On June 24, 2021 Varna Regional Museum of History and the Balkan Heritage Foundation held the opening of the fourth exhibition “Preserving the Past, Looking to the Future”. The event was organized with funding from STONE & COMPASS after a year and a half postponement due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Along with the past three exhibitions held in the Archaeological Museum of Septemvri “Prof. Mieczysław Domaradzki”, the Municipal Cultural Institute “Museum Center” Sozopol and the Regional History Museum Sofia in 2019, the event aims to showcase finds from archaeological and conservation projects in Bulgaria implemented or supported by the Balkan Heritage Foundation through the Balkan Heritage Field School.

The exhibition includes artifacts discovered and restored as a result of the following projects:

• Archaeological survey and field school at the monastery complex on Djanavara hill, Varna, in partnership with Varna Regional Museum of History

• Archaeological survey and field school at Tell Yunatsite, in partnership with the Regional History Museum Pazardzhik

• Archaeological surveys and field schools at the sites: the Neolithic settlement of Ilindentsi and the Bronze Age fortress of Bresto in partnership with the Regional History Museum Blagoevgrad

• Archaeological surveys and field schools at the sites: emporion Pistiros and the Roman road station Bona Mansio, in partnership with the Archaeological Museum “Prof. Mieczysław Domaradzki”, Septemvri

The exhibition’s spotlight were the artifacts from the early Christian monastery on Djanavara hill, Varna, which was one of the first sites excavated by the Varna Archaeological Society, established in 1901. The event was also a celebration of the 120^th anniversary of the society’s founding.

Due to great visitor interest the exhibition has been extended until April 30, 2022. You can see it at Varna Regional Museum of History.

Photos: Anton Chalakov