Politicising Science: the Impact of Politics on Bulgarian Archaeology During the Communist Period and the Years of Transition
Politicising Science: the Impact of Politics on Bulgarian Archaeology During the Communist Period and the Years of Transition

Summary/Abstract: Bulgarian archaeology, as a discipline deeply connected to identity, memory, and cultural heritage, has been highly sensitive to political regimes, which have played a decisive role in shaping its research agendas and scientific priorities. The communist period (1944–1989) marked a decisive phase of institutionalisation, centralisation, and methodological standardisation under Marxist-Leninist doctrine. Archaeological research was mobilised in support of nation-building, with emphasis placed on Slavic origins, medieval statehood, and, from the late 1960s onward, Thracian heritage. A key culmination was the state-sponsored celebration of the 1300th anniversary of the Bulgarian state in 1981, which mobilised unprecedented archaeological research, large-scale restorations, and commemorative narratives in the service of socialist ideology and national representation. The political transition after 1989 brought a profound crisis, characterised by the collapse of state funding, weakened heritage protection, and a surge in looting and illicit antiquities trade. Archaeological practice nevertheless adapted through rescue excavations, new legislation, and increasing engagement with international scholarly networks. Across both socialist and post-socialist contexts, Bulgarian archaeology demonstrates continuity and resilience, maintaining scholarly standards despite persistent political influence.

• Details
• Contents