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
3D models and virtual reality revive the most ancient urban centre in Europe Provadia-Solnitsata
A large-scale project related to the cultural and historical heritage of the archaeological complex Provadia-Solnitsata - one of the largest prehistoric sites in Bulgaria and the most ancient saltworks and urban center in Europe, has [...]
Worthy participation of BAS at a congress in the Sorbonne
The 17th International Congress of Slavists is taking place between 25 and 30 August 2025 at the Sorbonne, Paris. Scientists from different units of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences are participating in the programme of [...]
New exhibition presents objects from a Thracian burial
The President of BAS, Corr. Memb. Evelina Slavcheva, opened "The Glitter of Hellenistic Gold. The Lord of Sakar" exhibition. The official ceremony was held on August 12 at the National Archaeological Institute with Museum [...]
The National Festival of Folklore in Koprivshtitsa has kept the tradition for 60 years
Scientists from the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies with Ethnographic Museum in partnership with the Institute of Art Studies jury and document the program of the assembly The Vice-President of BAS Prof. Emmanuel [...]
The restored second statue of Heraclea Sintica – for the first time in the National Archaeological Institute with Museum of BAS
The fully restored second ancient marble statue of Heraclea Sintica was shown for the first time to the public at the National Archaeological Institute with Museum of BAS (NAIM-BAS) - upright, fortified and with its [...]
“Cultural Heritage in the Digital Age” scientific conference held at BAS
The Institute of Balkan Studies & Center of Thracology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IBSCT-BAS) held a scientific conference with international participation on the "Cultural Heritage in the Digital Age" theme. It was organized [...]
Exhibition presents artefacts from Heraclea Sintica in the Greek city of Dion
The "Secrets and Mysteries of Heraclea Sintica - a journey in time" exhibition of the History Museum - Petrich is presented within the framework of the "Olympus" festival which is held in the Greek [...]
Interactive exhibition in Berlin of the Institute of Art Studies
In July and August, the "Architectural Heritage in Virtual Reality" exhibition realized by the Institute of Art Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and within the National Scientific Programme for the Development and Recognition [...]
Meeting-discussion “Greece’s culture is far more than the Acropolis” held at BAS
A public meeting-discussion on "Greece's culture is far more than the Acropolis" was held today at the “Acad. Ivan E. Geshov" Hall of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. It is part of a series of [...]
Old Bulgarian translated texts in focus at an international conference at the University of Naples “L’Orientale”
Leading specialists from ten European countries gathered at the University of Naples “L’Orientale” (24-26 June 2025) to discuss issues related to the transmission of Old Bulgarian translations from the Middle Ages to the Modern Age. [...]
Honorable mentions for Prof. Aleksander Naumow from Bulgaria and Poland
With a particularly solemn and lavish ceremony, according to its centuries-old tradition, on 24 June Jagiellonian University renewed the doctorate of the doyen of Polish Paleo-Slavic studies, Bulgarian and Cyrillo-Methodian studies, Prof. Aleksander Naumow - [...]
Prof. Emmanuel Moutafov opens a conference at Sofia University
The Vice-President of BAS Prof. Emmanuel Moutafov has opened today the Fifth Annual Scientific Conference of the Centre of Excellence "Heritage BG" in his capacity as R&D Coordinator of the eponymous project for the construction [...]
Presentation of the book “Macedonia in European Ethnic Cartography (Mid-19th Century – End of the First World War 1918)”
The book "Macedonia in European Ethnic Cartography (Mid-19th century - the end of the First World War 1918)" (Македония в европейската етническа картография (Средата на XIX в. – края на Първата световна война 1918 [...]
BAS scientist with prestigious film award
The Grand Prix of the "The Golden Linden" International Film Festival for New European Cinema 2025 has gone to the film "Before I Forget" (2024, director Stanislav Donchev). Co-writer and co-producer of the film is [...]
Forum in Zagreb discusses Bulgarian-Croatian cooperation
The Bulgarian-Croatian cooperation in the field of history and humanities was presented at a forum held on 19 May at the National Library in Zagreb. The event was attended by Dr. Irina Ognyanova from the [...]
Over 60 researchers from 14 countries discuss Christian missions in the European Middle Ages
The International Scientific Conference on "Christian Missions in the European Middle Ages and their Intellectual Heritage. History, Notions, Ideas" has been opened at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences today. More than 60 participants from 14 [...]
A renowned German Byzantinist gives a lecture on a project of IBSCT
On May 15, 2025, the Institute of Balkan Studies & Center for Thracology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences held a public lecture by Professor Peter Schreiner, a visiting foreign Bulgarian Studies scholar. Professor Schreiner [...]
International Annual Conference of the Institute for Bulgarian Language
The "Prof. Lyubomir Andreychin" Institute for Bulgarian Language at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences is celebrating 83 years since its foundation with a two-day international annual conference which is taking place in the “Prof. Marin [...]
The film “155 Years of BAS – The Living Spirit of the Founders” was screened at the Ethnografilm International Festival in Paris
The film "155 Years of BAS - The Living Spirit of the Founders" by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ina Aneva, Scientific Secretary of the Biodiversity, Bioresources and Ecology Division of BAS, was selected and screened at [...]
The Cyrillo-Methodian Research Center commemorates the Dormition of St. Methodius Slavo-Bulgarian
On April 8, 2025, in the hall of the Czech Centre in Sofia, the Cyrillo-Methodian Research Centre of BAS commemorated the 1140th anniversary of the blissful dormition of St. Methodius Slavo-Bulgarian. Guests of the academic [...]
Minister Krasimir Valchev discusses changes in the curricula of humanitarian disciplines with scientists from BAS
The Minister of Education and Science Krasimir Valchev today discussed the vision for a comprehensive change in the Bulgarian language, literature and history curricula with scientists from the Institute for Bulgarian Language, the Institute [...]
A young scientist from BAS has been elected as a representative in the Global Young Academy
For the first time, Bulgaria has a representative in the Global Young Academy (GYA). This is Asst. Prof. Dr. Alexandra Milanova from the Institute of Balkan Studies with the Center of Thracology at BAS. She [...]
Icarus Award for Prof. Nikolay Iordanov from the Institute of Art Studies of BAS
On World Theatre Day, 27 March, the "Icarus" National Performing Arts Awards of the Union of Bulgarian Actors were presented. At a ceremony at the National Theatre, Prof. Nikolay Iordanov from the Theatre Department of [...]
Presentation of the book “Slavic World. Freiburg Lectures 1923/1924”
Ivan Shishmanov's book of lectures "Slavic World. Freiburg Lectures 1923/1924" was presented on 19 March at the “Prof. Marin Drinov” Hall of BAS. The compilers of the volume are Prof. Elizabeth Cheauré and Prof. Rumjana [...]