Bulgaria’s Cabinet Allocates More Funding for Restoration of 9th Century Great Basilica in Early Medieval Capital Pliska

Bulgaria’s Cabinet Allocates More Funding for Restoration of 9th Century Great Basilica in Early Medieval Capital Pliska

Bulgaria’s Cabinet has allocated a total of BGN 770,000 (app. EUR 335,000) to the Ministry of Culture for completing the archaeological restoration of the 9th century Great Basilica in the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018 AD) Pliska

Bulgaria’s Kavarna Municipality Seeks Management Rights for Kaliakra Fortress, Archaeological Preserve

Bulgaria’s Kavarna Municipality Seeks Management Rights for Kaliakra Fortress, Archaeological Preserve

The Black Sea Kavarna Municipality in Northeast Bulgaria plans to acquire from the central government the management rights for the Kaliakra Archaeological Preserve which includes the Kaliakra Fortress on the picturesque Cape Kaliakra.

Bulgaria to Open for Tourists Restored Euxinograd Palace, Kastritsi Fortress on Black Sea Coast in April 2016

Bulgaria to Open for Tourists Restored Euxinograd Palace, Kastritsi Fortress on Black Sea Coast in April 2016

The Euxinograd Palace in the Black Sea residence of the Bulgarian government, and the partly restored ruins of the ancient and medieval fortress of Kastritsi located within the residence estate will be opened for tourists in April 2016 after two…

Ancient Roman, Early Byzantine Fortress Zaldapa in Northeast Bulgaria Granted Highest Status for Cultural Heritage Monuments

Ancient Roman, Early Byzantine Fortress Zaldapa in Northeast Bulgaria Granted Highest Status for Cultural Heritage Monuments

The Ancient Thracian, Ancient Roman, and Early Byzantine fortress Zaldapa located between the towns of Abrit and Dobrin, Dobrich District, in Northeast Bulgaria, has been granted the country’s highest status for cultural monuments.

9th Century Great Basilica in Capital of First Bulgarian Empire Pliska to Be Restored by May 2016

9th Century Great Basilica in Capital of First Bulgarian Empire Pliska to Be Restored by May 2016

Bulgaria’s National Museum of History in Sofia plans to complete the archaeological restoration of the 9th century Great Basilica in the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018 AD) Pliska by May 2015.

Late Roman Fortress Iatrus near Bulgaria’s Krivina to Be Managed by Tsvenovo Municipality as Cultural Tourism Site

Late Roman Fortress Iatrus near Bulgaria’s Krivina to Be Managed by Tsvenovo Municipality as Cultural Tourism Site

The Late Roman and Early Byzantine fortress Iatrus, which was also an early medieval Ancient Bulgar settlement, will be managed by Tsenovo Municipality in order to be developed as a cultural tourism site.

Archaeologists Find North Gate of Ancient Agathopolis in Bulgaria’s Ahtopol, ‘Brand New’ Gold Coin of Byzantine Emperor Justine I

Archaeologists Find North Gate of Ancient Agathopolis in Bulgaria’s Ahtopol, ‘Brand New’ Gold Coin of Byzantine Emperor Justine I

Bulgarian archaeologists have unearthed the northern gate of the Late Antiquity and medieval fortress of Agathopolis, today’s Bulgarian Black Sea town of Ahtopol, a major Byzantine and Bulgarian fortress during the Middle Ages, which was also an Ancient Greek, Thracian,…

Bulgaria’s Transport Ministry 'Gives Back' Authentic Materials for the Restoration of 9th Century Great Basilica in Pliska Removed by the Ottomans

Bulgaria’s Transport Ministry ‘Gives Back’ Authentic Materials for the Restoration of 9th Century Great Basilica in Pliska Removed by the Ottomans

The archaeological restoration of the 9th century Great Basilica in Bulgaria’s Pliska, capital of the First Bulgarian Empire between 680 and 893 AD, will be continued used more authentic construction material that was removed from the temple by the Ottoman…

Bulgaria’s Shumen Completes Restoration of Ancient and Medieval Shumen Fortress with Norway Funding

Bulgaria’s Shumen Completes Restoration of Ancient and Medieval Shumen Fortress with Norway Funding

The city of Shumen in Northeast Bulgaria has completed the restoration of the Shumen Fortress and several other archaeological, historical, and cultural sites in the region with funding from the European Economic Area (EEA) and Norway Grants.

