The Varna Man: Unveiling the Wealth of the Most Opulent Tomb of the 5th Millennium BC
In the 1970s, archaeologists working near present-day Varna, Bulgaria, uncovered a vast Copper Age necropolis dating back to the 5th millennium BC.

This extraordinary site revealed the world’s earliest known gold artifacts, generating immense excitement—particularly with the discovery of Grave 43.

Within this grave, archaeologists found an unparalleled collection of treasures, surpassing all previous gold discoveries of the era. The tomb belonged to a powerful male individual, buried with remarkable symbols of status, including a scepter and even a solid gold covering for his genitals.

This burial, now known as that of the Varna Man, stands as the earliest documented elite male burial in Europe, shedding new light on the rise of social hierarchies, wealth, and power in prehistoric Europe.