Nikolai Ovcharov

Nikolai Ovtscharow during the excavations on Perperikon

The Orpheus sanctuary near the village of Tatul

Nikolaj Dimitrow Owtscharow (common transcription Nikolai Dimitrov Ovcharov ; Bulgarian Николай Димитров Овчаров ; born  July 19, 1957 in Veliko Tarnowo ) is a Bulgarian archaeologist and historian.

Nikolaj Ovtscharow, son of the archaeologist Dimitar Ovtscharow , studied history and archeology at the University of Sofia until 1976 . He works at the Archaeological Institute and Museum of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and is a professor at the International Slavic University in Moscow .

After 2000, Ovcharow became known in connection with significant archaeological finds, which is why he is also called " Indiana Jones " in Bulgaria . He was a member of the team that uncovered the southern parts of the Tsar's palace of Simeon I in Veliky Preslav . Professor Owtscharow led the scientific research in which the episcopal golden robes were found and the medieval monastery of Sweti Joan Prodrom (St. Johanes Prodomos) in Kardzhali was examined. Above all, Ovcharov has its excavations and exposing the rock city of Perperikon and the Orpheus -Heiligtums near the village of Tatul in the Eastern Rhodopes made a name. Ovcharow also took part in expeditions in Russia, Greece, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Georgia, Portugal.

In 2009 he shot the documentary “The Medieval Fortresses in the Eastern Rhodopes ” for Bulgarian state television (Bulgarian Средновековните крепости на Източните Родопи ).

Fonts (selection)

Nikolaj Ovtscharow wrote 220 scientific publications, including 22 monographs and books. He regularly publishes articles in Bulgarian and foreign magazines, including National Geographic . Some of his works are:

• History of Bulgaria. Brief overview , Lettera Verlag, Plovdiv, 2006, ISBN 954-516-584-7
• Srednowekowna balgarska imperija (Bulgarian, Medieval Bulgarian Empire), Letera Publishing House, Plovdiv 2006
• Chronika na swetschenija grad Perperikon (Bulgarian, Chronicle of the Holy City of Perperikon), Verlag Balgarski Bestsellar, 2006
• Perperikon - a Civilization of the Rock People . Borina, Sofia 2005. ISBN 954-5001-40-2
• with Daniela Kodschamanowa, Milen Kamarew: Светилището на Дионис на Перперикон. (Bulgarian, The Dionysus Shrine in Perperikon). Popgeorgiewi, Sofia 2000. ISBN 954-9750-12-4

Web links

• Portrait of Nikolai Ovcharow on Radio Bulgaria
• Nikolaj Ovtscharow in conversation with focus.de
• The medieval fortresses in the Eastern Rhodopes