Thracian Necropolis Helvetia

The Thracian Necropolis Helvetia is located southeast of the town of Shipka, in the area known as "Valley of the Thracian Kings". The complex was discovered in 1996 by the archaeologist Georgi Kitov in studies sponsored by the Swiss Helvetia Foundation. In these excavations were discovered also other two Thracian tombs - the tomb from mound of Griffins and Shoushmanets tomb. Helvetia Tomb (named after the Foundation - sponsor of the study) is the middle between the three mounds.

The floor and the walls of Helvetia tomb are plastered with a thick layer of nail float – boiled milk mixed with marble dust. It is constructed from big stone blocks held together through iron clutches. The tomb consists of a long corridor, rectangular antechamber and burial chamber. The Antechamber and the chamber are covered with double-pitched roof, coated with fine lime plaster, decoratively segmented into rectangular, imitating marble blocks.

The two sacrifice furrows have been preserved at the entrance of the tomb. There were found skeletons of two buried horses of the Thracian ruler, bronze objects and others, which currently are stored in the National History Museum in Sofia.