site.btaBulgaria Considers Multi-Year Funding Programmes for Major Archaeological Sites

The Culture Ministry is considering two- or three-year funding programmes for major archaeological sites, Culture Minister Evtim Miloshev said Tuesday during a visit to the archaeological excavations at Cape Kaliakra near Kavarna.

According to Miloshev, longer-term and guaranteed funding would enable archaeological teams to plan their work and manage the process more effectively, covering not only seasonal excavations but also the subsequent conservation of the finds.

Miloshev said that creating added value from Bulgaria’s archaeological heritage was a key objective. Archaeology, he said, is part of the country’s history and culture, its cultural tourism offering and the opportunities for regional development.

The Minister also emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to the preservation and management of archaeological sites. Once archaeological structures are uncovered, he said, the question arises of how they should be preserved and managed, how scientific research can be combined with the development of cultural tourism, and how the sites can be presented to visitors. He cited practices in Italy, Turkiye, Malta, Cyprus and Greece as examples.

Miloshev said he had already held several discussions with National History Museum Director and head of the archaeological excavations at Kaliakra, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Boni Petrunova, as well as with other leading archaeologists. Bulgaria has much to showcase in terms of its cultural heritage, he said, but the process needs to be better organized.

Assoc. Prof. Petrunova said that a consistent sequence of steps should be established, from archaeological research and restoration to presenting sites to the public and using them to promote cultural tourism.

Petrunova highlighted the good cooperation between the municipal authorities, the Kavarna Museum and the National History Museum, as well as the involvement of specialists working to identify the monuments that have been discovered. According to her, architects should become involved after the archaeologists to develop the necessary restoration and presentation projects. She expressed hope that the projects would receive the necessary funding from the Ministry of Culture and the Council of Ministers, allowing Kaliakra to become an even more attractive cultural tourism destination.

Miloshev also emphasized the importance of involving the National High School of Ancient Languages and Cultures in the archaeological research. Students from the school participate in fieldwork and gain first-hand experience of archaeology and the artifacts being uncovered. Cooperation between the National History Museum, leading archaeologists and arts schools is an important element in the development of the sector and in efforts to preserve Bulgaria’s cultural heritage.