The Yunatsi settlement has long been regarded as one of Bulgaria’s most significant prehistoric sites. The new discovery reveals that its ancient inhabitants were not only skilled metallurgists, potters, and traders but also among the first Europeans to master viticulture.
A Window into Europe’s Earliest Viticulture
The grape seeds were found in a house dating back to the Eneolithic period (Copper-Stone Age). The dwelling was destroyed by fire in the 5th millennium B.C. According to Associate Professor Kamen Boyadzhiev from the National Archaeological Institute in Sofia, the grape seeds, along with the fragments of vessels and a botanical analysis of the artifacts, indicate that fermentation processes were taking place here.
In an interview with Bulgarian National Television (BNT), Kamen Boyadzhiev stated: “We found a significant number of charred botanical remains – wheat, barley, lentils, chickpeas. We also have evidence of the gathering of wild fruits such as , pears, cornel, and . In one house, we found over 3,000 grape seeds located next to two broken vessels. Together with my botanical colleagues, we conducted an analysis that confirmed the production of a grape-based beverage, most likely wine. This is essentially one of the earliest pieces of evidence for winemaking in the Balkans.”
The scholar also added that wine was likely poured and consumed from elegant vessels adorned with graphite painting—true works of applied art crafted by skilled ceramicists.
Until recently, the oldest reliably dated evidence of wine production in the Old World was found in the South Caucasus. For instance, excavations on the slopes of the Gadachrili Gora and Shulaveri hills in Georgia uncovered clay jars with wine residues dating back to around 6000 B.C. In the Armenian cave of Areni-1, archaeologists discovered a wine press that is 6,100 years old. Now, the discovery made in Bulgaria confidently places the Balkans within the network of the earliest winemaking.
The “City of Birds” – a Highly Developed Civilization
The burial settlement of Yunatsi is known as the “City of Birds” because researchers previously found hundreds of clay bird figurines there. This was a highly developed society that thrived between three mountain ranges and two rivers. Excavations have shown that the inhabitants of Yunatsi were skilled artisans who produced exquisite pottery with graphite painting, gold jewelry, and copper tools. They maintained long-distance trade connections, importing salt from Provadia, flint from northeastern Bulgaria, and shells from the Aegean Sea.
Houses measuring between 60 and 100 square meters were not only spacious but also richly decorated, as reported by Arkeonews. Archaeologists observed fragments of plastered walls painted with red and white patterns that may have had protective or ritual significance.
Interestingly, researchers discovered over 40 carefully selected sheep bones. Scientists believe they were used in games or rituals. The settlement also yielded clay figurines associated with the cult of the Mother Goddess.
The Eneolithic culture flourished in Yunatsi for many centuries before it was destroyed by steppe nomads at the end of the 5th millennium B.C.
Despite this, the ancient inhabitants of the “City of Birds” left behind an unforgettable legacy: exquisite pottery, intricate gold jewelry, and early evidence of winemaking in Europe.
Why Is This Discovery Important?
Wine has always been more than just a beverage. It is a cultural marker tied to trade, rituals, and identity. The discovery near Pazardzhik has firmly placed Bulgaria on the map of early viticulture.
For modern Bulgaria, renowned for its winemaking industry, this is not just an archaeological find but a powerful narrative that connects contemporary winemaking traditions to the deep roots of European civilization.