006, p. 98, Т. III/28-30; p. 101, Т. ХI/ 151-154; Luka 2003; Лука 2011 а, p. 364-365, 269, Fig.
2/27-28.
A striking example of the ignorance of the characteristic features of coarse pottery used during the ancient age in the
region of Northwestern Bulgaria which continues even today is the inclusion of such ancient pot made by hand in the medieval
pottery originating from rescue field surveys in the area of Vidin (Александров et all. 2011, 108-109, Fig. 4/2). The regarded
pot was defined as “a casual find from the site” but despite that it gave grounds for the authors to link the complex with the
pottery Valchedram – Yakimovo and to date it in the 7th – 8th c. “as the team does not ignore the possibility for dating even in
the end of the 6th c”.
41
Luka 2009; Лука 2013.
42
Luka 2009, p. 247-249.
43
Ibid., p. 251-254.
44
Ibid., p. 254-257 with reference.
 The medieval settlement over the ruins of the ancient city of Augustae has been localized
within the framework of the ancient fortification, but it does not extend outside it 45. The medieval
cultural strata are thin and lie directly over the late-antique strata (Fig. 5). There is no data about the
reuse of the late-antique structures during the Middle Ages. As remains of over-ground dwelling can
be identified fragments of clay plaster with prints of thick poles on them 46. The pottery originating
from the medieval stratum of Augustae, compared with that from the settlement in the locality Bresta,
indicates considerably better moulding of the vessels, extended shape and decoration, as well as
reduction of the number of bottoms with relief signs (Fig. 6-7). The pottery material from Augustae
has a number of parallels in complexes dated after the mid-8th c 47, while the presence of vessels
belonging to the so called “cauldrons with inner ears” 48 refers the upper chronological framework of
this settlement to the first half of the 11th c.
In the context of this data, the medieval settlement studied on Kaleto Hill in Montana shows a
number of parallels with the data from the medieval stratum over the ruins of ancient Augustae. As
such can be defined the probable reuse of the late-antique defensive facility (including its
reinforcement with an additional wall built during the Middle Ages) 49, the finds of plaster with prints of
poles in them 50 and the use of fireplaces instead of domed furnaces 51. The dating of the pottery
material 52 originating from these houses cannot be accepted mostly due to the fact that in literature
only nine vessels originating from one single house are known (Dwelling № 4) and from the so called
“Slavic sanctuary” (Fig. 8) 53. We will only mention that the type of residential and heating facilities,
the topographic features of the medieval settlement on Kaleto Hill and, last but not least – the coin

45
During the field scans performed in the vicinity of the site in 2003 it was established that outside the fortification
facility there are no traces of habitation during the medieval stage (Машов, Ганецовски, Лука 2004). The intact vessels
published by Spas Mashov (one of them has been identified as belonging to the Early Slavic Penkovska pottery - Ангелова,
Колева 1992, p. 173-174, Т. I/2) (Машов 1980, p. 43-45, Fig. 19-20), obviously belong to an unstudied necropolis on the
outskirts of the settlement.
46
Лука 2013, p. 622, Fig. 3.
47
The settlements by the villages of Huma, Kladentsi, Vinitsa, Pernik, Popina “Kaleto” and “Dzhedzhovi lozya”,
Garvan, Starmen, Chatalar, the medieval stratum above the ancient town of Abritus (Лука 2013, pp. 627-635 with reference).
48
Лука 2013, p. 629, Fig. 8/71-72.
49
Александров 1987, p. 74.
50
Ibid., p. 72, Dwelling № 3.
51
The heating facility in Dwelling № 2, identified in the text as “a small furnace” can also be defined as a “fireplace”
as this can be seen on the photo of the same facility represented in Fig. 28 in the publication (Александров 1987, p. 72 and
Fig. 28). The same photo (unfortunately – the only one representing the situation of the medieval structures towards the earlier
ancient buildings) clearly shows the lack of digging in at the medieval dwelling. Unclear and with no particular parallels so far is
the statement of the author about the presence of dug-out dwellings on Kaleto Hill in Montana which at the same time use the
ancient walls found here (Ibid., p. 72).
52
According to the author, “the 8th – 10th c., and some vessels such as the pot with a handle – by the end of the 10th
and the beginning of the 11th c.” (Александров 1987, p. 73) and “from the beginning of the 8th to the beginning of the 11th c. ”
(Ibid., p. 79).
53
Александров 1987, Fig. 31; Станилов, Александров 1983 b, p. 46, Fig. 9; p. 49, Fig. 11.
finds inside one of the houses from the period 1043-1050 AD 54 indicate a dating of the settlement not
earlier than the 10th – the beginning of the 11th c.
The “Slavic sanctuary” revealed by Stanislav Stanilov and Georgi Aleksandrov on the hill 55
even today remains without any parallels in the study of Bulgarian medieval culture (Fig. 9). The
dating of this sanctuary in the 8th c. on the basis of two pottery vessels 56 needs further study.
The region of modern Central Northwestern Bulgaria is undoubtedly an important part of the
culture of medieval Bulgarian country. The need of more precise publications of this interesting and
abundant archaeological material is indisputable. We can only hope that this short overview will
provide the necessary basis for future studies based on modern methods of documentation and
impartial scientific analysis.

