site.btaSkeleton Found in Late Antiquity Grade During Renovation of National Academy of Art

Archaeologists discovered a human skeleton in a Late Antiquity grave uncovered during renovation work at the National Academy of Art (NAA) in central Sofia, the NAA told BTA on Friday.

Elena Nikolova, archaeologist at the Regional History Museum Sofia, told BTA as the grave was unearthed that the NAA building is located on part of the eastern ancient necropolis of Serdica and it was "known and expected" that they would come across a core of tomb structures. "The necropolis has been known for a long time. Colleagues have studied it before us, and they are studying it now. It extends from the St Sophia Church eastward towards the Zaimov Park, so it was no surprise to us that we came across the first such structure – a tegula grave," she said.

More skeletons are expected to be discovered in the area under reconstruction, according to the National Academy of Art.

The renovation of the northern wing of the NAA began on June 17, 2025. Built in 1905, it was the first building that the NAA acquired. Prof. Georgi Yankov, Rector of the National Academy of Art said that it was high time for the building to undergo renovations, as two expert assessments concluded that the building is hazardous and endangers the lives and health of the people inside it.