Research division
Cultural-historical Heritage and National Identity
Institutes and Academic Specialized Units
Mario Ivanov
Scientific secretary of division 8. Cultural-historical heritage and national identity
mivanov@cu.bas.bg
National Archaeological Institute with Museum
The research in this division is aimed at studying, preserving and popularizing the Bulgarian cultural and historical heritage as part of the common European cultural tradition and history.
The main spheres of research in the humanities are: Bulgarian studies, Balkan history, Thracology, Cyrillo-Methodian Studies, Linguistics, Literature, Historiography, Medievalism, Musicology, Dramatic Art, Fine Arts, Screen Arts, Architecture, Ethnology, Folklore, Cultural Anthropology, Archaeology , Museology and others.
Information technologies, electronic publishing and digitization of bulk information of the cultural, historical and scientific heritage are implemented, and digital repositories are created to systematize the samples of this heritage and to make effective access to them.
Planned, rescue and emergency archaeological researches and field studies are carried out, and active participation is taken in the preparation to realize national infrastructure projects – highways, gas pipelines, oil pipelines, coal and mineral mining as well as in projects related to the organization of cultural tourism.
Analyses of phenomena related to ancient, medieval, traditional, new, contemporary and modern culture in the context of its specific role in building national, Balkan and European identities in a globalizing world are made.
News
The archaeological investigations on Trapezitsa Hill officially presented
The National Archaeological Institute with Museum at BAS (NAIM-BAS) today presented the results of the archaeological investigations, restoration and public engagement initiatives concerning the historical remains on Trapezitsa Hill in Veliko Tarnovo. The event, [...]
The Cycle of Film Ideas
A round-table discussion on the theme “Bulgaria in Europe. The Cycle of Film Ideas: Past and Present” took place as part of the 44th edition of the “Golden Rose” Bulgarian Feature Film Festival, Varna 2026. [...]
Cooperation between the Institute of Art Studies – BAS and the “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov” National Academy of Music
On 24 September 2026, a cooperation agreement was signed between the Institute of Art Studies – BAS and the “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov” National Academy of Music. The document was signed by Prof. Dr. Joanna Spassova-Dikova, [...]
Collaboration between the Institute of Art Studies and the Sofia City Art Gallery
A three-year bilateral cooperation agreement between the Institute of Art Studies (IAS) and the Sofia City Art Gallery (SCAG) was signed by the directors, Prof. Dr. Joanna Spassova-Dikova and Adelina Fileva, on 15 September. SGAG [...]
Fragments of Palaiologan paintings have been discovered in the “Life-giving Spring of the Mother of God” church in Melnik
On 12 September 2026, the Vice-President of BAS Prof. Emmanuel Moutafov visited the archaeological excavations in the “Life-giving Spring of the Mother of God” church in the historic Armenia quarter of Melnik, which were taking [...]
Bulgarian participation in the forum “Architecture of the New Order – Stability in Times of Change”
From 8 to 10 September 2026, the 35th Economic Forum took place in Karpacz, Poland. Founded by Zygmunt Berdychowski in 1992, the forum is the most significant socio-economic event in Central and Eastern Europe. Due [...]
The Institute of Art Studies presents a new book
The book „ЗНАНИЕТО ЗА МУЗИКАТА според „Ясно и леко въведение в практическата музика“ на Томас Морли (ок. 1557–1602). Между Musica Theoretica и Musica Practica“ (“KNOWLEDGE OF MUSIC according to Thomas Morley’s (c. 1557–1602) “A Plain and Easy Introduction [...]
A team from NAIM – BAS continues its research into the church of the “Life-giving Spring of the Mother of God” in Melnik
Archaeological excavations at the church of the “Life-giving Spring of the Mother of God” in the historic Armenia quarter of Melnik will take place for the fourth consecutive season in September 2026. They form [...]
“The Forgotten Deities” come to life in an exhibition at the National Archaeological Museum
“The Forgotten Deities” temporary exhibition at the National Archaeological Institute with Museum of BAS offers visitors the chance to journey through over 6,000 years of spiritual history and to reflect on the ways in which [...]