KRASSIMIRA LUKA
Bulgarian Archaeological Association
Sofia, Bulgaria
bularchaeo@gmail.com

54
Александров 1987, p. 73 and Fig. 2 – Dwelling № 5.
55
Станилов, Александров 1983 b; Александров 1987, p. 68, Plan 8; Fig. 31 а-б.
56
Станилов, Александров 1983 b, p. 46, Fig. 9/а, в; p. 47.
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52

ABREVIATIONS:

АОР – Археологически открития и разкопки, София

ГСУ ИФ – Годишник на Софийския университет, София
ИАИ – Известия на Археологическия институт, София
ИМСБ – Известия на музеите в Северозападна България, Враца
ЛИБИ – Латински извори за българската история, София

Cass. Var. – Cassiodorvs, Variarum

Ennod. Pan. - Ennodius Panegyric
Io. Eph. - Ioannes of Ephesus
Marc. Com. Chr. - Marcellinus Comes, Chronicon
Men. Fr. – Menander, Fragments
Proc. BG. – Procopius Caesariensis, De Bello Gothico
 Keywords: Northwestern Bulgaria, Middle Ages, settlements, necropolis, ceramics.

Abstract: Montana is located in present-day Central Northwestern Bulgaria (Fig. 1). This area
is poorly studied mainly due to its location in periphery of the First Bulgarian Kingdom. The main goal
of this article is to provide an overview of the studies conducted so far in order to facilitate further
researches.
The region was devastated by the great Gothic incursions in 376-378. As far as the Hun
invasions in Montana are concerned, we do not have any certain indications. At the very end of the 5th
and the beginning of the 6th c., the name of the Bulgars occurred in sources (Vulgares/Bulgares,
Βούλγαρι). Their attacks were localized from west to east around Sirmium, Horreum Margum, the
Tsurta River (Tsibritsa?) and the Iatrus River. According to Veselin Beshevliev, the early Bulgarian
tribes launched these attacks from the region between the rivers Tisa and Danube or the southern
districts of the Carpathian Mountains.
In the period after AD 534 when started the Byzantine – Gothic war, the names of Antes and
Sklaveni occurred for the first time in sources. In AD 548 they also come into contact with the Illyrian
territories of the Empire. With the settling of the Avars on the Middle Danube another stage in the
ethnic shift was completed. The literary sources point to a series of military actions undertaken by the
Avar Khaganate, the ultimate target of which was the occupation of the region east of the Olt River.
In the beginning of the 7th c. the Byzantine defensive system along the Valley of the Danube collapsed
once and for all, and at the end of the same century the area of Montana was already a border
territory between the Bulgarian State and the Avar Khaganate.
The most popular fact regarding this border territory are the so called Western Bulgarian
Trenches or the three defensive facilities known as Lomski, Hayredinski and Ostrovski ramparts (Fig.
2). Most researchers of these problems set their construction in the age of the First Bulgarian State.
However there has been no categorical archaeological evidence of their dating.
The early medieval settlement structures, along with the data from the necropolis also raise a
number of questions, foremost among them their chronology (Fig. 2). As early as the first studies of
the region in the ’50s and the early ‘60s of the 20th c., the different researchers have given
diametrically opposed dates of the settlements revealed by them. For example Prof. Atanas Milchev
defines the settlement structures as “Early Slavic” but the necropoles from the same area are dated
by him two centuries later – in the 9th – 10th c. Some necropolis such as the two at Gradeshnitsa and
Galiche with clearly different burial custom and inventory are dated at the same time. The most
