29 July 2010 | Four teams of Bulgarian archaeologists are carrying out “rescue excavations” of an area in the Rodopi Mounatains where a road across the border between Greece and Bulgaria is to be built.

Four sites from different periods are currently being researched on a total area of 2 hectares, which stands in the way of the planned Makaza Pass, on the Bulgarian- Greek border, which will open the shortest route between the Danube River and the Aegean Sea.

The Makaza Pass is to become part of the Pan-European Transport Corridor No. 9, which leading from Helsinki, Moscow and Kiev to the Greek port of Alexandroupolis on the Aegean.

The excavations, which are the largest archaeological campaign ever to take place in the District of Kardzhali, and are funded with 200,000 Bulgarian leva (around 100,000 euro) by the Bulgarian Roads Agency, archaeologist Georgi Nehrizov told media.

He is in charge of the archaeological work at one of the sites - an early Bronze Age settlement close to the town of Momchilgrad. The settlement covers a total area of 5 decares, but only a section of 25 by 200 meters, which lies on the future route, is to be excavated.

Some of the prehistoric structures, according to Nehrizov, will be left intact, since they are located at 1.5 metres under the ground, and the road’s construction won’t interfere with them. Most of the finds, however, will be researched, documented, and moved in order to pave the way for the road construction.

The second site that will be excavated, under the leadership of archaeologist Yavor Boyadzhiev, is a prehistoric village near today’s village of Varhari

The other two archaeological sites are smaller and contain medieval structures.

“It is too early to speak about great finds but I think that these sites are very promising,” said Georgi Nehrizov.