1. NIKOLA
VAPTSAROV
Culture and Ethnography in
SCHOOL
the town of Radomir
RADOMIR
Editorial Team:
 Editors:
Mihaela Betova E - B O O K
Kristina Zhivkova
Radostina Dimitrova
Land of Ancient Civilization
Stela Slavcheva
 Press Photographers:
Simona Karadachka
Tsvetelina Fidanova
 Computer Design: The territory of Radomir is domir, suggesting that it lennium BC); DREN village
Georgi Nenkov abundant in archaeological keeps in its bowels historical early Chalcolithic
sites. Through the artifacts artifacts of this earliest
 Head Consultant:
surviving to this day , made era. Several prehistoric set- NEGOVANTSI village:
Mariana Kolarska
of long-lasting materials , tlements of the early and late Klenovska mound-early Neo-
mostly stone , ceramics and Neolithic, Chalcolithic and the lithic;
bone , it is easy to trace the
diver-city of artistic skills , RADOMIR town – late Neo-
lithic – early Bronze age;
aesthetic flair and views of
the people who settled in the
GERENA locality-late Chal-
upper reaches of the Struma
colithic and Early Bronze
River at the dawn of human
Age.
civilization. This is evident
from the common everyday
utensils, as well as the works Prehistoric finds
of plastic arts, cult and idol
INSIDE THIS making, with their impressive
ISSUE: forms, both exquisite and
expedient.
Bulgarian 2 As early as the late 19th cen-
Middle Ages tury and early 20th century early Bronze Age have been
scientists were informed of found.
Saint Dimitar 2
particular cases of prehistoric PRIBOI village – early-
finds from the region of Ra- Neolithic settlement (5th mil-
Ancient Hub 3
in Arbanas
Excavations 3
in Arbanas
Excavations 4
in Arbanas
Boza-making 5
Stoyo’s 5,
House 6

2. PAGE 2
Bulgarian Middle Ages
The land of the municipality localities with some of them letters of the 13th c., Ra-
of Radomir is abundant in being named after medie- domir, who wrote the Ra-
vestiges of the Bulgarian val Bulgarian tsars and domir’s Psalter, etc.
Middle Ages, the physical boyars. The name of Ra- In the Middle Ages, the
evidence of which is the domir city falls into the valley of Radomir has often
large number of ruins of same category of Bulgarian happened to be the scene
settlements, ancient names. A legend has it that of fierce battles waged by
churches and monasteries. the city was called after a Bulgarians against Byzan-
Byzantine chronicles are Bulgarian voivode of the tium, as it is crossed by a
emphatic that the popula- same name. Bulgarian strategic road to the Ae-
tion from the upper reaches history gives a number of gean Sea, trailing along the
of the Struma River has examples of the same Struma riverbed, well-know
always been ethnically name: King Gavril Radomir even to Romans, which
pure Bulgarian communi- of Bulgaria, the fifth son, road had never lost its im-
ties in the Middle Ages. Radomir of King Ivan portance all along, includ-
The fact is reflected in the Vladislav of Bulgaria, re- ing the Middle Ages.
names of the villages and nowned Bulgarian man of
In many of the legends told Golo Bardo, the ruins
by the locals about the above the village of Dren,
ancient ruins on the high where a locality, called The
hilltops, where arrowheads Tsar’s Tree, is situated, the
and medieval coins have ruins on the hillside be-
been unearthed, the names tween the villages of Vladi-
of Bulgarian Kings Samuil mir and Dolna Dikanya, as
and Ivan Shishman, as well well as those rising above
as of other medieval sover- the villages of Drugan, Ra-
eigns and voivodes are dobosh, etc., bear tacit
involved. witness to the dramatic
The ruins of Malo and events.
Goliamo Gradishte atop
Saint Dimitar Patron of Radomir
With the consecra- Day of St. Demetrius of sents the saint as St.
Caption tion of the St. Dimi- Thessalonica. The popular George’s twin brother,
describing tar Church, the beliefs hold the Day of St. while in iconography he is
picture or citizens of Radomir Demetrius to be a celebra- painted mostly riding a red
graphic. chose the church tion related to a turn in the horse. The Day of St. De-
patron saint for seasons and a bottom line metrius is an immutable
their city’s patron of the work done in the holiday of the municipality
as well. The Bul- summer half-year, which is of Radomir with celebra-
garian Orthodox the season of the most tions and cultural events
Church celebrates strenuous agricultural ac- held in the city on a yearly
on October 26, the tivities. Folk tradition repre- basis.
CULTURE AND ETHNOGRAPHY IN THE TOWN OF RADOMIR

