Discovered 5,000-year-old gold dagger

A golden dagger, dating back to 3,000 BC, along with 500 other gold jewels was found in a Thracia tomb in central Bulgaria.

"It's really an interesting discovery,"

The 5,000-year-old gold piece of Thracia era. (Photo: AP) Bozhidar Dimitrov, head of the Bulgarian National Museum, said. "The dagger made of gold and platinum may belong to a Thracian leader or a priest".

"No such thing has been found even in the legendary city of Troy," Dimitrov added. He said the 16-centimeter dagger was still in its entirety and very sharp.

Artifacts were excavated in a tomb discovered two years ago near the village of Dubovo in central Bulgaria. Last year, archaeologists discovered more than 15,000 pieces of gold that restoration workers had assembled into several necklaces.

Little is known about the Thracian civilization, living on the margins of Greek and Roman civilizations, and often having conflicts with more advanced cultures.

Some experts say that Thracians live in places such as Bulgaria, Romania, northern Greece and part of present-day Turkey, from 4,000 BC until they were annexed in 45.

"This important finding confirms that the people here are familiar with what was thought to be high technology in metal fabrication," Dimitrov said.

He said these objects could be used in sacrificial rituals.

MT