The third doctoral, postdoctoral and local history readings “Abritus”, organized by the Regional History Museum-Razgrad and the Regional Academic Center at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences-Shumen, took place on May 18 at the Interactive Museum.
During the readings, over 20 scientific studies were presented by representatives of the Veliko Tarnovo University “St. Cyril and Methodius”, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Shumen University “Bishop Konstantin Preslavski”, New Bulgarian University, the National Archaeological Institute with a Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies with an Ethnographic Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IEFEM – BAS), the Institute of Balkan Studies with a Center for Thracology, the National Academy of Arts, state archives, regional museums and scientific organizations, as well as independent researchers. The hall of the Interactive Museum, where the opening took place, was attended by official guests, participants in the readings, and the media.
Before the start of the readings, three marble votive tablets from the RHM-Razgrad collection were presented in a separate hall, which all those present examined and received historical data about the finds.
The forum was opened by the moderator of one of the sections and head of the department “New and Recent History” at RHM – Razgrad, Prof. Rositsa Angelova PhD. She emphasized that Abritus inspires scientific research, and young people are already established researchers. Through the readings, different generations of scientists meet, and the topics have an impressive scientific range. The readings are a true forum for humanitarian knowledge, summarized Prof. Angelova, emphasizing that the event is on the occasion of the International Museum Day, and wished fruitful work.
The Director of RHM-Razgrad, Tanya Todorova, delivered a welcome address, reading a congratulatory address from MP Malomir Vlasov from “Progressive Bulgaria”, other congratulatory addresses were also received. Tanya Todorova emphasized that coordination between the museum and universities is important.
The coordinator of the Regional Academic Center at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences-Shumen and rector of the Shumen University “Ep. Konstantin Preslavski” Prof. Natalia Vitanova also welcomed the participants. The opening was attended by the mayor of Razgrad Dobrin Dobrev, the regional governor Ailin Basheva, the deputy mayor Elka Nedelcheva, the secretary of the Razgrad Municipality Neli Dobreva, and representatives of cultural institutions in Razgrad.
Mayor Dobrin Dobrev congratulated the participants and organizers of the readings. He congratulated museum specialists on May 18 – International Museum Day. The mayor emphasized that museums are not only a place for tourism, but also for preserving history, cultural, ancestral and ethnographic memory. The mayor stated that the current leadership of the Razgrad municipality continues the work of its predecessors, who built and established the Regional Historical Museum-Razgrad, including contributing to the construction of this base. The mayor recalled that one of the activities under the project “Around the Beli Lom River” is related to the construction of a new modern home for RHM-Razgrad. In it, the exhibition areas will be expanded, will acquire a contemporary and modern look, in the renovated building, museum workers will be able to arrange the exhibitions, and residents and guests of the city will be able to benefit from the rich collection that the museum has. In this new base, there will also be a place where museum workers will conduct their research and consolidate the rich cultural and historical heritage that is in our region. The mayor emphasized that the buildings are only the prerequisite that will give us the opportunity to see what our museum workers achieve. What makes a historical museum alive is the organization of this kind of doctoral readings – a place where people of different ages, from different generations, but driven by their love for culture, by their mission to preserve the cultural and historical heritage, can share their experience, to have fruitful discussions” – said Mayor Dobrin Dobrev in his welcome.
The opening was also attended by the regional governor Ailin Basheva, the deputy mayor Elka Nedelcheva, the secretary of the Razgrad Municipality Neli Dobreva, and representatives of cultural institutions in Razgrad.
After the opening, the first report was delivered by Assoc. Prof. Oleg Alexandrov PhD, from the University of Technology “St. St. Cyril and Methodius” on the topic “Abritus before the Battle of Abritus”. The work continued in two sections: the section “Doctoral and Postdoctoral Readings” with moderator Assoc. Prof. Oleg Alexandrov PhD, and the section “Postdoctoral and Local History Readings” with moderator Prof. Rositsa Angelova PhD, in which Razgrad researchers and local historians spoke. The topics of the readings are in a wide range – antiquity, archeology, the Middle Ages, military history, local history.
The goals of the event are to stimulate scientific exchange between doctoral students and to increase the motivation of participants for further development in the scientific fields they have chosen.
