site.btaCentre for Underwater Archaeology in Sozopol Designated as UNESCO Category 2 Centre

The Centre for Underwater Archaeology in Sozopol has officially been designated as UNESCO Category 2 Centre (C2C), the Culture Ministry said on Monday. UNESCO’s General Conference, the organization’s supreme governing body, formally approved the designation during its 43rd session.

Culture Minister Marian Bachev and Deputy Culture Minister Todor Chobanov took part in the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand, where Minister Bachev presented Bulgaria’s national position in a special address. During Monday’s session, Bulgaria once again defended its candidacy through an expert-level statement.

Under its new name, Underwater Heritage Institute, the Centre will be responsible for projects and initiatives in the Black Sea region and the Lower Danube.

The designation of Bulgaria as the host country for a Category 2 institute for underwater cultural heritage is yet another recognition of the high regard for the work of the Centre for Underwater Archaeology and confirms its leading role in the study, preservation, and promotion of underwater heritage not only in Bulgaria but also globally. UNESCO affirms that the Centre’s initiatives align with the Organization’s mission and goals and contribute to achieving several sustainable development objectives.

The Centre’s numerous projects with partners from around the world demonstrate its ability to foster long-term international cooperation in such a complex and sensitive field as underwater heritage.

This international success is the result of many years of joint efforts by the state and the staff of the Centre for Underwater Archaeology, among whom stands out the visionary idea of expanding the Centre’s activities to neighboring countries, proposed by one of its directors, Hristina Angelova.

The Underwater Heritage Institute will serve not only as a national but also as a regional platform for scientific exchange, training, and cooperation among the countries of the Black Sea region and the lower Danube basin.

The existing synergy between world heritage and underwater heritage gave meaning and motivation to Bulgaria’s initiative to establish this institute. It will play a key role in advancing the sustainable management of cultural heritage, promoting ocean research literacy, and fostering scientific collaboration.

The Underwater Heritage Institute will also contribute to the fight against the illegal trafficking of cultural property by strengthening national inventories and the monitoring of underwater archaeological sites.

To enhance its regional impact, the Centre will encourage cooperation with other UNESCO Category 2 centers, academic institutions, and international research networks.

This decision is an expression of the trust UNESCO places in Bulgaria and a recognition of the country’s long-standing contribution to underwater archaeology and the preservation of underwater cultural heritage.