BETWEEN DREAM AND REALITY: BULGARIAN ARCHAEOLOGY IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY
BETWEEN DREAM AND REALITY: BULGARIAN ARCHAEOLOGY IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY

Summary/Abstract: In their daydreams, widely shared in the national media, Bulgarian archaeologists claim Bulgaria ranks third in Europe in archaeological cul tural heritage, just behind Italy and Greece. Furthermore, archaeological research is regarded as a cornerstone of historical memory and national identity. In this sense, two national strategies are envisaged in Bulgaria: a National Cultural Development Strategy under Article 2a (1), of the 296 CPDA and a National Cultural Heritage Strategy according to Article 11(3) of the CHA. Despite the requirements of these two laws, the natio nal strategies for cultural heritage and cultural development have not been established in Bulgaria for 18 years. Unfortunately, the lack of planning limits the possibilities for exploring and preserving the immovable and movable archaeological cultural heritage. Bulgaria is a leader in the num ber of archaeological surveys per year: 344 archaeologists with the right to lead archaeological surveys carry out about 600 archaeological sur veys per year. For the first quarter of the 21st century, more than 12,000 regular and rescue surveys have been carried out, for which significant f inancial resources have been spent. However, in Bulgaria, no one knows the actual number of immovable and movable archaeological values or objects, their condition, and often their exact location. The inherited from the totalita rian era monopoly power of the archaeologist–scientific su pervisor should be replaced by teamwork, equality, and respect for the copyright of all participants in the study: archaeologists, numismatists, resto rers, architects, and specialists in interdisciplinary research. Socia lization, display, and promotion should be done by the museums mana ging the respective archaeological sites and collections. Great opportuni ties in this regard are provided by international experience, which Bulga rian institutions in the field of cultural heritage preservation are obligated to implement, not least because Bulgaria has ratified the following Euro pean conventions: the Convention for the Protection of the Archaeologi cal Heritage of Europe (La Valetta, 1992), the Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society, the Strategy for Cultural Heritage in Europe in the 21st Century (adopted by the Council of Europe on February 22, 2017), the International Charter for the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments, the Krakow Charter (2000) on the Principles of Conservation and Restoration of Built Heritage, and the London Char ter for the Computer-based Visualization of Cultural Heritage (2008).

• Details
• Contents