Neolithic Dwellings Museum
Stara Zagora
The Neolithic Dwellings Museum in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, showcases the ruins of two of the oldest surviving buildings in Europe, dating back to the 6th millennium BC. Established in 1979 as a branch of the Stara Zagora Regional Historical Museum, it preserves two remarkable Neolithic houses, including a unique two-storey dwelling built from wooden stakes, rods, and coated with clay and straw. This dwelling, inhabited by three families, features well-preserved fireplaces, stone hand mills, and around 60 ceramic vessels scattered across its rooms. The museum also houses an extensive collection of 1,826 artifacts and a prehistoric art exhibition displaying 333 significant finds from the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods. The site offers a rare glimpse into early European civilization, illustrating ancient domestic life, craftsmanship, and ritual practices, such as the cultic ceramic columns resembling bull horns. Visitors can experience the world of people who lived 8,000 years ago, making it a unique cultural and archaeological treasure in Bulgaria.
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Tip: The best time to visit is from April to September when the museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, with ticket offices closing at 5:30 pm. It is advisable to book guided tours in advance to enrich your experience. Discounts are available for pensioners, students, groups, and children, and entry is free for disabled visitors and children under seven. Avoid Mondays when the museum is closed.
Interesting facts
- •The museum preserves one of the best-preserved two-storey Neolithic houses in Europe, measuring 10 by 5.8 meters and standing 7 meters high.
- •Three ceramic columns found on-site resemble bull horns and served as cult sanctuaries for ancient rituals.
- •Approximately 1,826 artifacts have been uncovered, including kitchens, fireplaces, hand grain mills, and ceramic vessels from the 6th millennium BC.
- •The prehistoric art exhibition displays 333 important finds from the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods, showcasing early European civilization.
- •The dwelling's construction used wooden stakes interwoven with rods and coated with a clay and straw mixture, illustrating advanced building techniques for its time.
History
The Neolithic Dwellings Museum was established in 1979 to protect and display two Neolithic houses dating from the 6th millennium BC, discovered during archaeological excavations in 1969.
These dwellings represent some of the best-preserved early Neolithic residential structures in Europe.
Over the centuries, the site reveals continuous human habitation from the late 7th millennium BC through the Bronze Age.
The preservation of architectural remains and artifacts offers invaluable insight into prehistoric life and early European civilization.
Place Guide
Two-Storey Neolithic Dwelling6th millennium BC
This exceptionally well-preserved wooden house dates back to the early Neolithic period (6th millennium BC). It features two rooms on the first floor and one on the second, inhabited by three families. The dwelling includes preserved fireplaces, stone hand mills, and ceramic vessels scattered across the floors, offering insight into daily life and domestic activities.
Ceramic Cult Columns6th millennium BC
Three ceramic columns found within the dwelling are branched at the top resembling bull horns. These served as cult sanctuaries where inhabitants performed rituals, indicating the spiritual life of the Neolithic community.
Prehistoric Art Exhibition6th to 3rd millennium BC
Located in the museum's basement, this exhibition displays 333 of the most important artifacts from the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods, including pottery masterpieces, anthropomorphic and zoomorphic sculptures, ornaments, and tools created by the first European civilization.
Contact
Phone: 042 622 109