3. E-BOOK PAGE 3
Ancient Industrial Hub and Fortress in Arbanas
Archaeological excavations in cal tools, lead mirrors, bronze well as two fragments of votive tablets, featuring Zeus.
1983-84 testify to the existence button-bells, jewellery and
of a significant industrial and coins. n 1987, during the exploration of the late antique fortress
commercial centre until the mid rd at Arbanas, two churches were discovered, construc-
After the mid-3 c., a fortress
-3rd c. The southern wall and tively connected with the east wall of the enclosure. It
had been erected over the well-
the gate of the fortress have suggests the existence of a big early Christian centre,
functioning industrial and trade
most probably a fortified monastery. In the early Byzan-
been explored, as well as a hub.
tine period the east church was reconstructed into a
massive building in its centre. dwelling. For the purpose, its western side was made
The building is constructed of For the time being, just a few with a hearth of bricks.
stone and white mortar. In its hand-made ceramics testify to
east and, in an almost square the pre-Roman period of this
Such a rebuilding of an early Christian church into a
curious archaeological site.
room of stone, an apse is set. A dwelling has a sole logical explanation: the inhabitants of
Individual finds have been ex-
number of interesting finds the fortress were replaced, most probably, by the tribes
cavated, typical of metal-
have been unearthed in a late invading the empire from the north.
working: a hammer, pair of
antique layer southwest of the compasses, items of bronze
buildings: bone needles, medi- and lead, remains of kilns and
pits for keeping raw stuff, as
Excavations in Arbanas, Radomir
Until the moment of excava- work. While on the beat around on different aspects of the an-
tions at Arbanas quarter of Ra- the vicinity, they could gather cient culture in the western
domir town, nothing was known some data for ancient settle- Thracian lands and especially
in the region of the uppermost
about the antiquity of this place ment remains and a tumulus
stream of Struma.
in the scientific literature. The nearby, towards the lowland
surrounding population has, flowing river of Struma.
Of special interest is one rarely
indeed, in the course of their The finds discovered during the met adornment. The adornment
work, brought out some ,,pins, excavations and especially the is mode of silver and repre-
clasps, etc.’’ ,treasure-hunters adornments, represent a rich
sents a precisely shaped hoop
have also dug around, but ar- source of information of typo-
logical, stylistic and technologi- with six pendants stringed up
chaeologists came to know
cal character. They throw light on stitches.
only in the process of the field
Closest parallels to this adorn- erably smaller than the main consider that they
ment are the silver bracelets , constructions and this suggests are products of one
which date from the 80’s of the that it was a part of a bigger and the same epoch
1st century. Especially similar is
bracelet or some other kind of and are dating from
a detail of the bracelet repre-
sents a massive open tetrahe- adornment. In spite of the simi- as early as the sec-
dral ring, the ends of which are larities between some details it ond half of the 1st
made thinner and pass one is evident that the adornment century.
another forming volutes. was made by a different crafts-
man under different circum-
Bone Needles
Comparing the adornment from stances. However, taking into
Arbanas to the bracelets from consideration the decoration,
Serbia we see that it is consid- even the choice of material, we

4. PAGE 4
From the excavations the relatively simplified Subtypes of golden brace-
come also two iron pruning decoration scheme. Con- lets are represented by the
-knives, which are most sidering its decorative and twisted silver bracelet with-
likely cult or votive ones. technical peculiarities we
out volutes and by a
can enlarge the circle of
different kinds of objects, bronze bracelet, consisting
At the site of archaeologi- of double, parallel, twisted
cal excavations in Arbanas mainly adornments, from
our archaeological site as rings. A silver bracelet from
was found an iron axe,
whose shape is amazingly well as from many others, Bazaurt is a more exact
similar to that of the corre- isolating a stylistic group. parallel to the first one,
sponding pendant, which while the second one must
perhaps explains the The varieties of the decora- be of type D-4 .
choice of the model. The tive spiral were used also
spiral constructions in on bracelets and rings. It
adornment from Arbanas
strengthens the impression
make an impression at first
Iron Spear sight. These elements suc- of a serial mastered pro-
cessfully play the part of duction in the region of the
decoration ornaments in sanctuary.
From Dacia is known a ring consider, that the rings are greater part was made of
compared with the similarly dated from the mind 1st to other materials can clam
decorated bracelet from the the mind 3rd century. with certainty, that at or
Late La Tene. The two
Due to the regularly organ- round that sanctuary there
massive silver rings deco-
rated with two volutes from ized fairs, market, etc., the was a centre of arts and
Arbanas, also have a direct sanctuary at Arbanas was crafts unfamiliar till now.
analogy in the golden turned into a cross-road The local works of arts,
bracelet from Ratiaria, ect. point, providing opportuni- crafts and adornments in
ties for connections in dif- particular are included in
Proceeding from the speci- ferent directions. Having in the process of formation of
fied analogies and from the mind the finds, including provincial Roman styles
stylistic-typological peculi- other sorts and types of with its local peculiarity,
arities, the archaeologists adornments, whose synthesizing various pre-
liminary currents.
This is actually the great the present preliminary We, the students of
importance of the discovery research is a starting point Nikola Vaptsarov
at Arbanas and contribution in the complete interpreta- School and our
to studying the problem tion of the site. teacher, would like to
which foundation has been express our gratitude
laid. Thus the archaeologi- to Mr Pavlov, the mu-
cal results of the excava- seum director, for his
tions and rapprochement of contribution and help
the Balkan cultures, which during the implemen-
has begun since earlier tation of our project.
times, and for archeologists
CULTURE AND ETHNOGRAPHY IN THE TOWN OF RADOMIR

