Over 100 Ancient Glass Objects Unearthed in Black Sea, Offering Glimpse into Ottoman Trade

Researchers in Bulgaria have made a remarkable discovery in the Black Sea, uncovering over 100 ancient glass objects dating back to the late 16th or early 17th century, Fox News reports.

The find, located in Chengene Skele Bay, adds to a growing collection of over 300 glass vessels unearthed in the same area since 2020.

The team from the National History Museum, led by Professor Ivan Histrov, found the glass objects at a depth of 2 to 2.5 meters. They are believed to have originated from the famed glassmaking island of Murano in Venice, known for its high-quality glassware.

“The hypothesis has been proposed that the vessels were most likely produced in a workshop on the island of Murano, Venice,” the Burgas Regional Historical Museum stated in a translated Facebook post.

The discovery is thought to be the result of a shipwreck, with the vessel likely encountering a storm that sent its cargo into the depths. The museum expects to locate the wreckage near the area where the glass fragments were found.

While many of the glass objects were discovered in fragments, some remain remarkably intact, showcasing the intricate craftsmanship of the period.

The museum considers this discovery “an important source of information on the poorly researched topic of consumption, trade, and production of glass in the Balkans during the Late Ottoman Period.”

The newly discovered artifacts will be displayed at the Burgas Regional Historical Museum.