The Institute of Nautical Archaeology (INA) at Texas A&M University conducted a specialized training for Bulgarian conservators focused on working with artifacts recovered from the marine environment.
In March and April 2023, a specialized training in the conservation of archaeological artifacts from the marine environment was held for Bulgarian specialists – conservators – at the Bodrum Research Center and the Conservation Laboratory of the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology, in collaboration with the Institute of Nautical Archaeology (INA) at Texas A&M University. The training was carried out at the initiative and with the special support of Associate Professor Dr. Krum Batchvarov from the University of Connecticut and affiliated member of the Institute of Nautical Archaeology (INA). The Center for Underwater Archaeology in Sozopol played a mediating and organizational role in facilitating the participation of the Bulgarian conservators, whose newly acquired skills will be applied in ongoing underwater archaeological research along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast.
Alexander Vutov and Tsvetina Docheva from the Central Laboratory for Conservation and Restoration at the National History Museum, Violeta Karailieva, assistant at the Department of Conservation at the National Academy of Arts, and Dana Zlatanova, an independent conservator, are the Bulgarian specialists who completed the training program in Turkey. Their training coincided with the start of the conservation of two iron cannons, discovered and recovered from the sea near Shabla by the team of the Center for Underwater Archaeology at the end of 2022, and currently undergoing conservation at the National History Museum. The specialization of our experts in working with artifacts recovered from the marine environment is of great importance, given the intensive underwater research conducted in recent years and the numerous finds that, without proper care after being brought to the surface, would be at risk of deterioration or complete loss.