ARCS Newsletter

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S Newsletter No. 8, Summer 2011 КА IN Н R С E К T И N Н E А C У

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И M CENTER IN SOFIA Я A !

En route from Edirne to Soﬁa in April, the ARCS Academic Pro- gram visited the 16th century Ot- toman bridge over the Maritsa River at Svilengrad.

Inside

Late Roman Burials in Serdica J. Ott

Transnational Identities: Life History of Bulgarian/ Turkish/Romani Musician Yuri Yunakov C. Silverman

Building Bridges for the Cultural Heritage of Bulgaria E. Nankov

Plus: notes on ARCS Fellows, visiting scholars at ARCS, the 2010 Eugene Schuyler lecture, the ARCS Library, and the NEH Challenge Grant. Current Donors ARCS recognizes with gratitude those institutions and individuals who have made generous ﬁ- nancial donations in support of the Center in the past year (June 2010 - June 2011):

America for Bulgaria Foundation Lenko Lenkov

American School of Classical Studies at Athens Annette Merle-Smith

Frank L. Bauer National Endowment for the Humanities

Kevin Clinton and Nora Dimitrova Ambassador James W. Pardew Newsletter No. 8, Summer 2011 The Council of American Overseas Research The Packard Humanities Institute Centers Tianaderrah Foundation

ARCS extends its deep appreciation to the following institutions and individuals who have given to the library in the past year (June 2010 - June 2011):

America for Bulgaria Foundation Rumiana Marinova-Hristidi

American School of Classical Studies at Athens Katia Melamed

Jean Anderson Ken Moskowitz

Kevin Clinton and Nora Dimitrova Emanuel Mutafov

Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology, National Museum of Macedonia Soﬁa University Andre Newburg Mari Firkatian Vasil Nikolov Getty Foundation Manfred Oppermam Denver Graninger Jeremy Ott Marian Gyaursky Todor Petev Aleksey Hristov Iliya Prokopov Institute of Balkan Studies S.R.A., Ivan Stancioff Institute for the Study of the Ancient World Lachezar Toshev Daniela Kalkandzhieva Chavdar Tzochev Georgi Kapriev Stoyan Yordanov Krasimira Kostova

2 ARCS 2010/1 Fellows Newsletter No. 8, Summer 2011 By Denver Graninger, Director and Professor, American Research Center in Soﬁa

ARCS welcomed three fellows to its 2010/1 several elders in the paneurythmy community Academic Program. who have offered important insight into the movement. Tara gave a rich and informative Jeremy Ott, a PhD student in the Institute of public lecture at ARCS in April on the topic of Fine Arts, New York University, returned to ‘Dances of the Eternal Return? Time, Space ARCS as an Associate Fellow. Jeremy’s disser- and Archetypes in the Paneurhythmy’. She suc- tation research on a cemetery in early medie- cessfully defended her MA thesis (by skype!) in val Corinth has led him to look in much the spring. broader perspective at the architecture and ornament of tombs throughout the Balkan Lilia Topouzova, a PhD student in History at peninsula in an attempt to gauge their social the University of Toronto, participated in the context and eschatological purpose. He deliv- second semester of the ARCS academic pro- ered an insightful and inspiring lecture on gram. Lilia’s dissertation is a comprehensive ‘Tomb Decoration in Late Antique Thessalo- study of the Bulgarian forced labor-camp sys- niki and Soﬁa’ in November. Read more about tem during the Communist period. During her Jeremy’s research on p. 4. fellowship, she continued work on an oral history project that will form an important part of Tara Yin, an MA student in Dance at York the dissertation. This research has lead Lilia to University, has researched Peter Deunov and interview not only the survivors of these camps, the theory and practice of Paneurythmy, the but also those who served as guards and admin- philosophical-religious dance movement that istrators in these facilities. She offered prelimi- took root in Bulgaria in the early twentieth nary results of this research in her April public century and remains popular today. As part of lecture at ARCS: ‘“Who is the Bulgarian Survi- her research program at ARCS, Tara partici- vor?”: an Oral History of the Bulgarian Camp pated in the large paneurythmy gathering in and Prison System, 1944-1962’. the Rila mountains; she has also interviewed

Evelina Kel- becheva, Profes- sor of History at the American Uni- versity in Bulgaria, leads ARCS staff, fellows, and friends on a walk- ing tour of socialist and post- socialist monuments in Soﬁa.

