page_title: Pistiros
section_title: Archaeological excavations
hierarchical_section_title: Pistiros / Archaeological excavations
context_page_description: Pistiros was an inland Ancient Greek emporion, or trade center, in Ancient Thrace. It is located near the modern city of Vetren, in the westernmost part of the Maritsa River valley, at 42°14'36.78"N 24°5'28.55"E.
  The identification of the site as Emporion Pistiros, a name known from ancient sources, is largely based on an ancient Greek inscription, known as the Vetren inscription, discovered nearby in 1990. The emporion sustained intensive relations with the main economic centers in Aegean Thrace, including Thasos, Maroneia, and Apollonia, and flourished in the 4th century BC.
context_section_description: The excavation of the archaeological site on the left bank of Maritsa began in 1988, at which time excavators discovered a large trade center – Emporion Pistiros – that played a major role in the economical and cultural life of Ancient Thrace.
  The excavations of Emporion Pistiros are conducted by a team of Bulgarian, British (Liverpool University), Polish, Czech (Prague University), and French (French School in Athens) archaeologists. The research work is carried out under the scientific guidance of the National Archaeological Institute with Museum – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in co-operation with the Archaeological Museum “Prof. Mieczysław Domaradzki” in the town of Septemvri.
  Archaeologists are still working to understand how it was possible to found a strongly fortified Greek city so far inland, even if the settlement was apparently accessible for small boats on the Hebrus River. An early theory offered by Professor Mieczyslaw Domaradzki was that the city was also a royal residence of the sub-king of the Upper Thrace. However, no palace, or any other archaeological evidence for significant social hierarchy, has been uncovered at Pistiros, in contrast to other Thracian sites such as Seuthopolis, and M. Domardzki changed his mind soon after the inscription was found.  Only a few scholars, among them G. Tsetskhladze, still expressed such opinion still in late nineties. The identification of the site as Emporion Pistiros continues to present some controversy.  
  Since 2013, an annual archaeological field school has operated in Pistiros as part of the Balkan Heritage Field School program. The program is run by the Balkan Heritage Foundation with the cooperation of the Septemvri Archaeological Museum "Prof. Mieczyslaw Domaradzki," and the New Bulgarian University.
  The rich archaeological material found in Pistiros is preserved in the Archaeological Museum “Prof. Mieczysław Domaradzki,” in the town of Septemvri. The archaeological excavations in Pistiros have been discussed in many scientific conferences, publications, and exhibitions.
caption: The memorial plaque in Pistiros of the discoverer of the ancient settlement, Mieczyslaw Domaradzki.
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