Letter

of support for a Memorandum of Understanding between the Republic of Bulgaria and the United States of America under the Cultural Property Implementation Act Christina Luke Departments of Archaeology and Anthropology, Boston University, 2 November 2011 Introduction I am practicing field archaeologist and heritage specialist with an expertise in Latin America and the eastern Mediterranean. I teach courses in archaeology and cultural heritage, diplomacy and policy at Boston University. My research focuses on heritage preservation and archaeology in Central America, the Balkans and Anatolia. This letter supports the request from the Republic of Bulgaria for a Memorandum of Understanding with the United States under the Cultural Property Implementation Act. In this letter I address the situation in Bulgaria under the definitions set by Section 303(a)(1) of 19 U.S.C. 2602; and the importance of proactive measures under Article II, if the proposed MoU is successful. Efforts to Preserve Heritage & International Interest (Determinations 2 & 3) The heritage of Bulgaria represents many layers of history, from Paleolithic to modern times. For the Council of Europe, this diversity represents opportunities for future dialogue throughout the Balkans. With Bulgarias accession into the EU in 2007 and the Council of Europes efforts aimed at a South East Europe Cultural Corridor (launched in 2007), it is clear that post-2007 efforts in Bulgaria to research and preserve cultural heritage have increased, including the revised Cultural Heritage Act of 2009. I focus on post 2007 activities precisely because there has been much discussion of the 2007 report by the Center for the Study of Democracy Through strategic rehabilitation programs1 aimed at all periods of history, the Council of Europe hopes that cultural heritage preservation and presentation projects will improve the quality of life throughout not only the Balkans, but also with their neighbors: It is also important to step up efforts to raise public awareness of the importance of cultural heritage, not only as an intrinsically valuable component of Bulgarian life, but also as a great generator of financial benefits. The high level of knowledge, skill and commitment of professionals gives grounds for optimism. The search for a new climate of collaboration has inspired numerous initiatives engaging civil society in the process of heritage conservation and raising social awareness.2 The 2010 Assessment Report for Bulgaria confirms [c]ommunities are increasingly recognising the sites as places which are of concern to them and for which there is a shared responsibility.3 Here, we see active support for preservation in-country. These new spaces create opportunities for people-to-people programming, the backbone of cultural diplomacy and a goal for current and future cultural policy.

European Commission - Council of Europe Joint Programme: Integrated Rehabilitation Project Plan / Survey of the Architectural and Archaeological Heritage (IRPP/SAAH): the approach is integrative and sees heritage as fundamental component of democratic stability and social cohesion. See also Cultural Corridors of South East Europe. Available from http://www.seecorridors.eu. 2 See the Bulgaria section under the Integrated Rehabilitation Project Plan/Survey of the Architectural and Archaeological Heritage (IRPP/SAAH), run jointly with the European Commission: http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/cultureheritage/cooperation/see/countries/Bulgaria_en.asp 3 See 2010 Assessment of the IRPP/SAAH program, available from: http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/cultureheritage/cooperation/see/countries/Bulgaria_en.asp

 Plunder and Preservation (Determinations 1 and 2) The U.S. participates in these initiatives through a variety of cultural diplomacy programs, such as the U.S. Speaker, Fulbright and the Ambassadors Fund for cultural preservation. In addition, the American Research Center in Sofia collaborates with Bulgarians on not only archaeological research, but also active heritage preservation (among other areas of interest). A future MoU under the CPIA will provide further opportunities for cultural exchanges through on-going archaeological and heritage preservation projects. What is more, upcoming and future exhibitions in the U.S. of objects from Bulgaria especially the planned exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art create spaces where people can learn and connect. My understanding from archaeologists working in Bulgaria is that Thracian tumuli are subject to targeted plunder, driven by the antiquities markets in the U.S. Using both pedestrian (i.e., walking over the landscape) and aerial imagery, archaeologists have been able to document change over time. The results are not pretty: the majority of Thracian tumuli have been subject to plunder. Ransacking of the Thracian landscape hampers our ability to understand the scientific context of the these features; and the resulting violation to the monuments fuels a sense of abandonment and loss in-country. Proper preservation of these tumuli would provide an ideal opportunity for a living landscape that links Thrace, western and central Anatolia and beyond. The potential for future scholarship as well as preservation management and develop represents tremendous opportunity for scholarly and economic development. To this end, initiatives by Adela Sobotkova and the Tundzha regional archaeological project (www.tundzha.org) demonstrate serious efforts to focus on heritage preservation and public outreach with the context of scientific research.4 Future Goals and Recommendations If successful, I see Article II of the proposed MoU a place to call for integration with NGOs and other institutions to focus on holistic management plans that consider living landscapes as a viable paradigm to protect movable and immovable aspects of heritage in-country within the context of dynamic cultural systems connected by the successful South East Europe Cultural Corridors. What is more, through the American Research Center and other institutions, there are future opportunities to partner with Bulgarian colleagues to provide international partnerships aimed at sustainable development (tourism, hospitality, etc.); museum, foundation, and other institutional connections; in-country training programs (conservation, site presentation, security, etc.); and a long-term cultural policy. A focus on living landscapes embraces all periods of history; and thus offers much promise for holistic preservation. With the international recognition of Thracian tombs by UNESCO World Heritage and the US Ambassadors Fund,5 these monumental features are among the most impressive and important monuments in the Balkans. For the reasons discussed above, I support the proposed MoU between Bulgaria and the U.S. It is through on-going dialogue and opportunities for people to work together that we will find ways to push forward with a long-term goal of sustainable preservation.

See also Godfried, Shira 2009 Thrace: Exploring Cross-Border Cooperation in the EUs South-Eastern External Borders. MA thesis Universiteit Twente and Westffische Wilhelms-Universiitt Mnster. American Research Center in Sofia 2011 Newsletter 8, summer. Sofia, Bulgaria. Bulgaria - Turkey IPA Cross-border Co-operation Programme 2007-2013. CCI Number: 2007CB16IPO008 5 Luke, Christina, academic article currently in review, U.S. Cultural Heritage Diplomacy in the Balkans and Turkey.