Bulgaria’s National Museum of History Reintensifies Restoration of 9th Century Great Basilica in Early Medieval Capital Pliska

Bulgaria’s National Museum of History Reintensifies Restoration of 9th Century Great Basilica in Early Medieval Capital Pliska

The archaeological restoration of the 9th century Great Basilica in Pliska, capital of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018 AD) between 680 and 893 AD, has been reintensified by the National Museum of History in Sofia as of May 2016.

Veliko Tarnovo History Museum Raises Funds to Raise Bulgaria’s Flag on Trapesitsa Fortress

Veliko Tarnovo History Museum Raises Funds to Raise Bulgaria’s Flag on Trapesitsa Fortress

The Regional Museum of History in the city of Veliko Tarnovo in Central North Bulgaria has started a campaign to raise money in order to purchase and raise a large Bulgarian flag on the ruins of the Trapesitsa Hill Fortress.

Mural Portrairs of Tsars from Second Bulgarian Empire Identified in Largest Study of Frescoes from Medieval Capital Tarnovgrad (Veliko Tarnovo)

Mural Portrairs of Tsars from Second Bulgarian Empire Identified in Largest Study of Frescoes from Medieval Capital Tarnovgrad (Veliko Tarnovo)

Previously unkown mural portraits of Tsar Ivan Asen II (r 1218-1241), one of his wifes, and three other medieval Bulgarian rulers from the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185-1396) have been identified in the most comprehensive study to date of the frescoes…

History Museum in Bulgaria’s Veliko Tarnovo Launches Brand New Website as Part of Its 145th Anniversary Events

History Museum in Bulgaria’s Veliko Tarnovo Launches Brand New Website as Part of Its 145th Anniversary Events

The Regional Museum of History in the city of Veliko Tarnovo in Central North Bulgaria, the successor of the medieval Bulgarian capital Tarnovgrad, has revamped its website as part of the events for the celebration of its the 145th anniversary.

Bulgaria’s Sofia Starts Excavations of Western Gate of Ancient Serdica in Preparation for Restoration Project

Bulgaria’s Sofia Starts Excavations of Western Gate of Ancient Serdica in Preparation for Restoration Project

Sofia Municipality has started the preparatory archaeological excavations of the Western Gate of the Ancient Roman city of Serdica, the predecessor of today’s Bulgarian capital, as part of a project for the restoration of the gate and the structures around…

Bulgaria’s Kula to Restore Archaeology Museum at Roman Fortress Castra Martis, Promotes Joint Route with Felix Romuliana (Gamzigrad) in Serbia

Bulgaria’s Kula to Restore Archaeology Museum at Roman Fortress Castra Martis, Promotes Joint Route with Felix Romuliana (Gamzigrad) in Serbia

The northwestern Bulgarian town of Kula is moving to restore an archaeological museum which used to exist at the ruins of the Ancient Roman fortress Castra Martis, whose preserved ruins include a 16-meter-tall tower.

Newly Opened Early Christian Archaeological Park in Bulgaria’s Sandanski ‘Meeting Expectations’ as Top Cultural Attraction

Newly Opened Early Christian Archaeological Park in Bulgaria’s Sandanski ‘Meeting Expectations’ as Top Cultural Attraction

The Archaeological Park of Early Christian buildings from the Roman city Parthicopolis which was opened recently in the southwestern Bulgarian town of Sandanski in a long-anticipated and long-delayed event has met the expectations for emerging as a top cultural attraction,…

History Museum in Bulgaria’s Kazanlak to ‘Digitize’ 9 Ancient Thracian Tombs with Norway / EEA Money

History Museum in Bulgaria’s Kazanlak to ‘Digitize’ 9 Ancient Thracian Tombs with Norway / EEA Money

The “Iskra” Museum of History in the central Bulgarian town of Kazanlak has started a Norway/EEA-funded project for the “digitization”, i.e. filming, photographing, 3D presentation, and web publication of a total of nine Ancient Thracian tombs in the Valley of…

Archaeologists Find No Thracian Traces at Roman City Serdica Raising Questions about Antiquity History of Bulgaria’s Capital Sofia

Archaeologists Find No Thracian Traces at Roman City Serdica Raising Questions about Antiquity History of Bulgaria’s Capital Sofia

The archaeological team that conducted the excavations at what has now become the new open-air museum of the Ancient Roman city of Serdica in the downtown of today’s Sofia has found no Ancient Thracian traces in that particular section raising…

Bulgaria’s Capital Sofia Opens Much Criticized Open-Air Museum of Ancient Roman City Serdica

Bulgaria’s Capital Sofia Opens Much Criticized Open-Air Museum of Ancient Roman City Serdica

Bulgaria’s Cabinet and Sofia Municipality have opened the long-delayed open-air museum of the Ancient Roman city of Serdica, popularly known as the Sofia Largo project, which has been much criticized over the past 7-8 months because of the quality of…

Excavation, Restoration of 5th Century Great Basilica in Bulgaria’s Plovdiv to Be Completed by 2018 End

Excavation, Restoration of 5th Century Great Basilica in Bulgaria’s Plovdiv to Be Completed by 2018 End

The excavations and restoration of the 5th century Early Christian Great Basilica with its stunning mosaics in the city of Plovdiv in Southern Bulgaria (also known as Europe’s oldest city) are supposed to be completed by November 30, 2018.

