Snip!t from collection of Alan Dix

<div class="caption body-width"><img src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/63836000/jpg/_63836195_63836192.jpg" alt="A photo provided by the Bulgarian National Institute of Archaeology and taken on 26 September 2012 shows the remains of a small settlement made of two-storey houses near the town of Provadia in eastern Bulgaria" height="261" width="464"> <span style="width:464px;">The prehistoric town at Provadia features two-storey houses and a defensive wall</span> </div> <div class="story-feature related narrow"> <a class="hidden" href="#story_continues_1">Continue reading the main story</a> <h2>Related Stories</h2> <ul class="related-links-list"> <li> <a class="story" rel="published-1332240336135" href="/news/science-environment-17436400">Ancient sites spotted from space</a> </li> <li> <a class="story" rel="published-1347405345854" href="/news/uk-england-leicestershire-19561018">DNA tests on 'Richard III' bones</a> </li> <li> <a class="story" rel="published-1344408857253" href="/news/science-environment-19168047">Objects may be 'earliest matches'</a> </li> </ul> </div> <p class="introduction" id="story_continues_1">Archaeologists in Bulgaria say that have uncovered the oldest prehistoric town found to date in Europe.</p> <p>The walled fortified settlement, near the modern town of Provadia, is thought to have been an important centre for salt production.</p> <p>Its discovery in north-west Bulgaria may explain the huge gold hoard found nearby 40 years ago.</p> <p>Archaeologists believe that the town was home to some 350 people and dates back to between 4700 and 4200 BC. </p> <p>That is about 1,500 years before the start of ancient Greek civilisation.</p>