Basarabi Cave Complex

Murfatlar Cave Complex (Basarabi Cave Complex) is a medieval Christian monastery located near the town of Murfatlar (named Basarabi between 1924–1965 and 1980–2007), Constanța County, Northern Dobruja, Romania. The Complex is a relict from a widespread monastic phenomenon in a 10th century Bulgaria.

The rock churches of Murflatlar, carved into a chalk hill were discovered in 1957. The excavations conducted in 1957–1960 uncovered of a complex of cells-dwellings, 4 small and 2 larger churches, crypts and tombs, all dating from 9th – 11th century. From the late 7th until beginning of the 11th century this territory was part of the First Bulgarian Empire.

There are many inscriptions engraved on the walls – 2 in Greek alphabet, 2 in Old Slavonic language (Bulgarian recension), using the Glagolitic script and over 30 using the Cyrillic script. The most numerous are the runic inscriptions of Turkic type – over 60 have been found so far. The same type of runes have been used on the Pliska Rosette and can be found on building materials and on the 9th century walls of the first Bulgarian capital Pliska. The Turkic runes in Murfatlar were based probably on the Kharosthi script. The language of the runes is presumably Bulgar, as suggested by some scholars. According to Romanian researchers, some graffiti, including a Viking navy, were interpreted as Varangian. However, they could be carved by the local monks during the Rus' invasion of Bulgaria. Despite numerous attempts at cracking the Murfatlar script, there still isn't a universally accepted decipherment, and it is rather heterogeneous. Nevertheless, it is most likely, that local monks drew their inspiration here.

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