Rare Roman Bladder Stone Surgery Tool Discovered at Ancient Bulgarian City

Archaeologists excavating the ancient Roman city of Heraclea Sintica in southwestern Bulgaria have uncovered an exceptionally rare surgical instrument used to remove bladder stones, providing remarkable new evidence of the sophistication of Roman medicine nearly 1,700 years ago.

The bronze instrument was discovered in a room adjoining the Temple of Hercules during ongoing excavations at the archaeological site. Experts identify the object as a lithulkos, a specialized surgical tool used during lithotomy, a delicate operation performed to remove painful bladder stones.

Image Credit : Archaeologia Bulgarica

According to excavation director Professor Lyudmil Vagalinski, the discovery is one of the rarest examples of ancient medical equipment ever found.

"The instrument is an extremely rare find not only for Bulgaria, but also worldwide," Vagalinski explained. Based on currently available scientific literature, only one other comparable example has previously been discovered in Italy.

Although the curved hooks that originally formed part of the instrument are missing, archaeologists recovered its beautifully preserved bronze handle. Decorative embossed rings remain clearly visible, allowing researchers to identify the object despite its incomplete condition.

The lithulkos belonged to a highly specialized surgical kit used by skilled physicians. While Roman doctors commonly employed scalpels, probes, forceps, needles, spoons, and curettes, instruments designed specifically for bladder stone surgery are exceptionally uncommon. Their rarity reflects the complexity of the procedure and the advanced medical knowledge required to perform it.

The discovery dates to the 3rd century AD, when Heraclea Sintica was flourishing as an important Roman city. Its presence suggests that highly trained physicians practiced in the settlement, providing sophisticated medical care during one of the city's most prosperous periods.

Ancient medical writers described bladder stones as one of the most agonizing conditions known in antiquity. Roman author Pliny the Elder referred to the intense suffering caused by the disease, while the Greek physician Ammonius of Alexandria, who lived during the 3rd century BC, became famous for developing improved surgical methods and specialized instruments for removing bladder stones. His innovations earned him the nickname "Lithotomos," meaning "The Stone Cutter."

The location of the discovery has generated particular interest among archaeologists. The instrument was recovered from a room immediately adjacent to the Temple of Hercules, raising the possibility that the building served both religious and medical purposes.

Researchers speculate that pilgrims seeking divine healing at the temple may also have received treatment from physicians working nearby. Such a combination of spiritual belief and practical medicine would not have been unusual in the Roman world, where healing sanctuaries often attracted both worshippers and medical practitioners.

Professor Vagalinski emphasized that this interpretation remains a working hypothesis until additional evidence is uncovered. Ongoing excavations may reveal further architectural features or medical artifacts that clarify the function of the building.

The excavation team, consisting of seven archaeologists and dozens of workers, continues to investigate the area surrounding the Temple of Hercules. Thick deposits of river sediment are first removed using heavy machinery before delicate archaeological excavation proceeds by hand to document the ancient structures and artifacts.

The remarkable discovery highlights the advanced state of Roman surgical practice and demonstrates that specialized medical knowledge extended well beyond the major cities of the empire. It also reinforces Heraclea Sintica's importance as one of Bulgaria's most significant archaeological sites, continuing to reveal new evidence about daily life, religion, and healthcare during the Roman period.

As researchers continue their investigations, the rare lithulkos promises to become one of the most important archaeological discoveries illustrating the remarkable achievements of ancient Roman medicine. 

Ancient Basilica Discovered Beneath Former Fish Market in Italy

Ancient Basilica Discovered Beneath Former Fish Market in Italy

Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of an early Christian basilica beneath the site of a former fish market in northeastern Italy, revealing what is believed to be the oldest known Christian place of worship in the ancient Roman city of Opitergium, now modern-day Oderzo.

The discovery was made during archaeological excavations ahead of a residential development project in Italy's Veneto region. Beneath the former market, researchers uncovered an impressive three-naved basilica dating to the late fourth or early fifth century AD, along with extensive stone foundations and beautifully preserved polychrome mosaic floors.

Image Credit : LA Divina Cultura

Experts say the architectural layout and decorative features clearly identify the structure as an early Christian church, providing valuable new evidence of the spread of Christianity during the final centuries of the Roman Empire.

Excavations began in November 2025 after archaeological authorities ordered a full investigation of the site. Located just outside the ancient city walls, the area had already produced significant discoveries in previous years, including Byzantine fortifications, Roman mosaics, and ancient burials, suggesting that important remains still lay hidden underground.

Archaeologists initially uncovered small fragments of decorative flooring before exposing approximately 30 square metres of remarkably preserved mosaics. As excavations continued, they revealed the basilica's perimeter walls, sturdy brick-and-mortar foundations, and large external buttresses. Wooden piles driven deep into the alluvial soil helped support the massive structure, demonstrating sophisticated engineering techniques used during Late Antiquity.

The church featured a rectangular plan divided into three east-west naves. Most of the mosaic flooring survives within the central and southern sections of the building, while smaller portions remain preserved in the northern nave.

The mosaics are among the site's most remarkable discoveries. Rich geometric patterns, floral motifs, interlocking octagons, circles decorated with acanthus leaves, ivy designs, and diamond-shaped panels containing Christian crosses cover much of the floor. One particularly striking section features a large central octagon incorporating a Solomon's Knot surrounded by elaborate decorative borders resembling a ceremonial canopy, highlighting the artistic skill of the craftsmen who created the church.

Excavations also uncovered four graves immediately outside the basilica's southern wall. Three of the burials contained pairs of individuals interred together, an uncommon funerary practice that researchers hope to better understand through future analysis. None of the graves contained burial goods, suggesting changing Christian burial traditions during the period.

Scientists are now carrying out radiocarbon dating on both the human remains and the wooden foundation piles to establish a more precise construction date for the church.

The discovery adds another important chapter to the long history of ancient Opitergium. Originally founded by the Veneti during the 10th century BC, the settlement flourished after the construction of the Via Postumia, becoming one of northern Italy's most prosperous Roman cities with an estimated population of around 50,000 during the second century AD.

Although the city suffered repeated invasions by the Visigoths, Huns, and Ostrogoths during the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, it later emerged as an important Byzantine administrative and religious center before ultimately being destroyed by the Lombards in AD 667.

Local authorities have announced plans to preserve the archaeological remains within the new development. Architects are preparing designs that will allow residents and visitors to view the basilica's mosaics and structural remains while integrating the historic site into the surrounding neighborhood. Officials hope the project will protect this exceptional piece of Italy's early Christian heritage while creating a new destination for cultural tourism.

The discovery offers an extraordinary glimpse into the religious transformation of Roman Italy and provides archaeologists with one of the earliest surviving Christian churches yet identified in the ancient city of Opitergium.