The solid gold ring found in a Thracian mound near Sliven on July 15 2007 by archaeologists most probably belonged to Thracian King Teres II, expedition member Yordanka Radancheva said.

King Teres II ruled from 350-341 BCE.

The ring, which has a Greek inscription and the likeness of a man, probably doubled as a seal, Bulgarian news agency BTA said.

The inscription was initially deciphered to read “The Saviour of Asia”.

Two silver centaurs and a sword that belonged to the interred person were also found at the site. Most of the artifacts found at the site are ornate, which suggests that the people buried there were aristocrats.

Archaeologists see the results of recent excavations as evidence that the Valley of Thracian Kings extends eastward from the Kazanluk area into the Sliven area.

The burial has been initially dated to the fourth century BCE, though some of the artifacts may have been made at an earlier date.