3 Late Roman Burials in Serdica By Jeremy Ott, ARCS Associate Fellow and Doctoral candidate at the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University

By the sixth century AD a basic burial format vast majority of known burials belong to the had become the standard throughout Byzan- East Cemetery and are sited in the general tine communities in the Balkan Peninsula and area of the modern church of Saint Soﬁa, to much of the Mediterranean. The body was the church’s east as far as the National Library, laid at an east-west orientation with the head and to the church’s south as far as Gurko at west, and, for multiple-burial tombs, en- Street. Only a handful of other tombs have trances were provided at the east. Painted been revealed and lie well to the west of the decoration of the tomb interior was rare and, city wall at Gruev Street and at Pozitano in the sixth century, limited primarily to chris- Square. Additionally, two Early Byzantine tograms, although in the fourth and ﬁfth cen- mausolea have been uncovered at some dis-

Newsletter No. 8, Summer 2011 turies it is found somewhat more frequently tance from the city and outside known burial and includes figural imagery. Sofia, aided by a areas in the modern neighborhoods of Hadji large body of Early Byzantine tombs including Dimiter and Lozenets. The majority of the some identifiably Christian examples dating as city’s extramural space remains unexcavated, early as the fourth century, offers an advanta- however, and the many burials discovered geous setting for exploring the development of around the turn of the twentieth century were this burial format and the impact of Christian documented in a manner customary for that belief on the often conservative mortuary era but lacking by today’s standards. Thus, it sphere. should be kept in mind that our picture of Early Byzantine Serdica and its cemeteries is a The Early Byzantine (circa fourth to sixth cen- significant but very incomplete one. tury AD) cemeteries of Serdica (the ancient name of Sofia) lay, as was typical for this pe- The Christianization of Serdica’s mortuary riod, outside the city wall in areas already used topography is evident in the fourth century for burial since at least the second century AD and beyond through the construction of at and not far from extramural structures of the least two probable martyria and three extra- living including a massive amphitheatre (Fig- mural basilicas of a presumably funerary func- ure 1) [1]. Excavation, usually the result of tion. In the east cemetery, on the site of mod- construction and infrastructure projects, has ern Saint Sofia, a small apsidal mausoleum revealed some 200 Early Byzantine graves, with a floor mosaic that likely served as a mar- most of which are situated at a considerable tyrion (a structure for the veneration of a distance (500-1000 m.) from the city wall. The Christian martyr) was constructed in the

Figure 1: Plan of prominent sites discussed.

4 Newsletter No. 8, Summer 2011

Figure 2: Burials (mostly sixth- century A.D. and earlier) at the site of St. Soﬁa church.

fourth century. The initial mausoleum seems church structures here may enhance our to have attracted new burials to the site and knowledge of this densely layered, important subsequently received an extension westward site. so that a nave-like space was created. From this point onward the building, taking on the A second martyrion, likewise of fourth century role of a cemetery church, expanded in a total date and built over by a three-aisle basilica in of seven phases over the area, including part perhaps the fifth century, was identified di- of the Roman and Early Byzantine cemetery, rectly outside Serdica's east gate during the and acquired a standard three-aisle basilica laying of the foundation for the former head- form through the addition of two side aisles. quarters of the Communist Party; it consists of Today, more than 100 graves of the sixth cen- an apse with two wings and an entrance at tury and earlier (in addition to later mediaeval west. While the original burial that inspired burials) lie below and around the basilica in a the creation of the mausoleum-martyrion be- maze-like array (Figure 2). The mausoleum neath Saint Sofia remains unknown, in this and its church phases have received relatively second martyrion a stone sarcophagus con- early dates in Bulgarian scholarship: The ini- taining what were probably believed to be the tial mausoleum is thought to have been bones of the martyr was placed neatly within erected in the reign of Constantine, and the the apse. Four later burials, presumably be- single-aisle church is considered to have al- longing to individuals wishing to rest near the ready stood at the site for its destruction at the martyr's body, were inserted in the martyrion's hands of Julian’s supporters between 361 and wings in the form of cist graves. 363. While such a chronology may be correct, Finally, in Serdica's west cemetery ten fourth- it relies more on historical events than the ar- to fifth-century tombs, nine of which are chaeological record; it is at least clear that the vaulted, have been excavated on the modern first mausoleum belongs to the fourth century Gruev Street and Pozitano Square. The (arguably the century’s first half based on the scanty remains of a basilica, which has been style of the apse mosaic) and its extension dated to the fifth century, were additionally probably does as well. Future rescue excava- uncovered at the Gruev Street site. tions in the area of Saint Sofia as well as current efforts to conserve the tombs and early

