Balkan archaeological initiatives focus on Roman and late antique heritage

Several international initiatives are focusing on the preservation and study of Roman and late antique heritage across the Balkan region.

In Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria, the seventh international archaeological conference, ‘Roman and Late Antique Thrace’ (RaLATh), is scheduled for October 1–4, 2026. Organized by the National Archaeological Institute with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the Regional Historical Museum – Veliko Tarnovo, the forum explores the visible and invisible boundaries of Thrace. The event features 41 presentations from scholars across the Balkans and includes site visits to Nikopolis ad Istrum and Roman waterworks in Musina.

Separately, the ROMANICA project is launching a conference in Podgorica, Montenegro, on October 8, 2026. This Interreg VI-A IPA CBC initiative aims to connect Roman heritage sites in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro through research, digital representation, and sustainable tourism. Led by the University of Zadar, the project has a budget of approximately 1.8 million euros and seeks to integrate these sites into a unified cultural space through July 2028.