Elisabeth Strack, and Ruslan I. Kostov
GEOCHEMISTRY, MINERALOGY AND PETROLOGY • SOFIA ГЕОХИМИЯ, МИНЕРАЛОГИЯ И ПЕТРОЛОГИЯ • СОФИЯ (2010), 48, 103-123
Abstract
The Preslav gold treasure (adornments from gold decorated with
enamel, beads of gem minerals and pearls: diadem, bilateral necklace,
medallions, several earrings and earcaps, rings, buttons, appliqués and
other small finds) was found in 1978 near the town of Veliki Preslav –
the second Bulgarian capital during the еnd of the First Bulgarian
Kingdom. The treasure (X century) belonged to a female member of the
royal family and is suggested to be of a Byzantine origin. A
morphometric study and gem testing was made on all the gemmological
materials – minerals and numerous pearls. Among the gem minerals are
identified 40 emeralds, 12 violet sapphires, 10 reddish violet garnets, 5
rock crystals, 3 amethysts and 1 carnelian. Their inclusions and type
of cut are listed. The average dimensions for the emerald polished and
rounded on the edges prisms from two medallions are: length 0.48 cm and
width 0.59 cm. The average dimensions for the mainly barrel shaped sea
pearls from a gold medallion are length 0.40 cm and diameter 0.45 cm.
The origin of the emeralds is under discussion, and they are compared
with other emerald finds in Europe, including from Bulgaria, from the
Antiquity and Early Medieval Period. As a probable source for the gem
minerals (emerald, sapphire, garnet), according to their inclusions, is
suggested an Eastern (India and Sri Lanka) origin (alternative for the
emeralds – the Hindou-Kush area), and the pearls are probably from the
Indian Ocean of the Persian Gulf.