5 The impact of the Christian theology of various forms of the cross, are introduced in judgment and resurrection on burial practices the fourth century, integrated within the tradi- (most of which probably remained quite simi- tional décor, and endure until the sixth century lar to non-Christian customs) is most clearly by which time other figural decoration had discernible in the form and decoration of almost completely vanished. vaulted chamber tombs in Serdica and elsewhere. While these tombs would not have These characteristics are consistent with tomb been financially accessible to the lower classes, development in much of the Early Byzantine they serve as a useful body of evidence due to: Mediterranean, although some areas were the large number of surviving examples; po- more conservative than others. In central and tentially diagnostic form-related variables in- southern Greece, for example, the relatively cluding size, ground plan, and entrance posi- late appearance of securely-dated Christian tion; the occasional presence of painted deco- imagery in the sixth century presumably corre- ration lacking in most other burial formats; sponds to that religion’s slow regional growth, and the fact that vaulted tombs, especially and it is likewise only in the sixth century that Newsletter No. 8, Summer 2011 those with painting, have enjoyed a far better an east-west orientation becomes dominant history of publication than their less elaborate there. counterparts. How should the evolution of the Early Byzan- Several trends in vaulted tombs are apparent tine tomb be interpreted? Julia Valeva has beginning in the fourth century. While graves convincingly argued that some distinctively from the second to fourth century take a vari- Christian elements of decoration, including ety of orientations, in the fourth century (and various forms of the cross, are both apotropaic perhaps somewhat earlier) vaulted tombs as and eschatological, offering protection to the well as other burial formats increasingly as- tomb’s occupants at the Last Judgment. A sume an east-west alignment. By the mid-fifth particularly striking example is Serdica’s century an east-west orientation is the rule, ‘Tomb of the Archangels’, located in the east and at about the same time entrances, which cemetery on modern Gurko Street. On the for tombs of this orientation previously oc- vault of this tomb, within a traditional system curred at either east or west, now became lim- of composition, a radiant cross surrounded by ited to the east end. In terms of decoration, a wreath is positioned at center, and at the four Serdica’s 17 tombs with painted interiors, all corners lie busts of four named archangels but two of which are vaulted, reveal the persis- (Figure 3). Rather than a merely eloquent dis- tence of religiously ambiguous imagery, in- play of Christian imagery, however, the com- cluding grapevines, kantharoi, birds, and imi- bination of cross and archangels is linked to tations of marble revetment, until the fifth cen- Early Christian texts describing the circum- tury. Christian elements, most commonly stances of the Last Judgment, as Valeva has articulated [2].

Figure 3: ‘Tomb of the Archangels’, ceiling and interior panel decoration.

6 I would take this a step further and suggest prop, may be the result of chance, sun wor- Newsletter No. 8, Summer 2011 that from an Early Christian perspective the ship, or some other belief, in a Christian sense tomb in its entirety should be viewed as a kind it is generally regarded (and hinted in some of capsule that not only offered basic physical textual sources) as enabling the dead to face protection against accidental disturbance or Christ at the dawn of the Last Judgment. By intentional desecration, but in an effort that extension, if the extremely popular resurrec- borders on sympathetic magic, attempted to tion story of Lazarus and some accounts of ensure for its occupants a successful outcome the Last Judgment serve as guides, the eastern at the Last Judgment: the ‘resurrection of the position of the entrance would enable the righteous’. It is clear that, as much as the tomb’s blocking stone to be most directly re- Church discouraged such beliefs, Christians moved, and the dead to come forth, at the felt that they could positively intervene on be- command of Christ as he approaches from the half of the dead. Much of the polytheist mor- east. We find no texts in which this or most tuary ritual, including the lighting of terra other aspects of mortuary practice (unless cotta lamps and the offering of libations to the coming dangerous close to polytheism) are dead, remained in heavy use by Christians, explicitly recommended by Christian authors, who additionally offered prayers addressed to suggesting that these concepts may relate more their own god requesting divine favor for the to popular belief than doctrine. Nevertheless, departed. the growth of these customs until, with very few exceptions, they are the rule indicates that Holy images were one source of aid for both they were taken quite seriously. living and dead. Although the sign of the cross was the only officially sanctioned means of Christian protection, religious images gen- ‘...from an Early Christian perspective erally functioned as both representations of the tomb in its entirety should be divine power and magical agents for the apo- viewed as a kind of capsule that not tropaic activation of that power. Icons, were, only offered basic physical protection of course, famously known as miracle-working against accidental disturbance or in- agents. A somewhat different and more per- tentional desecration, but in an effort sonal class of image, as indicated by texts and that borders on sympathetic magic, artifacts, exists in the biblical miracle scenes attempted to ensure for its occu- and ambiguous equestrian ‘holy warriors’ that pants a successful outcome at the were sewn onto garments, appear on pendant Last Judgment’. amulets, and were stamped or painted onto dining vessels. All of these goods came into close bodily contact and had the perceived power to ward away evil from the wearer or At ground level, belief and reality sometimes diner. Within the setting of the tomb we stood at odds. In Serdica there are several ex- should likewise believe that distinctively Chris- amples of tomb use implying late occupation tian imagery and perhaps some ambiguous of considerably earlier tombs in manners con- paintings as well, while at first embedded trary to tomb design but in keeping with within the traditional decorative program, Christian custom. In the east cemetery a tomb were intended to aid the most important need with painted decoration, including crosses and of the dead: their salvation. A representation a probable psalm inscription that find their of the Last Judgment, then, might bring the best parallels in the fifth and sixth centuries, deceased closer to meeting Christ on that day, lies at a north-south orientation suggestive of a and the appearance of the cross, a representa- somewhat earlier date; in all likelihood the tion of Christ’s triumph over death, could as- decoration is much later than the construction sist the deceased’s own resurrection. although it respects the character of the pre- existing architecture. Paintings of the tomb The tomb’s orientation and the position of its made circa 1900 reveal at least one semi- entrance may be considered in the same way. articulated skeleton not customarily extended While the burial of the dead facing the east, along the chamber’s long north-south axis but sometimes with a stone or tile pillow as a head rather lying along its narrow one, facing east