striking example is the occurrence of the theory about the so called “culture Valchedram – Yakimovo”,
the bearers of which are defined as population formed by “… the mixing of the Slavic group with the
non-Romanized local Thracian population” in the 7th c. (!?).
In fact, the modern surveys in the region show that the so called “Early Slavic” vessels
originating from Yakimovo and Valchedram have undoubted analogues among the materials dated to
the end of the 3rd and the 4th c. from the same region and represent a part of the characteristics of
the Late Roman and late-antique culture of Northwestern Bulgaria.
 The surveys carried out in 2001 and 2003 of ruins of medieval houses in the locality Bresta by
the village of Altimir and at the ancient fortress Ausgustae by the village of Harlets provided abundant
material belonging to the medieval age which was thoroughly treated by statistical methods and which
allowed the establishment of the characteristic features of the early medieval complexes in this region
in the context of their adjacent types of settlement structures and residential facilities. The two
settlements reflect the characteristics of two consecutive chronological stages of the medieval culture
in Northwestern Bulgaria: 7th – 8th c. (Bresta) (Fig. 3-4) and the mid-8th -
first half of the 11th c.
(Augustae) (Fig. 5-7).
On the basis of this data some other archaeological sites also can be dated properly. The clear
example is the medieval settlement studied on Kaleto Hill in Montana. The materials from this site
show a number of parallels with the data from the medieval stratum over the ruins of ancient
Augustae (Fig. 8). The “Slavic sanctuary” revealed on the same hill even today remains without any
parallels in the study of Bulgarian medieval culture (Fig. 9) and the dating of this sanctuary in the 8th
c. on the basis of two pottery vessels also needs further study.
The overview of the medieval studies in present-day Central Northwestern Bulgaria shows that
most of the data and conclusions given by the researches so far should be taken with reserve. The
need of more precise publications of this interesting and abundant archaeological material is
indisputable. We can only hope that this short article will provide the necessary basis for future
studies based on modern methods of documentation and impartial scientific analysis.
 LIST OF FIGURES

Fig. 1 - Geographical location of the region of Montana on the map of the modern Bulgaria.
Fig. 2 - Registered medieval sites on the territory of Montana and their dating according to
the respective publications (after Krassimira Luka).
Fig. 3 - Semi-dugout No. 2. in locality Bresta near the village of Altimir. 1) Ground plan of
preserved part of dwelling; 2) Section before clearing up the oven; 3) Section after clearing out the
oven and ground plan of the oven floor coating (after Luka 2009, p. 248, Fig. 3).
Fig. 4 - Ceramics from semi-dugout No. 1 and No. 2 in locality Bresta near the village of
Altimir (After Luka 2009, p. 250, Fig. 4; p. 251, Fig. 5).
Fig. 5 - Stratigraphic cross sections of the archaeological site Augustae near the village of
Harlets. Excavations of Spas Mashov, Georgi Ganetsovski and Krassimira Luka in 2003 (Машов,
Ганецовски, Лука 2004).
Fig. 6 – Medieval ceramics from Augustae (after Luka 2013, p. 623, T. 4; p. 624, T. 5; p. 626,
T. 6).
Fig. 7 - Medieval ceramics from Augustae (after Luka 2013, p. 628, T. 7; p. 629, T. 8).
Fig. 8 - Ceramics from the medieval period in locality Kaleto in Montana kept in Historical
Museum of the city (photo by Krassimira Luka).
Fig. 9 - Plan of the so called “Slavic sanctuary”, revealed on Kaleto in Montana. (after
Александров 1987, 67, Plan 8).