Archaeological, Cultural Sites in Bulgaria’s Petrich Saw 28,000 Tourists in 2015, Ancient City Heraclea Sintica ‘Not Counted’

Archaeological, Cultural Sites in Bulgaria’s Petrich Saw 28,000 Tourists in 2015, Ancient City Heraclea Sintica ‘Not Counted’

The archaeological, historical, and cultural sites in the southwestern Bulgarian town of Petrich which are managed by the Petrich Museum of History, welcomed a total of 27,700 tourists in 2015.

Bulgaria’s Magura Cave, Belogradchik Fortress Attracted 90,000 Tourists in 2015

Bulgaria’s Magura Cave, Belogradchik Fortress Attracted 90,000 Tourists in 2015

About 90,000 Bulgarian and international tourists visited the archaeological, historical, and natural sites in the northwestern town of Belogradchik in 2015, including the Belogradchik Fortress and the Belogradchik Rocks, and the Magura Cave with its prehistoric drawings.

Bulgaria’s Varna to Turn Major 9th Century Monastery with Scriptorium from First Bulgarian Empire into Cultural Tourism Site

Bulgaria’s Varna to Turn Major 9th Century Monastery with Scriptorium from First Bulgarian Empire into Cultural Tourism Site

Bulgaria’s Black Sea city of Varna has taken the first step to restore and promote as a cultural tourism site what apparently was one of the largest monasteries in the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018 AD) known as the Knyazheski (Royal)…

History Museum in Bulgaria’s Pleven, Ancient Fortress Storgosia, Roman Colony Ulpia Oescus See Major Growth in Visitor Numbers

History Museum in Bulgaria’s Pleven, Ancient Fortress Storgosia, Roman Colony Ulpia Oescus See Major Growth in Visitor Numbers

The Regional Museum of History in the northern Bulgarian city of Pleven, and the two archaeological sites that it manages – the Late Antiquity and medieval fortress of Storgosia (Dianensium), known as Pleun in the Middle Ages, and the huge…

Replica of Bulgaria’s Medieval Imperial Crown, Gift by Pope Innocent III, Unveiled by National Museum of History

Replica of Bulgaria’s Medieval Imperial Crown, Gift by Pope Innocent III, Unveiled by National Museum of History

Bulgaria’s National Museum of History in Sofia has unveiled a full-fledged replica of the gold crown worn by the Tsars of the medieval Bulgarian Empire in the High and Late Middle Ages, which was a gift from the Papacy in…

Renowned Historians Seek Major Changes in History Textbooks, Say Bulgaria Was Established in 165 AD

Renowned Historians Seek Major Changes in History Textbooks, Say Bulgaria Was Established in 165 AD

A number of renowned Bulgarian historians have come together in a rare initiative asking the Bulgarian Ministry of Education for major corrections in history textbooks based on recent findings, including the fact that Bulgaria was established in 165 AD, not…

Renowned Bulgarian Archaeologist Assoc. Prof. Irina Shtereva Has Passed Away

Renowned Bulgarian Archaeologist Assoc. Prof. Irina Shtereva Has Passed Away

One of Bulgaria’s most renowned archaeologists and medievalists, Assoc. Prof. Irina Shtereva, has passed away.

Renowned Bulgarian Archaeologist Prof. Totyu Totev Has Passed Away at 85

Renowned Bulgarian Archaeologist Prof. Totyu Totev Has Passed Away at 85

Renowned Bulgarian archaeologist Prof. Totyu Totev, an expert in Christian and medieval archaeology, has passed away at the age of 85.

