Archaeologists have uncovered a dwelling that dates back to the 6th century BC in the ancient Greek colony of Apollonia Pontica.

Located in modern day Sozopol on the southern Bulgarian Black Sea Coast, the impressive discovery was made during a dig led by Pavlina Devlova and Iliya Kirov from the National Museum of History in Sofia.

The dwelling was found six feet beneath the foundations of a home built in the 19th century.

Amidst the soil between the two buildings, the team also found a number of precious artefacts, including a krater, which is a special vessel used for mixing water and wine. Dating back to the 5th century BC, it is decorated with red figures depicting the myth of Oedipus and the Sphinx.

The krater on show in Sofia, Bulgaria. Photo: National Institute and Museum of Archaeology

Also amongst the finds were an askos, which was used as a small jug for small quantities of liquid, along with loom weights, spindle parts, coins, seals and game pieces from both antiquity and the Middle Ages.

Several graves from a medieval necropolis used in the 11th century AD and the 13th to 14th century AD were also uncovered. In a grave from the 11th century, two small crosses were found, one of which is made of bronze and the other bone.

The krater was unveiled to the public on 17 February as part of the National Institute and Museum of Archaeology in Sofia’s exhibition Bulgarian Archaeology 2017. It is hosted annually to showcase the results from the last season of archaeological fieldwork in the region.