Georgi Kitov
Encyclopedia
Georgi Kitov (March 1, 1943 – September 14, 2008) was a Bulgaria
n archaeologist and thracologist with controversial methods. He specialized in Thracia
n archaeology.
mask in a 5th century BC burial mound outside the town of Shipka
in a place he later named Golyamata Kosmatka. On September 21 he began an excavation of the mound with 12 others, including private security guards, and soon unearthed a large bronze
head. Three days later he found the entrance of a tomb
.
Instead of the more usual archaeological methods, Kitov used three large earthmoving machines. He claimed that he had to work quickly to deter looters. On October 4 Kitov and his team found a large marble
door. Later that night they entered a chamber with a sarcophagus
and a large amount of golden objects.
According to Kitov's later account, he informed the police
in Kazanluk to ask for help of couple of police officers to help the take the treasure to his headquarters in a local hotel. Police sent 50 men and a local prosecutor—according to their later report, they were suspicious because the team intended to move the artifacts in the middle of the night.
Police officers proceeded to frisk everyone when they came from the tomb in case they were trying to smuggle out valuables. When the police demanded that the treasure be taken to the local police station, Kitov refused. Both groups spent the whole night outside the mound until the police escorted the team and the artifacts to their hotel the next morning. Apparent police overkill caused lots of public amusement.
Dr. Kitov died from a heart attack on September 14, 2008 during excavations in Starosel, Bulgaria.
In February 2001, the National Archaeological Institute and Museum censured him for excavating sites without permission and took away his authorization to lead expeditions for a year. Later the same year, they expelled Kitov from his post as a Thracian section.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n archaeologist and thracologist with controversial methods. He specialized in Thracia
Thrace
Thrace is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. As a geographical concept, Thrace designates a region bounded by the Balkan Mountains on the north, Rhodope Mountains and the Aegean Sea on the south, and by the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara on the east...
n archaeology.
Finding the Thracian tomb
On August 19, 2004 Kitov discovered a goldGold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
mask in a 5th century BC burial mound outside the town of Shipka
Shipka
Shipka may refer to:* Shipka , in Bulgaria* Shipka Pass, in Bulgaria** Battle of Shipka Pass, during the Russo-Turkish war of 1877–78* "The volunteers at Shipka", a poem by Ivan Vazov, part of Epic of the Forgotten...
in a place he later named Golyamata Kosmatka. On September 21 he began an excavation of the mound with 12 others, including private security guards, and soon unearthed a large bronze
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
head. Three days later he found the entrance of a tomb
Tomb
A tomb is a repository for the remains of the dead. It is generally any structurally enclosed interment space or burial chamber, of varying sizes...
.
Instead of the more usual archaeological methods, Kitov used three large earthmoving machines. He claimed that he had to work quickly to deter looters. On October 4 Kitov and his team found a large marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
door. Later that night they entered a chamber with a sarcophagus
Sarcophagus
A sarcophagus is a funeral receptacle for a corpse, most commonly carved or cut from stone. The word "sarcophagus" comes from the Greek σαρξ sarx meaning "flesh", and φαγειν phagein meaning "to eat", hence sarkophagus means "flesh-eating"; from the phrase lithos sarkophagos...
and a large amount of golden objects.
According to Kitov's later account, he informed the police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
in Kazanluk to ask for help of couple of police officers to help the take the treasure to his headquarters in a local hotel. Police sent 50 men and a local prosecutor—according to their later report, they were suspicious because the team intended to move the artifacts in the middle of the night.
Police officers proceeded to frisk everyone when they came from the tomb in case they were trying to smuggle out valuables. When the police demanded that the treasure be taken to the local police station, Kitov refused. Both groups spent the whole night outside the mound until the police escorted the team and the artifacts to their hotel the next morning. Apparent police overkill caused lots of public amusement.
Dr. Kitov died from a heart attack on September 14, 2008 during excavations in Starosel, Bulgaria.
Professional criticism
He rarely bothered to document or analyze the artifacts he fоund. He began to publish his findings only after several other archaeologists criticised him in public. He excavated the digs in a hurried manner, using heavy machinery.The quality of his scholarship, his business ethics, his self-promotion and his associations with people suspected of looting and selling antiquities were issues on which he was criticized.In February 2001, the National Archaeological Institute and Museum censured him for excavating sites without permission and took away his authorization to lead expeditions for a year. Later the same year, they expelled Kitov from his post as a Thracian section.
Author
Georgi Kitov was the author or co-author of about 17 books of which the following are available in English:- The Valley of the Thracian Rulers by Georgi Kitov,2005
- Thracian Treasures from Bulgaria by Maria Reho,Pavlina Ilieva,Georgi Kitov,Daniela Agre,2006
- The Valley of the Thracian Kings by Georgi Kitov,I︠U︡lii︠a︡na Tomova,2006
- Thracian Cult Center near Starossel by Georgi Kitov
- The Panagyurishte Treasure by Georgi Kitov