The Varna culture belongs to the late Eneolithic of northern Bulgaria.

It is conventionally dated between 4400-4100 BCE cal, that is, contemporary with Karanovo VI in the South.

It is characterized by polychrome pottery and rich cemeteries, the most famous of which are Varna Necropolis, the eponymous site, and the Durankulak complex, which comprises the largest prehistoric cemetery in southeastern Europe, with an adjoining coeval Neolithic settlement and an unpublished and incompletely excavated Chalcolithic settlement.

Burial is normally flat on the back, sometimes covered with stones.

Grave gifts include bracelets of Spondylus, carnelian beads, gold beads and pendants, and blades of blond balcanic flint.

The culture seems to come to a sudden end around 4100 BCE, which Henrietta Todorova explains with a dramatic climatic change.

Discovery and excavation The site was accidentally discovered in October 1972 by excavator operator Raycho Marinov.

Research excavation was under the direction of Mihail Lazarov (1972–1976) and Ivan Ivanov (1972–1991).

About 30% of estimated necropolis area is still not excavated.294 graves have been found in the necropolis, many containing sophisticated examples of metallurgy (gold and copper), pottery (about 600 pieces, including gold-painted ones), high-quality flint and obsidian blades, beads, and shells.