Figure 4: Tomb with probable psalm inscription. Newsletter No. 8, Summer 2011

(Figure 4). This striking deviation was surely Notes intentional. In several other cases tombs are given entirely new entrances, usually eastern [1] While there is no comprehensive study of ones, in later phases. This may at times relate Sofia’s Early Byzantine burials, individual to re-use after the original entrance was cemeteries, tombs, and especially tomb paint- blocked by another structure, as occurs at a ing have received scholarly attention. Nearly tomb on Gruev Street in the west cemetery 100 years ago Bogdan Filov published a with a western entrance made inaccessible by monograph on Saint Sofia church and its the construction of another tomb. Some en- cemetery that was exceptionally detailed for its trance modifications do not obviously relate to time: Филов, Б. 1913. Софийската църква any difficulties of access via the original en- „Св. София“. Sofia. An accessible bilingual trances, however, and may simply represent a overview of the site has been recently offered retro-fitting of old tombs for new beliefs. by Stefan Boyadjiev: Boyadjiev, S. et al. 2009. The Early Christian Church of St. Sofia - God's The development of the basic Early Byzantine Wisdom. Sofia. Julia Valeva has published ex- tomb format may therefore be best regarded tensively on Early Byzantine tomb painting in as a standardization and adaptation of pre- the Balkans including Sofia; see most recently: existing mortuary elements to serve the Valeva, J. 2001. “La peinture funéraire dans eschatologically-driven needs of the growing les provinces orientales de l'Empire romain Christian religion. With the possible exception dans l'Antiquité Tardive”. Hortus Artium Medie- of Christian imagery, it cannot be assumed valium. 7. 167-208. See also a recent survey of that burial features are diagnostic indicators of Early Byzantine painting in Bulgaria including the deceased’s faith, however: as Christianity Sofia’s painted tombs: Pillinger, R. et al. 1999. became the majority religion, its mortuary Corpus der spätantiken und frühchristlichen Wandmal- practices, embedded in polytheist tradition in ereien Bulgariens. Vienna. the first place, were likely taken up in turn by polytheists who otherwise leave little archaeo- [2] Valeva, J. 1976. “La Tombe aux Archanges logical trace in the mortuary record in the de Sofia: Signification eschatologique et cos- Byzantine communities of the Balkans after mogonique du décor”. Cahiers Archeologiques. 34. the fourth century. 5-28.

8 Visiting Scholars at ARCS 2010/1 Newsletter No. 8, Summer 2011 By Denver Graninger, Director and Professor, American Research Center in Soﬁa

Daniel Weiss, a doctoral candidate in the tember 2010 conducting research on the Graduate Program in the History of Art and globalization of Romani music. She made a Architecture at the University of Virginia, vis- splendid contribution to the ARCS academic ited ARCS for several days in July 2010 on his program by offering a lecture, delivered before way to excavations at the Roman fort of Porol- a large audience at the Red House Centre for issum in Salăj, Romania. Dan’s dissertation Culture and Debate in central Sofia, on ‘Tran- focuses on the northwestern limes in Roman snational Identities: Life History of Bulgarian/ Dacia, and he is interested in possibly pursuing Turkish/Romani Musician Yuri Yunakov’. in the future a field project at a site along the Read more about Carol’s research on p. 11. Roman limes in Bulgaria. Adela Sobotkova and Shawn Ross, co- Simon Connor, a paleoecologist based at the directors of the Tudzha Regional Archaeo- Universidade do Algarve in Faro, Portugal, logical Project with G. Nehrizov, stayed at and a team of research assistants were based at ARCS for several days in December 2010 at ARCS in August and September 2010. Simon the conclusion of a successful excavation and has collaborated on the Tundzha Regional study season outside Yambol. Read more Archaeological Project (TRAP) with Adela about the results of their projects on p. 15. Sobotkova and Shawn Ross. He returned to Bulgaria to take sediment samples, or cores, Gabriella Parissaki, Senior Researcher at the from a series of sites throughout the country. Institute for Greek and Roman Antiquity, Na- These cores will provide invaluable evidence tional Hellenic Research Foundation, and about the ancient climate in this region. Aliénor Rufin Solas, doctoral candidate in Greek history at the University of Lille 3, Carol Silverman, Professor of Anthropology at stayed at ARCS for several days in June 2011 the University of Oregon and a recipient of a during a research trip to Bulgaria. Both schol- John Simon Guggenheim fellowship for 2010- ars have long-term research interests in ancient 2011, stayed at ARCS for two weeks in Sep- Thrace.

