New exhibition brings Neolithic Sofia to life

"The exhibition “8,000 Years Ago - Slatina-Sofia. The World of the Neolithic Man” presents the world of Neolithic people in an accessible and relatable way, helping us realize that many aspects of human life haven’t actually changed that much, said Dr. Veneta Handzhiyska-Yankulova, Director of Sofia's Regional History Museum on Tuesday, CE Report quotes BTA.

She noted that archaeological research at the Slatina-Sofia Neolithic settlement began 40 years ago. Over the following decades, a series of exciting discoveries turned the site into a symbol of prehistory in the Sofia Plain, she noted.

Deputy Culture Minister Todor Chobanov said that four decades of dedicated work at the site have shown how advanced Neolithic civilization had become.

“This is our memory, our filial duty and obligation — to study and preserve this cultural heritage,” he said.

MP and former mayor of Sofia, Yordanka Fandakova, highlighted that the exhibition is presented in a way that stimulates imagination and is easily understood by all audiences.

“This site is of great value to Sofia, as it reveals the millennia-old history of these lands,” she added.

Corresponding member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Evelina Slavcheva said: “It’s wonderful when the efforts of everyone come together so that the people of Sofia can see this beauty.”

She added that it’s amazing to realize how far back in time people already had a sense of aesthetics, as seen in the artifacts, and a harmonious relationship with nature.

“Let everyone enjoy this miracle, which is here thanks to the museum and, most of all, the efforts of Academician Vasil Nikolov,” said Georgi Iliev, Mayor of the Slatina district in Sofia.

Academician Vasil Nikolov, head of the field excavations of the early Neolithic settlement Slatina–Sofia, noted that the exhibition was organized to mark 40 years since the start of excavations and the 10th anniversary of the museum’s first exhibition.

According to him, the settlement was enormous, covering around 30 hectares, and existed from the end of the 7th millennium BC to the middle of the 6th millennium BC.

“This was an inhabited area with incredibly interesting material culture,” said Nikolov.

He emphasized that the people who lived in the settlement were highly intelligent, knowledgeable, and dynamic.

“They came from the Near East - Anatolia, Asia Minor, and quickly developed a new culture. They made significant discoveries in a very short period,” he added.

Deputy Culture Minister Chobanov reiterated that the progress of the Neolithic civilization, as revealed through this site, underscores the importance of preserving cultural heritage.

Attending the opening of the exhibition were MP Rositsa Kirova, BTA Director General Kiril Valchev, BAS Deputy Chair Prof. Emanuel Mutafov, Academician Ivan Granitski, Academician Julian Revalski, and Prof. Kiril Topalov.

The exhibition will be on until March 8, 2026.