Bulgaria - Apollonia du Pont

A Franco-Bulgarian excavation project on the Greek necropolis Kalfata, occupied from the mid-5th century to the 3rd century AD.

Directed, on the French side, by Antoine Hermary, Professor of Greek Archaeology at the University of Aix-Marseilles I (Camille Jullian Centre) and, on the Bulgarian side, by Kristina Panayotova, Researcher at the Archaeological Institute of Sofia.

Partner Institutions. In France, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and CNRS: Camille Jullian Centre (UMR 6573), International Relations Department, European Research Grouping on the Ancient Black Sea. In Bulgaria, the Academy of Sciences.

Apollonia du Pont (not to be confused with the many other Greek cities of the same name) was founded by the Greeks from Milet, on the coast of Asia Minor, around 610 AD. It was given the name of Apollo, the most significant god for the metropolis, and later, its colony. This harbour city, the first encountered when coming from the straits, is a major stopping point for all those navigating the Black Sea.

The ancient literary texts provide but little information about the history of Apollonia. Archaeological research, which began with the initiative of the French consul Degrand at the start of the 20th century, to gain a better understanding of the urban area in ancient times (habitat, sanctuaries, public edifices), is currently hindered by the presence, on the very same site, of the modern city of Sozopol. The major necropolis of Kalfata spans several kilometres to the south of the city, along the seaside and provides essential insight into the history, lifestyle, beliefs and economic activity of this ancient Greek colony.

Pillaged in part at the end of the 19th century, this necropolis was first explored scientifically by the Archaeological Institute of Bulgaria, between 1946 and 1949: reports on the hundreds of tombs discovered at the time were published in 1963, under the guidance of I. Venedikov. The same Institute resumed the excavation in 1992 and they have continued since, under the leadership of K. Panayotova and D. Nedev (Director of the Museum of Sozopol). Starting from 2002, the French mission from Camille Jullian Centre (CNRS - University of Provence), headed by A. Hermary, contributed to the research. Three excavation campaigns were carried out concurrently (2002-2004) and have, to this day, made it possible to uncover, within a topographically well-defined sector, a set of walls, some sixty tombs and several dozen storage areas and ritual hearths. Concurrently, two geomorphologic research campaigns (2005-2006) will make it possible to clearly define the city’s topographical appearance and its environment during Greek times. The research findings are being prepared for publication, through a joint effort between the two project heads, a large group of doctoral students at the University of Provence/Camille Jullian Centre and young Bulgarian researchers.

The Apollonia du Pont mission received the 1st Clio Award in 2004, for French archaeological research abroad.