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Monday, 18th August 2008 (1816 views)

A 2,400-year-old gold mask has been found by archaeologists.

The artefact, which is believed to have belonged to a king, was discovered in south-eastern Bulgaria at the weekend.

Along with the mask a Greek gold ring was also found, as well as several silver items.

Georgi Kitov, leader of the dig, told MSNBC that researchers have been able to determine a time period for the mask and ring.

He said: "The artefacts belonged to a Thracian ruler from the end of the fourth century BC who was buried here."

Mr Kitov also told website Ancient-Bulgaria.com the solid gold Thracian mask is the first of its kind ever found.

Findings of a previous dig by Kitov were the subject of a 2005 exhibition in Bulgaria's Iskra History Musuem, according to a source.

The showing included gold, silver and bronze items that had been excavated from tombs in a region known as "Valley of the Thracian Kings", reports Archaeology.org.

 

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