Exhibition on the April Uprising at the “Rozhen” NAO
National heritage and modern science came together at the largest astronomical complex in South-East Europe “The April Uprising of 1876 and its Impact on the Lives of Members of the Bulgarian Learned Society” exhibition opened [...]
Summer on the Cobblestones at the National Ethnographic Museum
The yellow cobblestones are one of Sofia’s most recognisable symbols. The area around the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the Ivan Vazov National Theatre, the Royal Palace, the City Garden and Prince Alexander I Square form [...]
Renowned foreign scholar of Bulgarian studies visits CMRC
Prof. Marzanna Kuczyńska from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań is visiting the Cyrillo-Methodian Research Center of BAS in July. The visit is taking place as part of the “Development and Promotion of Bulgarian Studies [...]
Southeastern Europe and the Middle East take center stage at an international conference
The “European South–East and the Middle East: At the Crossroads of Entangled Regions, Cultures, and Religions” international scientific conference was officially opened today in the “Prof. Marin Drinov” Hall of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. [...]
BAS presents an exhibition on the April Uprising in Parliament
The President of BAS, Corresponding Member Evelina Slavcheva, and the Speaker of the National Assembly, Mihaela Dotsova, opened today in the Marble Foyer of the Parliament the “Bulgarian Revolutionaries and Men of Letters on the [...]
Contemporary art at BAS: “Color Resonances” exhibition by Lyuben Genov
Lyuben Genov’s exhibition, titled “Color Resonances,” is on view at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences through July 31, 2026. This is the third exhibition in the “Contemporary Art at the BAS” series, an initiative of [...]
BAS presents: the “Boryana vs. Geratsite” documentary film
A screening of the documentary film about Elin Pelin and Yordan Yovkov, “Boryana” vs. “Geratsite”, took place on June 17 in the “Prof. Marin Drinov” Hall of BAS. The event was part of the “BAS [...]
A documentary film about the women of the April Uprising tells the story of these unsung heroines
The new documentary film “Women in April: The Unknown Heroines of the April Uprising” was presented to the academic community in the “Prof. Marin Drinov” Hall of BAS. The Academy’s initiatives to mark the 150th [...]
Assoc. Prof. Nadya Filipova is the director of the Institute for Historical Studies
Assoc. Prof. Nadya Filipova, Ph.D., is the newly elected director of the Institute for Historical Studies. Assoc. Prof. Nadia Filipova’s research focuses on Bulgarian foreign policy, the Arab world, international relations, and minority issues. She [...]
Bulgarian children are researching the impact of the April Uprising abroad
p The winners of a student competition dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the April Uprising were announced today at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences by Vasil Vasilev, chairman of the All-Bulgarian “Vasil Levski” Committee. [...]
The second module of “Art Readings 2026” has ended
The “New Art” module of the international academic conference “Art Readings 2026,” held at the Institute of Art Studies of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences from April 23 to 25, ended. Young and established [...]
Provadia-Solnitsata receives the prestigious European Heritage Label
Photo: Eric Herchaft On April 22, 2026, the European Heritage Label (EHL) marked an important milestone with the 2026 Label award ceremony, marking the initiative’s 15th anniversary and officially welcoming Europe’s earliest salt-producing [...]
Historians from BAS participate in an academic session marking the 150th anniversary of the April Uprising
A commemorative academic session marking the 150th anniversary of the April Uprisin, featuring scholars from the Institute for Historical Studies at BAS was held today at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski.” Representatives of the historical [...]
Prof. Kamelia Nikolova receives the IKAR 2026 award for fundamental historical research
Prof. Kamelia Nikolova, DSc, was awarded the IKAR’2026 award for her book “Българският театър 1856-2026. Репертоарни политики. Постановъчни практики” (Bulgarian Theater 1856–2026: Repertoire Policies. Staging Practices). The publication is by the Institute of Art Studies [...]
Presentation of an anniversary collection dedicated to Corr. Memb. Ivanka Gergova
On March 30, the book „Историята на изкуството като призвание. Сборник в чест на чл.-кор. проф. д.изк. Иванка Гергова по повод на нейната 70-годишнина“ (Art History as a Vocation: a collection in honor of Corr. [...]