Archaeologists excavate Byzantine fort near Sevlievo

Archaeologists have begun excavations focused on the history of the Early Byzantine and medieval fortress of Hotalich some 4 km from town, the head of the team Nadezhda Boteva said. The team is from the local museum of history. 

The Hotalich fortress, Sevlievo [Credit: elenkovi]

This year they will dig around the postern - a secret passageway in the fortification wall discovered by the archaeologists last summer. 

A postern is a secondary door or gate, particularly in a fortification such as a city wall or castle curtain wall. 

Posterns were often located in a concealed location, allowing the occupants to come and go inconspicuously. In the event of a siege, a postern could act as a sally port, allowing defenders to make a sortie on the besiegers. 

In the case of Hotalich the postern was walled which makes archaeologists think it was not used. 

The experts will also study the route of the western fortification wall in order to gradually outline the perimeter of Hotalich. 

Sevlievo municipality has drafted a project for the socialization of Hotalich and expects funding. The project sees Hotalich as an open-air museum with attractions for tourists. 

Source: Bsanna News [July 13, 2011]