Hristov Ivan. Port Baglar: Archaeological surveys in the water area of Cape Hristos and the hinterland between the capes of Kolokita and Agalina near Sozopol

Faber, 2023. — 157 p.The present book is another of my studies dedicated to the maritime archeology of the West Pontos. More specifically, it is related to the water area of Cape Hristos near the town of Sozopol and to the adjacent hinterland of the Kavatsite Bay. I believe that the water area in question was an important harbour zone in close proximity to the large ancient and medieval urban centre. Its importance was determined by the exceptional geographical location: a bay protected from the north and north-easterly winds, good depth measured maximum close to the shore. Although the bay remained unattested in Antiquity, it was part of the Apollonia/Sozopol harbour system and possibly that “second” port mentioned by an anonymous 6th-century author. In the Late Middle Ages, the waters of Cape Hristos were marked on West European maps under the name of Port Baglar. The existence of a ‘port’ is also confirmed by some Western European and Russian travellers and diplomats. However, the true significance of the harbour zone to the south of Sozopol is determined by the archaeological finds recovered from the seafloor. For the most part, they were found underwater without any context. Now they are part of the National History Museum collection and some private ones. Another group of archaeological materials fortunately found its way into the largest Bulgarian museum after two underwater expeditions undertaken in the area in 2022. It is the results of these surveys that form the basis of the present research work.