Definition: Those people referred to as Proto-Thracians are thought to be the ancestors of the Thracians, many of whom were assimilated by the Slavs in the 8th century A.D. The Thracians lived in the area now known as Bulgaria, as well as and parts of Greece, Romania, Macedonia and Turkey. Vasil Nikolov was involved in excavations of a Proto-Thracian (cremation) burial site in Sofia, Bulgaria where thousands of gold ornaments more than 4000 years old (older than Troy) were found.