Votive offering near Demir Baba Tekke (Isperih region).

9 The 2010 Eugene Schuyler Lecture By Denver Graninger, Director and Professor, American Research Center in Soﬁa

On Friday, November 26, before a full audito- community to honor the memory of Eugene rium at the American Corner in the Soﬁa City Schuyler. Schuyler was among the group of Central Library, Mark Stefanovich, Professor three Yale students who received the ﬁrst PhDs of Anthropology at the American University ever awarded in the United States in 1861. in Bulgaria, delivered the third Eugene Schuy- After his doctoral work in psychology and phi- ler Lecture, on the topic of ‘Archaeogenetics losophy, Schuyler earned a law degree at Co- and Prehistory’. Previous Schuyler lecturers lumbia before turning to the study of Finnish include Steve Tracy, Emeritus Professor of and Russian (and becoming an accomplished Classical Studies at the Ohio State University translator of literary works in both languages). and former Director of the American School He joined the State Department in 1867, and

Newsletter No. 8, Summer 2011 of Classical Studies at Athens (ASCSA), and by 1876 he was Consul General in Istanbul. At John Oakley, Professor of Classical Studies at great personal risk, Schuyler personally inves- the College of William and Mary and former tigated and reported on the atrocities commit- Mellon Professor at ASCSA. In a spell-binding ted against Bulgarians in the aftermath of ﬁfty-minute lecture, Mark introduced the their uprising against the Ottoman Empire in audience to the potential impact of ancient April 1876. His account brought international DNA studies on our understanding of the attention to the plight of Bulgarians and movements of peoples in Eurasian prehistory. helped to prepare the ground for the emer- As a veteran of the carbon-dating revolution, gence of an autonomous Bulgaria in 1878. As Mark offered important insight into how in- a great scholar and humanist, as a lover of terpretive paradigms may shift in the coming southeastern Europe and especially Bulgaria, decades and how new research questions may and above all as a man of action and social impact the conduct of ﬁeld excavations. conscience, Schuyler’s life continues to inspire the work of ARCS. This lecture is always a special event in the ARCS calendar because it allows the ARCS

Left: Mark Ste- fanovich and Den- ver Graninger catch up before the Schuyler lecture.

Right: A sign marking Schuyler Street near ARCS.

10 Transnational Identities: Life History Newsletter No. 8, Summer 2011 of Bulgarian/Turkish/Romani Musician Yuri Yunakov By Carol Silverman, Professor of Anthropology, University of Oregon

Excerpt from “Music and Transnational Identity: The Life of Romani Saxophonist Yuri Yunakov.” Dzaniben (Czech Journal of Romani Studies). Winter 2009: 59-84.

This paper explores identity and resistance in Yuri as Romani. While his own community transnational contexts via a case study of Yuri preferred Turkish music, his role of profes- Yunakov, a Bulgarian/Turkish/Romani musi- sional musician necessitated knowing multiple cian who has performed both for local Romani repertoires, including Bulgarian; in the Hask- communities (on several continents) and for ovo region the ethnic groups served included the global music market. In discussing Yu- Bulgarians, Turks, Turkish-speaking Roma, nakov’s life history, I also question the very Romani-speaking Roma, Bulgarian-speaking dichotomy of local/global, arguing that many Roma, and Pomaks. Yuri expanded his reper- of the supposedly recent distinguishing charac- toire and mastered Bulgarian music and the teristics of the global age, such as border- saxophone under the auspices of the legen- crossings, hybridity, multiplicities of identity, dary accordionist Ivan Milev. and the interconnectedness of economic sys- tems, have been operable for Roma for centu- Yuri experienced prejudice during the late ries. Further, I insist that we interrogate the 1970s and 1980s when the socialist govern- local and national arenas with as much vigor ment forced all Muslims to change their names as we interrogate global arenas, for all arenas to Bulgarian ones, and prohibited Turkish and reveal economic and political hierarchies and Romani music, clothing, languages, and cus- stylistic and representational conflicts. Romani toms (such as circumcision). Yunakov’s life re- music is a particularly rich site for examining veals insights into the selective and exclusion- these multiplicities because music historically ary representations of folk music during the has been one of the primary commodities in socialist period. Rice and Buchanan have cross-border traffic. Through Yunakov I illus- thoroughly explored the socialist ideology trate how musical performances are strategies whereby "authentic folk music" was narrowly in personal identity politics. With music, Yu- defined as "village" music played on "tradi- nakov mediated the tension between supposed tional" instruments and was valorized as the binaries such as official/unofficial, traditional/ soul of the nation. In the 1970s officials and modern, authentic/hybrid, socialism/ scholars alike claimed Turkish and Romani postsocialism, inclusion/exclusion, and local/ musics were "foreign" to Bulgaria and was cor- global. But rather than a celebratory tale, Yu- rupting folk music, to which no one listened nakov’s life also reveals the disjunctures and anymore. The new genre called "wedding mu- challenges in Balkan Romani identity-making sic" was seen as the culprit for the decline in via musical performance. folk music.

