Sofia (Bulgaria), Dec 31 : A team of archaeologists has found the most ancient civilization in Europe, near Yunatsite village, Pazardzhik District, in Bulgaria.

In 2008, a joint Bulgarian-Greek team had excavated the layers of a tomb that date back from the Halcolite age.

After finding the skeleton of a young woman, they have now found the fortifying system that includes a big 5m wide wall that has surpassed the settlement, according to a report by Focus News Agency.

According to archeologist Stoilka Iganatova, in contrast to other sites dating back to the same age, this was massive and not temporary, and had existed till the end of the settlement in the 5th c. BC, probably as a result of some hostile attack.

Archeologists have not yet found the necropolis of the settlement due to the deep river drifts, but they had found out that at about 350 m from the tomb there had been other settlements too.

"This gives specialists the grounds to speak about the so-called `protopolis'," said Ignatova.

Ignatova said that the structure of the settlement, the culture of the people that lived there, give archeologists the grounds to define it as a civilization from the Halcolite age.

Another interesting fact that proves the high level of development of this ancient settlement in the Bulgarian lands is the presence of pre-script signs, she added.

The existence of high-cultured society through the stone-copper age is a proof for the fact that the most ancient civilization in Europe was born in the frames of the Bulgarian lands.

The excavations of the tomb would continue next year and archeologists expect to find more interesting facts. (ANI)