Today (10 October 2025) marked the successful conclusion of the mission of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Body (STAB) to the 2001 Convention at the World Heritage site Ancient City of Nessebar.
The mission included Prof. Robert Domzal (Poland), Chair of STAB, Dr. Azzedine Kara (Morocco), and Dr. Kalin Dimitrov (Bulgaria), experts of STAB. They were accompanied by Dr. Nayden Prahov, Director of the Centre for Underwater Archaeology, during the visit to Sozopol and Nessebar.
On the first day, the mission met with Mr. Marian Bachev, Minister of Culture, and Assoc. Prof. Todor Chobanov, Deputy Minister of Culture, who reaffirmed Bulgaria’s unwavering commitment to the research, preservation, and public presentation of underwater cultural heritage. An invitation was also expressed to expand cooperation with other countries in this field.
In the following days, the mission participated in lectures and presentations as part of the international seminar on underwater heritage, organized by the Centre for Underwater Archaeology within UNESCO’s Participation Programme. Additionally, an underwater survey was carried out near the Ancient City of Nessebar to familiarize the mission with the submerged components of the World Heritage site.
The mission also held a meeting with Mr. Nikolay Dimitrov, Mayor of Nessebar Municipality, during which the municipality’s commitment to future research and preservation of the underwater heritage was confirmed.
The experts expressed very high appreciation for the work of the CUA, for the capacity of its specialists, and for the advanced technological equipment available at the Centre. Various options for the effective management of Nessebar’s underwater heritage and its integration into the site’s Management and Conservation Plan were also presented.