Bulgaria’s Kazanlak Starts Long-Anticipated Excavation, Restoration of Helvetia Tomb, Griffins’ Tomb in Valley of Odrysian Thracian Kings

Bulgaria’s Kazanlak Starts Long-Anticipated Excavation, Restoration of Helvetia Tomb, Griffins’ Tomb in Valley of Odrysian Thracian Kings

Kazanlak Municipality in Central Bulgaria has finally begun the delayed restoration of two of the most famous Ancient Thracian tombs in the Valley of Odrysian Thracian Kings, the Helvetia Tomb and the Griffins’ Tomb, which is funded with a grant…

Bulgaria’s Karlovo Municipality to Turn 6th Century BC Ancient Thracian City with Royal Residence into Cultural Tourism Site

Bulgaria’s Karlovo Municipality to Turn 6th Century BC Ancient Thracian City with Royal Residence into Cultural Tourism Site

An Ancient Thracian city from the 6th-5th century BC containing the royal residence of a Thracian king, whose ruins are located near the town of Vasil Levski in Central Bulgaria, is to be restored and opened for visitors by Karlovo…

Bulgaria’s Sandanski Opens Long Anticipated Early Christian Archaeological Park of Ancient Parthicopolis

Bulgaria’s Sandanski Opens Long Anticipated Early Christian Archaeological Park of Ancient Parthicopolis

The long-anticipated and long-delayed opening of an Archaeological Park of newly restored Early Christian buildings from the Roman city Parthicopolis in the southwestern Bulgarian town of Sandanski has finally materialized.

Bulgaria’s Plovdiv to Rebuild Stage of Antiquity Amphitheater, Exhibit Underground Archaeological Structures

Bulgaria’s Plovdiv to Rebuild Stage of Antiquity Amphitheater, Exhibit Underground Archaeological Structures

Possibly the most famous cultural landmark of the southern Bulgarian city of Plovdiv, its well preserved Antiquity Amphitheater, will be renovated as part of a project which also provides for exhibiting in situ archaeological structures under its stage.

Bulgaria’s Plovdiv Moves to Begin Much Anticipated Exploration of Ancient, Medieval Fortress of Nebet Tepe

Bulgaria’s Plovdiv Moves to Begin Much Anticipated Exploration of Ancient, Medieval Fortress of Nebet Tepe

Plovdiv Municipality in Southern Bulgaria and the Plovdiv Museum of Archaeology have signed the contract for the much anticipated resumption of the archaeological exploration of Nebet Tepe, the prehistoric, ancient, and medieval settlement and fortress, to which the city of…

Newly Restored Floor Mosaics from Antiquity Synagogue in Bulgaria’s Plovdiv Unveiled for the First Time

Newly Restored Floor Mosaics from Antiquity Synagogue in Bulgaria’s Plovdiv Unveiled for the First Time

Absolutely unique 3rd century AD floor mosaics from the Antiquity Synagogue in the southern city of Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s only Jewish temple from the Antiquity period, have been restored by the Plovdiv Museum of Archaeology.

Bulgaria’s Botevgrad to Excavate Archaeological Site from the 6th Century AD Famous for Old Stone Church

Bulgaria’s Botevgrad to Excavate Archaeological Site from the 6th Century AD Famous for Old Stone Church

An archaeological site from the 5th-6th century AD which is famous for harboring an old stone church is to be excavated near the town of Trudovets, Botevgrad Municipality, in Northwest Bulgaria.

Governor of Bulgaria’s Pleven District Moves to Clean Up, Restore Ancient Roman City Ulpia Oescus

Governor of Bulgaria’s Pleven District Moves to Clean Up, Restore Ancient Roman City Ulpia Oescus

The ruins of the huge Ancient Roman city of Ulpia Oescus located near the town of Gigen, Gulyantsi Municipality, close to the Danube River, in Northern Bulgaria, will be cleaned up at the initiative of Pleven District Governor Ralitsa Dobreva.

Bulgaria’s Plovdiv to Restore Marble Seats during Reconstruction of Antiquity Odeon

Bulgaria’s Plovdiv to Restore Marble Seats during Reconstruction of Antiquity Odeon

The city of Plovdiv in Southern Bulgaria has started the long-overdue restoration of its Antiquity Odeon, an Ancient Greek and Roman public space for musical and theatrical performances and competitions. The reconstruction has started with the all-out demolition of the wooden…

‘Condemned’ Bronze Head of Roman Emperor Gordian III from Nicopolis ad Istrum to Be Showcased by Bulgaria’s Veliko Tarnovo

‘Condemned’ Bronze Head of Roman Emperor Gordian III from Nicopolis ad Istrum to Be Showcased by Bulgaria’s Veliko Tarnovo

A new exhibition on the major Ancient Roman city of Nicopolis ad Istrum (situated near the city of Veliko Tarnovo in Central North Bulgaria) is going showcase a famous bronze head sculpture of Roman Emperor Gordian III (r. 238-244 AD)…

Bulgarian Archaeologists, Architects Rally against Controversial Amendments to Cultural Heritage Act

Bulgarian Archaeologists, Architects Rally against Controversial Amendments to Cultural Heritage Act

Leading Bulgarian archaeologists and architects have staged a protest rally before the Parliament building in Sofia against controversial draft amendments to the Cultural Heritage Act.

