Hlyabovo dolmens, Megalithic burial chambers in Hlyabovo, Bulgaria.
The Hlyabovo dolmens are stone burial chambers built from large stone slabs forming walls and roofs located in the Sakar Mountains. The structures consist of carefully stacked stones that create underground chambers which have survived for thousands of years.
These burial chambers date from the early Iron Age between 1050 and 500 BC and represent the first examples of monumental tomb architecture in Bulgaria. They reflect how the Thracians buried their dead during this period and how their society was organized.
The burial chambers face south, showing how the Thracians understood the sun and its religious meaning. This orientation was no accident but part of their belief about the afterlife and how the dead should follow the sun.
Visitors can reach the main dolmen through a marked path in the Nachevi Chairi area, where several well-preserved structures remain visible. Access is relatively straightforward, but sturdy footwear is recommended as the terrain is uneven.
Excavations in the 1970s discovered two connected dolmens beneath a 10-meter mound, marking the first discovery of human remains in Bulgarian dolmens. This finding suggested that more hidden structures might lie beneath the earth and await future exploration.
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