Archaeologists in Bulgaria stumbled upon a giant Copper Age burial site near the present-day city of Varna. In this burial site, a particular tomb stood out, containing an abundance of the oldest known gold artifacts ever discovered. Within this tomb, there lay the remains of a man buried alongside a vast treasure trove. Remarkably, numerous pieces of gold were found within this man’s tomb, with even his penis being adorned with gold.
Referred to as Grave 43, this particular tomb contained the skeleton of a man buried alongside this extraordinary wealth. The sheer amount of gold found within this man’s tomb surpassed all other gold discoveries from the Copper Age. This suggests that the man held a remarkably high status within his society. So, who was this affluent man, and in which society did he live?
Deciphering the mystery of the bones amidst the gold, including the gold-adorned penis, in this millennia-old tomb reveals a fascinating narrative. While many are familiar with the great civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt, fewer have heard of the mysterious civilization that flourished on the shores of the Black Sea approximately 7,000 years ago: the Varna civilization.
The Varna civilization is regarded as an astonishingly advanced and ancient civilization, predating even the empires of Mesopotamia and Egypt. Notably, Varna is the earliest known civilization to have crafted gold artifacts.
Varna is now known for being home to the largest prehistoric cemetery in Southeast Europe, reflecting richness in cultural customs, complex rituals, an ancient belief system, and the ability to produce exquisite goods crafted with professional skill.
It is considered the cradle of European civilization, as its influence spread across Europe over thousands of years.
Evidence suggests that from 4600 to 4200 BCE, goldsmithing began to emerge and flourish in Varna.
Increasing trade activities allowed goldsmiths to accumulate substantial wealth, leading to the rapid emergence of social stratification, with goldsmiths at the apex, followed by merchants in the middle class, and farmers in the lower class. Astonishing discoveries at a nearby burial ground also indicate the presence of rulers or figures of authority in Varna.
Within this burial ground, amidst many elite tombs, one stands out above all – Grave 43.
Inside Grave 43, archaeologists discovered the skeleton of a high-status male, likely a ruler or leader of some kind. The amount of gold buried with this man is evidence of this.
The man, also referred to as Varna, was buried with a scepter – a symbol of high political or spiritual authority. Uniquely, this man also wore a sheath made of solid gold around his penis.
However, to this day, researchers have not determined the exact identity of the man.
Marija Gimbutas, an American archaeologist, noted that by the late 5th millennium BCE, the once powerful Varna civilization began to decline. There are hypotheses suggesting that the downfall of the Varna civilization resulted from various factors including climate change, turning vast arable lands into marshes, lakes, as well as the invasion of steppe warriors.
Although the Varna civilization did not directly leave any descendants, it left behind a lasting legacy and paved the way for the emergence of subsequent civilizations across Europe.
Their metallurgical skills were unparalleled in Europe and even the world. Their society exhibited many characteristics of an advanced and developed civilization.