Yuri Yunakov was born in 1958 in the Muslim Wedding music is characterized by melodies Romani/Turkish-speaking neighborhood of with wide ranges, syncopations, daring key Haskovo and considered himself a Bulgarian changes, fast tempos, and chromatic and ar- Turk until quite recently. While Yuri's relatives peggio passages. These practices were threat- identiﬁed as a type of Turk, according to his- ening to the socialist establishment because torians they were indeed Roma who lost the they represented a stylistic abandonment of Romani language and adopted Turkish during the ofﬁcial folk music formula. Furthermore, the Ottoman period in their effort to move up wedding music was coded as "ethnic" because the social and economic hierarchy. More im- Roma helped create the style, and the Romani portant, despite language, most Bulgarians saw genre kyuchek represents a large part of the

11 ‘With music, Yunakov mediated the tension between supposed binaries such as ofﬁcial/unofﬁcial, traditional/ modern, authentic/hybrid, socialism/ postsocialism, inclusion/exclusion, and local/global. But rather than a celebratory tale, Yunakov’s life also reveals the disjunctures and challenges in Balkan Romani identity- making via musical performance’. Newsletter No. 8, Summer 2011

repertoire. In 1985 Ivo Papazov, the legendary Roma, Bulgarians, and Americans. The en- star of wedding music (also of Turkish Romani semble produced several albums with the label ancestry), invited Yuri to join his band Trakiya. Traditional Crossroads. The ensemble’s iden- The 1980s was also the era of socialist at- tification with the global aspect of Gypsy mu- tempts to harass, regulate, and intimidate sic was cemented in 1999 when it was invited wedding musicians. Yuri and his colleagues to take part in the North American Gypsy were jailed twice for playing kyucheci. Caravan tour. Note that Yuri, like other Ro- mani musicians, rarely resists the use of the After touring with Trakiya, Yuri decided to exotic/authentic Gypsy stereotype. Most stay in the United Sates because the situation Roma accommodate to exoticism because it of Roma in Bulgaria was declining rapidly. In helps to sell tickets. Historically, Roma have the United States Yuri came to feel he was sometimes believed and transmitted stereo- Romani on a deep personal level. I believe one types about themselves, such as their "genetic" reason Yuri came to identify as Romani was gift for music. Romani musicians, who have his immersion in the Macedonian Romani never been in control of their own imagery neighborhood in New York where he lived for and reputations, are quite used to being made many years. A second reason for Yuri rethink- and making themselves into "exotic others" or ing his identity may be his exposure to Romani "authentic originals". This is part of the col- history via conversations with me, and a third laboration with dominance which is always reason may be the public attention to "Gypsy" paired with resistance. music in the last decade, discussed below. Rather than focusing on the dichotomies of As soon as he arrived in New York, Yuri wid- local vs global or Romani musicians vs. non- ened his musical niche, partly due to necessity Romani marketers and mangers, I argue that (to obtain more work). His instrument, the these categories themselves need to be interro- saxophone, and his ability to improvise could gated. This echoes the call to examine not just be adapted to pan-Balkan and even Middle the politics between resisters and dominants Eastern music. In addition, Yuri has served as but also the internal conflicts within marginal a bridge between Americans interested in Ro- groups. All the local contexts in Yuri's life re- mani music and Macedonian Romani com- veal representational conflicts. Through his life munity musicians. For example, he is men- we have seen the myraid divisions and conflicts toring a young Macedonian Romani commu- within the category Roma; in Bulgaria he felt nity clarinetist. this label did not include him and in transnational musical contexts the label Roma in- Because he missed playing the Bulgarian gen- cludes widely disparate groups. res of wedding music, Yuri formed the Yuri Yunakov Ensemble in 1995, composed of

