The village of Ostrov is located on the southern bank of the Danube, in the historical region of Northern Dobruja.
Modern researchers suppose that the ruins from the beginning of the 8th century belong to the "Glorious Palace" of the Khans of the First Bulgarian Empire on the Danube and the main base of the Bulgarian Danube fleet.
[2] Many Protobulgarian marks have been found engraved in the masonry, resembling that of the imperial capital Pliska.
[3] The text from the Holy 40 Martyrs Column found in Tarnovo indicates that the Great Khan Omurtag (?–831) built, perhaps over Byzantine ruins, the medieval port and palace complex.
[4] Archaeologist Petre Diaconu [ro] states that the fortress was built between 972 and 976 by the troops of Emperor John I Tzimiskes.