Submitted by coldrum --
Bulgarian archaeologists have found a bronze hydria in a tomb dating back to 4th century BC during excavations in the Necropolis of Mesambria in the Black Sea city of Nessebar.
The archaeologists, who opened the tomb on Thursday, have explained that the hydria was an ancient vessel for storing liquids like water, wine or a mix of water and wine. The discovered object has three handles with exquisite detailed decoration on them.
According to the scientists, the hydria they found has been used for storing the remains of a dead person who had been cremated.
The hydria is the first object of this kind to be found in excavations around Nessebar. It would help archaeologists study the funeral rituals of the ancient people who lived in these places.
"I have to note that these hydrias were a rarity in the ancient world. They have been made by very crafty masters. We are very happy that such a hydria would be presented in the museum in Nesebar," said Aneliya Bozhkova, co-head of the archaeology team doing the excavations.
After the hydria was taken out of the tomb, the archaeologists also found a very well preserved application, which had initially been on the vessels but had come off in time. The application has a big emboss and features images of a male and a female figures, both with wings.
"The discovery is extremely interesting and important for several reasons. The first is the fact that the cremation was a very rare funeral ritual in the Necropolis of Mesembria, as well as in the other ancient Greek necropolises in the Black Sea area," said Bozhkova.
Minutes after taking the object out of the tomb, the scientists found inside an object that ancient men used in order to clean their bodies after physical activities [Ed. note: a strigil?], making archaeologists believe that the dead person in the urn had been a man.
For more, see http://www.novinite.com.
Something is not right. This message is just to keep things from messing up down the road