12 Throughout his life Yuri accommodated to music served as entry points into Albanian and Newsletter No. 8, Summer 2011 some representations of himself imposed by Middle Eastern styles. He was a loner who dominant structures, such as his name (im- needed to find several musical niches because posed by socialists) and the Gypsy authenticity no one musical niche was reliable. His role is of his music (imposed by capitalists), but he as performer (rather than composer, arranger, resisted in select arenas, such as repertoire and organizer), necessitated fitting into other musi- instrumentation. Yuri flatly rejected certain cian's groups. images of Gypsies he found offensive, such as that of the "backward peasant." When the Music is Yuri's language of artistry, commerce, Taraf de Haidouk members arrived in New and socialization. Music allowed him to cross York from Romania for the 1999 Gypsy Cara- borders but music also created barriers. van tour with suitcases with holes, without Through his style of music and his dark- cases for their musical instruments, and wear- skinned physical appearance he was known ing tattered clothing in which they performed, according to various labels: Muslim, Turk, Yuri, from an urban clothes-conscious tradi- Gypsy, Bulgarian, which implied alternately tion, offered to personally take Taraf members inclusion and exclusion. Among Westerners, shopping at his expense. He spoke to Michele he could be seen as exotic, among Bulgarian Winter, the Taraf manager, about this "dis- he might be suspicious. He could never be grace," but Winter replied that audiences ac- fully accepted by Bulgarians because he is tually like the tattered peasant image-- it is Muslim, Turkish-speaking, and Romani; he good for business. Yuri, on the other hand, could never be accepted by Turks because he embraced an "alternative modernity," which is from Bulgaria; even Macedonian Roma, rejects purity and embraces eclecticism. with whom he felt most comfortable, often reminded him he is Bulgarian. Yuri's life urges Heterogeniety may describe a specifically Ro- us not to romanticize and valorize hybridity as mani sense of adaptation or perhaps it is Yuri's mere creativity--the celebration of hybridity personal style. Yuri may sound like a free-spirit sometimes obscures its economic and political hybrid, but part of Yuri's strategy comes from implications. Embracing hybridity does not exclusion-- from being an outsider. Yuri ar- necessarily activate a critique of the world mu- rived in America neither with a stable band sic market that itself promotes hybridity. Striv- nor with a saleable music product. His main- ing to neither essentialize capitalism nor hy- stay, wedding music, was not viable in America bridity, I have rather focused on the negotiat- so it had to be broken into parts and ex- ing practices within capitalism that musicians panded. His fluency with Romani and Turkish such as Yuri have fashioned.

‘Among Westerners, [Yuri] could be seen as exotic, among Bul- garians he might be suspicious. He could never be fully accepted by Bulgarians because he is Mus- lim, Turkish-speaking, and Ro- mani; he could never be accepted by Turks because he is from Bul- garia; even Macedonian Roma, with whom he felt most comfortable, often reminded him he is Bulgarian’.

13 Building Bridges for the Cultural Heritage of Bulgaria By Emil Nankov, Archaeology Program Officer, American Research Center in Sofia One of the chief goals of ARCS is to foster results of these programs, we grow ever more international collaboration between scholars, enthusiastic about ARCS’ role in researching while raising awareness about the importance and preserving the rich cultural heritage of of preserving the cultural heritage of Bulgaria. Bulgaria. With the generous support of the America for Bulgaria Foundation (ABF), ARCS has estab- Short summaries of the progress of the pro- lished, in conjunction with the Field Museum jects awarded funding in 2010 are presented of Natural History in Chicago, an open and below. competitive process to evaluate applications for Newsletter No. 8, Summer 2011 funding within the framework of two major International Collaborative Archaeo- archaeology programs. The International logical and Bioarchaeological Research Collaborative Archaeological and Bioar- Program (ICAB) chaeological Research Program (ICAB) funds archaeological and bioarchaeological Balkan Valley Project Phase II: Survey of research, including fieldwork, and museum the Tundja Valley and laboratory research. ICAB projects re- quire collaboration between North American Prof. David Strait, CUNY Albany, and Prof. and Bulgarian scholars. The Site Preserva- Stefanka Ivanova, National Institute of Ar- tion, Collections, and Museum En- chaeology with Museum-Bulgarian Academy hancement Program (SPCME) funds pro- of Sciences, report: jects that concern archaeological sites and mu- The Balkan Peninsula lies at the gateway of seum collections in Bulgaria suffering from Europe; it is one of very few pathways along long periods of neglect and in dire need of which mammals, including humans, can enter restoration. The program also welcomes pro- or leave the continent. It is very likely that Pa- posals that stimulate the development of cul- leolithic human populations dispersed through tural tourism and the economy of Bulgaria. modern-day Bulgaria during the Pleistocene as the advance and retreat of continental glaciers These projects are advertised annually, and had a dramatic effect on prevailing environ- ARCS anticipates that it will receive increasing mental conditions. In the Fall of 2010, a joint numbers of proposals as these funding oppor- Bulgarian and American research team (the tunities become more widely known both in Balkan Valley Project, or BVP), funded by the Bulgaria and abroad. To increase the visibility American Research Center in Sofia, con- of these programs, ARCS has launched a new ducted surveys and preliminary excavations in website (http://www.arcsofia.org) that contains southeastern Bulgaria focusing especially on basic information about each program, appli- caves in the Strandja Mountains east of the cation materials, and a networking resource for Tundja River Valley. This research has docu- institutionally-affiliated scholars and advanced mented the first evidence of Paleolithic occu- doctoral students from Bulgaria, the Balkans, pations in this region of Bulgaria. Over 30 and North America. As we witness the first caves were assessed for their likelihood of preserving traces of human activity, and formal ‘One of the chief goals of ARCS is test excavations were conducted at two caves, to foster international collaboration Leyarna 1 and 2, near the town of Malko between scholars, while raising Tarnovo. Leyarna 2 preserves a late Pleisto- awareness about the importance of cene fauna (Figures 1, 2) including equids, preserving the cultural heritage of hyaenids, ursids and canids. Flint artifacts were Bulgaria’. found in situ in association with the fauna, demonstrating convincingly that humans oc-

