Melnik archaeologists discover large medieval fresco fragment

Archaeologists in Melnik, Bulgaria, have uncovered the largest known fragment of a medieval fresco in the historic Armenia quarter. The discovery was made during excavations of the ‘St. Mother of God Life-Giving Source’ temple, revealing a scene depicting the ‘Nativity of the Virgin’ dating back to the 13th or 14th century.

The original medieval structure, measuring approximately 17 meters long and 5.5 meters wide, existed for over five centuries before being demolished in the mid-19th century to make way for a larger 33-meter temple. During the demolition, fragments of the frescoes fell from the walls; local residents collected these pieces and moved them to the altar of the new church, preserving them for centuries.

The research is led by Assistant Professor Metodi Zlatkov from the National Archaeological Institute with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and Dr. Maria Pashova from the Regional History Museum in Blagoevgrad. Following the completion of the excavation seasons, the team plans to proceed with restoration and conservation to make the site available for cultural tourism.