5. E-BOOK PAGE 5
Boza-making
Most common in the region of ent types of khalva – from sun- Here follow the instructions for making boza at home.
Radomir in the second half of flower seed, sesame seed, The recipe is meant for 5 liters.
the 19th and the early 20th cen- black khalva, fruit khalva, etc. Ingredients: 5 l water,2 teacupfuls flour,2 teacupfuls
tury were the making of boza From the mid 20th century on, sugar,1 teacupful boza or home-made ferment.
(millet-ale) and the tailoring or the pastry-shops replaced the
saya-making (saya, a type of manual production of boza. In Directions: Slightly roast the flour (to become rosy in
long, female dress). These the village of Dolni Rakovets a colour). Take care not to get it burnt. Mix it with only a bit
crafts involved travelling. modern installation was built by of lukewarm water. Pour the mixture into the pot filled
ET “Elektra” Radomir for the with the rest of the water and put it on the plate. Add the
The boza-makers used to prac- production of Radomir boza sugar and leave the liquid to boil stirring it once in a
tice their trade all over Bulgaria. following the traditional technol- while. Keep boiling for 5-6 minutes still stirring. Remove
In the autumn, right after the ogy. the pot from the fire and let it cool. Add 1 teacupful boza
end of the field work they used or home-made ferment. Leave the mixture in a warm
to travel with their inventory to BOZA is a popular fermented place for 2-3 days to cause fermentation. When the boza
the different towns in the coun- beverage in Bulgaria. It is a is ready, pour it in bottles and store in a cool place
try and work there and returned malt drink, made from wheat or (refrigerator).
to their native towns and vil- millet . It has a thick consis-
lages not earlier than for the tency and a low alcohol content
next spring sowing. Along with (usually around 1%), and has a
the boza they produced differ- slightly acidic sweet flavor.
How to make the boza fer- As we are very proud with boza
ment: -making in our town, we have a
monument devoted to boza-
Mix the slightly roasted flour makers. We call them Bozadz-
(take care to keep it from burn- hii.
ing) with the water and stir well.
Add the sugar. Leave the mess
in a warm place for 2-3 days to
ferment, stirring it from time to
time.
Note: The teacupful of boza or
home-made ferment can be
replaced by 6-7 moistened and
crumbled slices of wholemeal
bread /or toast/, or by 6-7
spoonfuls leaven. In this case
before storage the boza has to
be filtered (without pressing).
Stoyo’s House Ethnographic Museum
The exposition ,arranged in costumes in Radomir, products shirt, the girdle and especially
Stoyo’s House Ethnographic of the local craftsmen, every- the knitted stockings which
Museum, is a remarkable archi- day life objects. complemented the costume
tecture monument from the
The Radomir festive costume is with their coloured motifs.
second half of the 19th century.
It reveals the ethnographic rich- completed by a variety of orna-
ness of the Radomir region ments – belt buckles, bead-
population from the end of the belts, bracelets, rings and ear-
19th and the 20th centuries. rings, breast ornaments, hair-
pins, etc. The ornaments and National traditional costume
What can you see in Stoyo’s the details of the costumes are for women from the past
House? Showcased are valu- very original – the apron, the
able examples of the traditional

6. Stoyo’s House Ethnographic Museum
The colours of the decorative and sess high artistic value – the
artistic fabrics are remarkably mortars, vessels, spoons, combs,
colored rugs, bags, cradles, pil- etc. as well as the ceramic ves-
lows, tablecloths and cloths. In sels – jugs, bowls with handles,
the past they were made in the etc.
natural color of the wool and the
hemp with variegated linear-strip
decoration. A beautiful addition to
the textile and the dress is the
typical laces knitted or sewn. The
artistic sense and the creative
imagination of the Radomir
women are expressed in the
weaving and the combination of
colors of the pillows and the ritual
cloths.
The most typical element of the
ancient male dress till the end of
the 19th century is so-called
dolakatnik – a braided white
short-sleeved jacket.
National traditional costume
The showcased wooden objects Cradle from the past for men from the past
from the everyday life also pos-