Georgi Kitov
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Georgi Kitov (b. 1944) is a Bulgarian archaeologist and thracologist with controversial methods. He specializes in Thracians and is currently famous for his controversial methods in excavating the Thracian burial mound Golyamata Kosmatka.
[edit] Finding the Thracian tomb
On August 19, 2004 Kitov discovered a gold mask in a 5th century BC burial mound outside the town of Shipka in a place he later named Golyamata Kosmatka. On September 21 he began an excavation of the mound with 12 others, including private security guards, and soon unearthed a large bronze head. Three days later he found the entrance of a tomb.
Instead of the more usual archaeological methods, Kitov used three large earthmoving machines. He claimed that he had to work quickly to deter looters. On October 4 Kitov and his team founded a large marble door. Later that night they entered a chamber with a sarcophagus and a large amount of golden objects.
According to Kitov's later account, he informed the police in Kazanluk to ask for help of couple of police officers to help the take the treasure to his headquarters in a local hotel. Police sent 50 men and a local prosecutor—according to their later report, they were suspicious because the team intended to move the artifacts in the middle of the night.
Police officers proceeded to frisk everyone when they came from the tomb in case they were trying to smuggle out valuables. When the police demanded that the treasure be taken to the local police station, Kitov refused. Both groups spent the whole night outside the mound until the police escorted the team and the artifacts to their hotel the next morning. Apparent police overkill caused lots of public amusement.
[edit] Professional criticism
Kitov's Bulgarian archaeologist colleagues do not approve of his methods.[citation needed] He rarely bothers to document or analyze the artifacts he finds. He began to publish his findings only after several other archaeologists criticized him in public. He excavated the digs in a hurried manner, using heavy machinery.
In February 2001, the National Archaeological Institute and Museum censured him for excavating sites without permission and took away his authorization to lead expeditions for a year.[citation needed] Later the same year, they expelled Kitov from his post as a Thracian section.[citation needed]
Kitov claims that he works quickly to save the sites from looters. His connections with the head of the National Archaeological Institute allow him to have dozens of digging permits at the same time.[citation needed]
The Bulgarian police have also accused him of working with confessed looters.[citation needed] Kitov founded his own archaeological non-profit association, Thracian Expedition for Tomb Studies, that infringes on Bulgarian law about archaeological excavations.[citation needed] He also works for Bulgarian Investment Fund that furnished armed guards for Golyamata Kosmatka and intends to develop the site for tourism.