Archaeologists Find New Evidence Ottomans Used Materials from 9th Century Great Basilica in Bulgaria’s Pliska for Railway Construction

Archaeologists Find New Evidence Ottomans Used Materials from 9th Century Great Basilica in Bulgaria’s Pliska for Railway Construction

Archaeologists and restorers from Bulgaria’s National Museum of History have identified construction materials from the 9th century AD Great Basilica in Pliska, capital of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018 AD) between 680 and 893 AD, which were scattered all over…

Bulgarian Museum Director Urges Revision of Wikipedia Article on Hagia Sophia over Great Basilica in Pliska

Bulgarian Museum Director Urges Revision of Wikipedia Article on Hagia Sophia over Great Basilica in Pliska

The Director of Bulgaria’s National Museum of History in Sofia has urged a revision of the Wikipedia article on the Hagia Sophia cathedral in Constantinople / Istanbul arguing that it was not Europe’s largest temple between the 6th and the…

Archaeologists Discover Ancient Thracian Clay Altar in Newly Found Ancient and Medieval Settlement in Coal Mine near Bulgaria's Radnevo

Archaeologists Discover Ancient Thracian Clay Altar in Newly Found Ancient and Medieval Settlement in Coal Mine near Bulgaria’s Radnevo

An Ancient Thracian clay altar, the first of its kind ever found in Bulgaria, has been discovered during rescue excavations of a newly found ancient and medieval settlement on the territory of the Maritsa East Mines near the town of…

Sofia University Presented with Holy Relics of St. Kliment Ohridski, Alleged Author of Bulgarian (Cyrillic) Alphabet

Sofia University Presented with Holy Relics of St. Kliment Ohridski, Alleged Author of Bulgarian (Cyrillic) Alphabet

A piece of the holy relics of St. Kliment Ohridski (St. Clement of Ohrid) (840 – ca. 916), the disciple of St. Cyril and St. Methodius who allegedly invented the Bulgarian (Cyrillic) alphabet, has been presented to Sofia University (which…

Restorers Reuse Surviving Original Materials to Rebuild Great Basilica in Capital of First Bulgarian Empire Pliska

Restorers Reuse Surviving Original Materials to Rebuild Great Basilica in Capital of First Bulgarian Empire Pliska

The archaeological restoration of the 9th century AD Great Basilica in Pliska, the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018 AD) between 680 and 893 AD, is being carried out by using surviving original materials, Bulgaria’s National Museum of History…

Bulgarian Police Seize Almost 1,000 Archaeological Artifacts from Treasure Hunters

Bulgarian Police Seize Almost 1,000 Archaeological Artifacts from Treasure Hunters

A total of 946 archaeological artifacts have been seized from treasure hunters by the Bulgarian police in the northeastern Silistra District.

Bulgaria Begins Archaeological Restoration of 9th Century AD Great Basilica in Capital of First Bulgarian Empire Pliska

Bulgaria Begins Archaeological Restoration of 9th Century AD Great Basilica in Capital of First Bulgarian Empire Pliska

Bulgaria’s National Museum of History has begun the archaeological restoration of the 9th century Great Basilica in Pliska, the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018 AD) between 680 and 893 AD.

Bulgaria to Open for Tourists Restored Euxinograd Palace, Kastritsi Fortress on Black Sea Coast in Spring 2016

Bulgaria to Open for Tourists Restored Euxinograd Palace, Kastritsi Fortress on Black Sea Coast in Spring 2016

The Euxinograd Palace in the Black Sea residence of the Bulgarian government, and the partly restored ruins of the ancient and medieval fortress of Kastritsi located on the residence estate will be opened for tourists as of the spring of…

Yailata Archaeological Preserve on Bulgaria’s Black Sea Coast Finally Rescued from Construction Investors

Yailata Archaeological Preserve on Bulgaria’s Black Sea Coast Finally Rescued from Construction Investors

The Yailata Archaeological Preserve on Bulgaria’s Northern Black Sea coast, which features historical monuments dating back to the period from the 5th millennium BC to the 11th century AD, has been rescued from construction investors as an illegally built structure…

Bulgaria’s Cabinet Grants Varna Municipality Management Rights for 6 Major Archaeological Sites to Promote Cultural Tourism

Bulgaria’s Cabinet Grants Varna Municipality Management Rights for 6 Major Archaeological Sites to Promote Cultural Tourism

Bulgaria’s Council of Ministers has granted the Black Sea Varna Municipality management rights for a total of six emblematic archaeological sites, some of them world-known, as a measure for boosting the development of cultural tourism.

