On one of Bulgaria’s oldest resorts, located just six kilometers from Varna, an ancient Roman sarcophagus has been discovered. Since 2020, this relic has been used as a table.
A former police officer vacationing at the St. Constantine and Helena resort noticed the unusual piece of furniture. The tourist reported his suspicions to the local authorities, who subsequently called in archaeologists to confirm that the object was indeed a historical artifact.
Archaeologists from the Regional Historical Museum confirmed that the shell limestone coffin is indeed a relic from the Roman Empire. The artifact belongs to a category known as garland sarcophagi, which were distinguished by their rich decoration. It features stylized reliefs: garlands with clusters, rosettes, animal heads, and a double-headed axe – the labrys. During its time as a beach bar table, the sarcophagus lid was replaced with a stone slab, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Archaeologist Alexander Minchev’s team dated the stone structure and the interior of the sarcophagus to the 2nd century AD. The artifact, measuring approximately 2.5 meters in length, has now been transported to the Archaeological Museum in Varna for further study.
According to Alexander Minchev, in Bulgaria, “every object of archaeological value, regardless of where, when, and by whom it was found, belongs to the state.” This means that whoever discovers such an object is obligated to turn it over to the nearest museum.
The case regarding the sarcophagus that served as a bar table has been handed over to the Varna District Prosecutor’s Office. They have initiated a preliminary investigation to determine how the sarcophagus ended up on the beach and why it was repurposed as a piece of beach bar decor.