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

Museum of Natural History in Bulgaria’s Black Sea City Burgas to Be Renovated

Museum of Natural History in Bulgaria’s Black Sea City Burgas to Be Renovated

The building of the Museum of Natural History in Bulgaria’s Black Sea city of Burgas will be fully renovated as the Burgas Regional Museum of History has won government funding under the “Beautiful Bulgaria” Program.

Bulgaria’s Kazanlak to Launch Excavation, Restoration of Helvetia Tomb, Griffins’ Tomb in Valley of Odrysian Thracian Kings

Bulgaria’s Kazanlak to Launch Excavation, Restoration of Helvetia Tomb, Griffins’ Tomb in Valley of Odrysian Thracian Kings

Kazanlak Municipality is finally going to start the restoration of two of the most famous ancient tombs in the Valley of Odrysian Thracian Kings, the Helvetia Tomb and the Griffins’ Tomb, which is funded with a grant from the European…

Restoration of Ancient Roman Ceramics Factory in Bulgaria’s Pavlikeni Delayed by Annulled Tender

Restoration of Ancient Roman Ceramics Factory in Bulgaria’s Pavlikeni Delayed by Annulled Tender

The restoration and further excavation of the only known Ancient Roman ceramics factory in Southeast Europe, which is located near the northern Bulgarian town of Pavlikeni, will be delayed after Bulgaria’s competition watchdog has annulled a tender for the project.

Mayor of Bulgaria’s Kula Calls for Urgent Restoration of Ancient Thracian Fortress Castra Martis

Mayor of Bulgaria’s Kula Calls for Urgent Restoration of Ancient Thracian Fortress Castra Martis

The Ancient Roman fortress Castra Martis, whose preserved ruins include a 16-meter-tall tower, urgently needs conservation and restoration, according to Vladimir Vladimirov, Mayor of the town of Kula in Northwest Bulgaria.

Bulgaria’s Plovdiv Granted Permission for Restoration of Antiquity Odeon after Year-Long Delay

Bulgaria’s Plovdiv Granted Permission for Restoration of Antiquity Odeon after Year-Long Delay

The city of Plovdiv in Southern Bulgaria has finally received a long-delayed permit for the restoration of the Antiquity Odeon, an Ancient Greek and Roman public space for musical and theatrical performances and competitions.

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…

Bulgaria’s Montana to Excavate Early Christian Syrian-Type Basilica from Ancient Roman City Montanesium in Joint Project with Serbia

Bulgaria’s Montana to Excavate Early Christian Syrian-Type Basilica from Ancient Roman City Montanesium in Joint Project with Serbia

The northwestern Bulgarian city of Montana, the modern-day successor of the Ancient Roman city and fortress of Montanesium, is going to excavate and restore partly a 4th century Early Christian basilica with Syrian-type architecture as part of a joint cultural…

Unknown Richly Decorated Statue of Roman Emperor Trajan Kept in Storage of Bulgaria's National Museum of History for Decades

Unknown Richly Decorated Statue of Roman Emperor Trajan Kept in Storage of Bulgaria’s National Museum of History for Decades

An unknown statue of Roman Emperor Trajan (r. 98-117 AD) with a rich decoration of motifs from the ancient mythology has been kept for decades at the Laboratory of Bulgaria’s National Museum of History.

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.

Over 200 Archaeological Research Projects Vying for Meager Funding from Bulgaria’s Ministry of Culture in 2016

Over 200 Archaeological Research Projects Vying for Meager Funding from Bulgaria’s Ministry of Culture in 2016

Over 200 archaeological projects are expected to compete for the meager excavation and conservation budget slated by Bulgaria’s Ministry of Culture for 2016.

Bulgaria’s Varna Municipality Ridiculed over Reburial of Late Antiquity Fortress Wall of Ancient Odessos

Bulgaria’s Varna Municipality Ridiculed over Reburial of Late Antiquity Fortress Wall of Ancient Odessos

Newly placed information signs about the Late Antiquity fortress wall of the Ancient Thracian, Greek, and Roman city of Odessos (Odessus) has led to media reactions ridiculing the way the municipal administration in the Bulgarian Black Sea city of Varna…

Tsarevets Hill Fortress in Bulgaria’s Veliko Tarnovo in Need of Major Funding for Urgent Repairs

Tsarevets Hill Fortress in Bulgaria’s Veliko Tarnovo in Need of Major Funding for Urgent Repairs

The Tsarevets Hill Fortress, one of the two citadels (the other being the Trapesitsa Hill Fortress) of the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185-1396) Tarnovgrad, today’s city of Veliko Tarnovo in Central North Bulgaria, needs urgent repairs that will…

Archaeology in Bulgaria. and Beyond