Contemporary Bulgarian Archaeology as a Social Practice in the Later Twentieth to Early Twenty-first Century

Abstract

This study analyzes the status of Bulgarian archaeology of the second half of the twentieth to early twenty-first century and the impact of communist and postcommunist ideologies on archaeology. We distinguish three periods: late 1940s to late 1960s; 1970s to 1989; 1990 to present. The periodization accepted in this study corresponds with political developments related to the communist regime and postcommunist governments. Each of these periods is analyzed by taking into consideration theory, methodology, social practice, and the interpretations of the archaeological data. We argue that ideological and political reasons influenced and to some extent directed archaeological investigation (for instance Slavic archaeology, late mediaeval archaeology, and Thracology). The new demands after the systemic change of 1989 demonstrate the shift of the archaeological activities to rescue and preventive archaeology. The existing controversial heritage preservation legislation does not correspond with the current complex (social, political, and cultural) requirements to create effective mechanisms for the protection, preservation, and conservation of the Bulgarian archaeological heritage according to the Malta convention and the international cultural legislation, as well as for the application of professional world standards.