A collaboration in the field of the Archaeology between Bulgarian and Italian scientists

A collaboration in the field of Archaeology between Bulgarian and Italian scientists was discussed on June 17th, 2026, in the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Participants in the discussion were Correspondent Member Evelina Slavcheva, president of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the Ambassador of Italy to Bulgaria, His Excellency Marcello Apiccella, and Prof. Massimo Osanna from the University of Napoli “Federico II”. Prof. Osana is visiting Bulgaria on the invitation of the director of the National Archaeological Institute with Museum (BAS), Associate Prof. Dr. Hristo Popov. In the course of the conversation, the possibility was raised of broadening the collaboration by exchanging PhD students.

At the meeting, the Deputy Chairman of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Prof. Emanuel Mutafov, and the director of the National Archaeological Institute with Museum, Associate Prof. Hristo Popov, participated. Prof. Emanuel Mutafov highlighted Prof. Osanna's experience as director of all Italian museums and the need to develop a joint Bulgarian–Italian initiative. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hristo Popov gave an example and emphasized that the collaboration could be applied to the study of the Thracian Alexandrovo Tomb.

In 2027, the collaboration between the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the National Research Council of Italy (Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, or CNR) will be celebrated. On this occasion, Correspondent Member Slavcheva proposed organizing a joint commemorative event.

On Tuesday, June 16th, 2026, Prof. Massimo Osanna delivered a lecture at the National Archaeological Museum titled "Reimaging Pompei: archaeology, conservation, and public heritage in the 21st century." A brief report for the event can be seen here.

Masimo Osanna is a full Professor of Classical Archaeology at the University of Napoli “Federico II” and Director General of Museums at the Italian Ministry of Culture. He received his PhD in Archaeology from the University of Perugia, where he studied Greek colonization in Italy, and a PhD in History from the University of San Marino, where he studied the religion of ancient Peloponnesos. He conducted research at the Italian Archaeological School of Athens and the University of Heidelberg (Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship). He carried out his professional activities at the University of Basilicata, where he served as Lecturer in classical archeology (since 1994), Associate Professor (since 2000), and Director of the School of Specialization in Archaeological Heritage in Matera (2002 – 2014). He was also Superintendent for the Archaeological Heritage of Basilicata (2007 – 2008); Directeur d’étude at the École Pratique des Hautes Études in Paris (2007); Professor of Classical Archeology at the University of Heidelberg (2010); research fellow at Alexander von Humboldt at the Humboldt-Universität Berlin (2011); visiting professor at the École Normale Supérieure, Paris (2013). Between 2014 and 2020, he was the Director of the Archaeological Park of Pompei.