Petrich, April 5 (BTA/GNA) — Professor Lyubil Vagalinski, leading the project, informed BTA about the initiation of rescue excavations at the ancient city of Heraclea Sintica in southwestern Bulgaria. These excavations are being conducted urgently due to a development initiative undertaken by Bulgartransgaz, which manages the country’s natural gas pipelines and storage facilities.
The expansion of the natural gas transmission system linking Bulgaria and Greece requires immediate archaeological efforts. These digs are happening at the periphery of an old urban center. To cover more ground along the proposed pipeline path and recover data undamaged by construction, the archaeologists have divided their teams.
The preparations for the surveys have been ongoing for several months now. Approximately 35 archaeologists from the National Archaeological Institute with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences are involved in this project.
According to a preapproved procedure, once the archaeologists have completed their work, an inter-ministerial committee led by the Ministry of Culture will decide whether it is possible to release the site for construction or whether sections of the site will require additional work.
Vagalinski mentioned that after finishing the rescue excavations, the archaeological team plans to move to another location within the Heraclea region situated south of the city. He expressed optimism that they would conclude their current project by late June, allowing them to commence routine excavations at the Heraclea Sintica forum in July.
GNA/BTA
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