Archaeologists have found a 10th century lead seal belonging to a Byzantine ostiary - dignitary close to the emperor in a medieval monastery complex in Bulgaria's Kireka area.

The seal was discovered in the last day of the excavation works and is very valuable, historian Georgi Maystorksi, head of the team of archaeologists exploring the site, told Radio Shumen.



"The seal is perfectly preserved. The obverse side depicts Saint Nikola and the reverse, which normally has the owner's name written on it, reads Leon imperial ostiary," Maystorski explained.

According to the archaeologist, the fact that the seal was found in a medieval monastery complex indicates that the monastery near Kireka was indeed built by the king, belonged to him, and after the fall of Bulgaria under Byzantine rule was in the possession of the basileus.