Veliko Tarnovo Opens Restored Medieval Church ahead of Celebrations for 830th Anniversary of Founding of Second Bulgarian Empire

Veliko Tarnovo Opens Restored Medieval Church ahead of Celebrations for 830th Anniversary of Founding of Second Bulgarian Empire

Ahead of the 830th anniversary of the founding of the Second Bulgarian Empire, the northern Bulgarian city of Veliko Tarnovo has opened for visitors and planned special events the restored St. Dimitar Solunksi (St. Demetrius of Thessaloniki) Church where 830…

Archaeologists Discover Oldest Church of Medieval City Drastar in Bulgaria’s Silistra

Archaeologists Discover Oldest Church of Medieval City Drastar in Bulgaria’s Silistra

The ruins of what was the oldest Christian church from the period of the Middle Ages in the ancient and medieval city of Drastar (known as Durustorum in the Roman period) have been discovered during the continuing rescue excavations in…

Archaeologists Unearth Medieval Homes from 3 Archaeological Layers in Capital of First Bulgarian Empire Pliska

Archaeologists Unearth Medieval Homes from 3 Archaeological Layers in Capital of First Bulgarian Empire Pliska

Medieval homes from three archaeological layers covering the period from the middle of the 9th century AD until the second half of the 11th century AD have been unearthed during the 2015 summer excavations in Pliska, the capital of the…

National Museum of History Commissions Replica of Imperial Crown Worn by Medieval Bulgarian Tsars

National Museum of History Commissions Replica of Imperial Crown Worn by Medieval Bulgarian Tsars

Bulgaria’s National Museum of History in Sofia has commissioned the creation of a replica of the crown worn by the Tsars of the medieval Bulgarian Empire.

Archaeologists Find 10th Century AD Heart-Shaped Belt Decoration in Medieval Fortress Urvich near Bulgaria’s Capital Sofia

Archaeologists Find 10th Century AD Heart-Shaped Belt Decoration in Medieval Fortress Urvich near Bulgaria’s Capital Sofia

A belt decoration shaped like a heart dating back to the 10th century AD is among the latest finds from the renewed 2015 archaeological excavations at the medieval fortress Urvich near Bulgaria’s capital Sofia. The “heart” belt decoration is said…

Bulgaria’s Dobrich to Restore, Promote ‘Glorious Rock’ Fortress in Joint Cultural Tourism Project with Romania’s Constanta

Bulgaria’s Dobrich to Restore, Promote ‘Glorious Rock’ Fortress in Joint Cultural Tourism Project with Romania’s Constanta

The Slavnata Kanara (Glorious Rock) Fortress near the towns of Debrene and Prilep in Northeast Bulgaria is to be restored and promoted as a site for cultural tourism as part of a joint project of the Administration of Bulgaria’s Dobrich…

Archaeologists Find New Fragments of Bulgaria’s Oldest Icon: 10th Century AD Ceramic Icon of St. Theodore Stratilates from Veliki Preslav

Archaeologists Find New Fragments of Bulgaria’s Oldest Icon: 10th Century AD Ceramic Icon of St. Theodore Stratilates from Veliki Preslav

New fragments have been discovered from the earliest known Bulgarian-made icon – a ceramic icon of St. Theodore Stratilates dating back to the 10th century AD, the height of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018 AD) – and the icon itself…

Archaeologists Discover Silver Coin of ‘Dracula’s Grandfather’ Mircea the Elder of Wallachia in Medieval Bulgarian Monastery near Madara

Archaeologists Discover Silver Coin of ‘Dracula’s Grandfather’ Mircea the Elder of Wallachia in Medieval Bulgarian Monastery near Madara

A rare silver coin minted by Mircea the Elder, Voivode (ruler) of Wallachia at the end of the 14th and the beginning of the 15th century, and the grandfather of Vlad Dracula, who is widely known in international popular culture,…

Archaeology in Bulgaria. and Beyond