Vasil Nikolov receives Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Great Prize

Archaeologist Vasil Nikolov has been awarded the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) Great Prize for Science for 2026. The distinction was presented in the field of social and humanities sciences during a ceremonial assembly marking the 157th anniversary of the Academy's founding.

Nikolov is an internationally recognized scholar specializing in the late prehistory of the Balkans. His career spans over four decades, including roles as the director of the National Archaeological Institute with Museum at BAS and as vice-president of the Academy. He is notably credited with discovering and researching Provadiya-Solnitsa, which is identified as the earliest prehistoric salt-producing urban center in Europe.

His research supports the thesis that the first European civilization emerged and developed in the Balkans, including within Bulgarian territories. Nikolov has authored 20 collective monographs and independent studies, alongside numerous articles in domestic and international scientific publications.