On June 3, 2024, the exhibition “And the Ship Sails On…! Secrets from the Seabed” was opened in the town of Sozopol. It showcases the discoveries of the Center for Underwater Archaeology from Sozopol and other ancient settlements along the southern Black Sea coast – Ropotamo, Chengene Skele, and Kiten. The exhibition is housed in the “Dukovata House” – an architectural cultural monument located in the heart of the old town of Sozopol, at 29 “Kiril i Metodii” Street. The exhibition is a collaborative effort between the Municipal Cultural Institute “Museum Center – Sozopol,” which serves as host and conceptual lead, and the Center for Underwater Archaeology, which provided the informational materials and archaeological finds.
The museum display spans 120 square meters, occupying the entire second floor of the building. The new exhibition was inaugurated as part of the 13th International Francophone Festival “Soleil” in Sozopol, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Sozopol being declared an Architectural and Historical Reserve of national significance. The exhibition is permanent. It features posters with photos and information highlighting the diversity of underwater cultural heritage in Bulgaria, as well as selected finds from various historical periods uncovered during the underwater archaeological expeditions of the Center for Underwater Archaeology. A key section is dedicated to the history of seafaring in the Black Sea and the discoveries of the international project Black Sea MAP.
Underwater photographer Mihail Zaimov enriches the maritime atmosphere with striking contemporary art – his photographs of beautiful marine life from the waters of the Sozopol Bay are united under the theme “Below – Through Different Eyes” and blend beautifully alongside showcases of ancient glass treasures, prehistoric vessels, stone anchors, aurochs tusks, and archaic painted ceramics.