Ostrusha Mound

The Ostrusha mound is a Thracian burial tumulus near the Bulgarian town of Shipka [1]. It was constructed in the middle of the 4th century BCE [1]. The stone structures under the more than 18 meters high mound form one of the biggest representative tomb-cult complexes with 6 rooms on an area of 100 square meters [1]. One of the chambers is fully maintained [1]. It is made of two carved-out solid granite blocks, weighing a total of more than 60 tons [1]. The roof block is divided into dozens of square and circle shaped niches filled with masterfully painted portraits, scenes with people, fighting between animals, plants and geometric decorations [1]. Most of the frescoes are severely damaged apart from a portrait of a young noble woman [1]. A horse with full set of silver appliques as well as a gilded armor collar and two silver vessels were found in one of the other rooms that was not robbed in antiquity [1].