Location: 3 km Northwest of Yambol, Yambol Province Map
Constructed: c. 2000 BC
Kabile Museum Information
Open: 8am- 5pm Mon- Sun
Admission: Students and
seniors – BGN 0.50
Adults – BGN 2
Official
Tel: +359 46 66 34 03
e-mail: museum@mail.bg
Kabile Archaeological Site was first settled
around 10th- 6th century BC, however it seems the human presence in
the early Iron Age was sporadic and not constant. Permanent
settlement of Kabil Archaeological Site was established around 2000
BC. Protected by river Tundzha from the North and East it was a well
chosen strategic location with rich fields and ore deposits. However
it grew rapidly once it became a Macedonian colony under rule of
Philip II of Macedon in 341 BC, father of future conqueror Alexander
the Great or Alexander of Macedon. While subjugating and organizing
sophisticated and advanced Greek states proved to be a fairly easy
job, numerous tribes to the North proved to be a bigger challenge.
Philip needed protection so he erected or fortified existing
settlements. It was about this time that Kabil got its name from a
Greek goddess of Cybele that was believed to be the embodiment of
Earth. She was also believed to be the protector of fortresses,
walls, mountains and caverns.
The empire that king Alexander
did not outlive its creator. Soon after his death it broke apart.
Some part of state were divided among his generals, others less
developed and less desired fell under influence of the barbarian
tribes. Kabile was largely forgotten by the Alexander's followers.
But it did not loose its status. Judging by the archaeological
evidence the city of Kabile carried an important political and
economic significance. It was also the only city in the region that
had a significant production of coins. In 280 BC the Kabile was
taken by the Thracian Odrysian kingdom. Several artifacts suggest
that it was a residence of Thracian tsar Spartok. Thracians,
however, did not go along with Philip V of Macedon so in a series of
military campaigns they quickly exhausted themselves. Celtic Kingdom
of Tylis under leadership of king Cavarus did not waste much time
and captured Kabile.
Roman Empire eventually reached the
Balkans and in the early 2nd century Kabile was incorporated into a
state united with other centres by expansive road system.
Christianity made its way into a city somewhere in the early fourth
century after its official legalization by Constantine the Great.
Soon it became an episcopal centre. And just then you fought there
will be a smooth sailing from that point on things began to go bad
really really quickly. With the Great Migration came new enemies.
The Avar tribes besieged and eventually conquered the fortifications
of Kabile in the 6th century AD. They laid the city to waster,
killing or enslaving anyone they captured.
First
Archaeological digs in Kabile began in 1912. To this day Kabile
offers surprises to those who venture in these lands. Unlike many
other sites the city lay abandoned long enough to be covered by
soil. No human structures were constructed on this site from
recycled ancient stone so much of the old city is remarkably well
preserved.