14 Newsletter No. 8, Summer 2011 Figure 1 (left): fossilized mandible of an extinct hyaena (Crucuta spelaea) from Leyarna 2.

Figure 2 (right): view of the excavation in Leyarna 2.

cupied this region during this time period. In Excavation was conducted from October 6 addition, late Pleistocene fauna were recovered through November 17, although there were as surface finds from a nearly collapsed cave, occasional stops imposed by heavy rainfall. Mechata Dupka. These fauna preserve inter- From November 18 to December 5, the team esting skeletal elements suggesting the pres- processed the archaeological materials and ence of archaic populations of, particularly, geodetic survey recorded the disposition of the cave bears. Fossils that had previously been trenches. An emergency conservation was recovered from the cave indicate the presence completed. Besides the Jambol museum per- of pre-late Pleistocene fauna, making this site sonnel (Ilija Iliev, Georgi Iliev, Yavor Rusev significant paleontologically. In future field and Stefan Bakardzhiev), a dozen local work- seasons, the BVP will survey in the northern ers and TRAP volunteers participated in the Tundja Valley in order to provide a broader excavations and documentation. picture of how Paleolithic humans were dis- tributed across Pleistocene Bulgaria. Excavation of the test trenches was conducted in spits or in contexts once differences in soil Dodoparon Excavations and Paleo- matrix or other features emerged. All material ecological Sampling undertaken during from the test trenches was sieved on the spot, Fall 2010 season of Tundzha Regional its volume was quantified, and archaeological Archaeological Project (TRAP) remains were sorted and taken down the hill for processing (Figure 3). Pottery was washed Adela Sobotkova, Chris Ratte, University of and processed at the base (Figure 4). Environ- Michigan, and Stefan Bakardzhiev, Regional mental samples were collected from each spit Historical Museum-Jambol, report: or context and floated and analyzed at the end of the project by Catherine Longford (Univer- Work at the hilltop site of Dodoparon, near sity of Sheffield). the village of Golyam Manastir in Yambol region, was launched in September 2010. The After six weeks of excavation two stretches of first two weeks were dedicated to extensive fortification wall were exposed down to bed- clearance as the 600 m. hillside was thor- rock. In test trench 1 the wall consisted of two oughly impenetrable due to dense low brush. drywall faces filled with rubble. Several frag- Under the supervision of the forestry person- ments of Early Iron Age wares were discov- nel, one narrow path for pedestrian access was ered lodged in the wall (stamped ware cleared and, with the help of a hired bulldozer, Pshenichevo type) but no stratigraphy ap- a new dirt road was cut along an old military peared in the surrounding deposits due to very route which facilitated access to the site by a thin sediment on the bedrock. The wall’s pre- four-wheel drive vehicle. Three areas were served height is between 1.5-2.1m, and width cleared on the top of the hill where excavation 2.9m. took place. Two test trenches were plotted along the visible remains of fortification walls, Test trench 2 revealed a wall preserved to 3 m. while a third test trench was placed on an ele- in height and 2.1 m. in width, consisting of vated platform in the middle of the fortress. two faces filled with rubble and mortar. The

15 faces were composed of layers of ashlars, and in Pirin and Rila on an action-packed pollen- rubble composition suggested that this wall collecting mission. After ten days of nerve- section was chronologically later than that in wracking driving over mountain sides and test trench 1. The rubble consisted of small shredding one tire after another of his four- loose stones and sandy concrete. Three stages wheel drive rental vehicle, he managed to ex- of construction were detected in the wall con- tract all but two of the designated lake cores struction. On the interior of the west wall, the and to collect control samples from all over sediment was 2 m. high. The top 60 cm. pre- Bulgaria. This dataset now forms a sufficient sented a wild mixture of humic sediment and basis for the random sample of wetlands from archaeological materials spanning from the all over Bulgaria. Analysis of this new data as sixth to third century A.D.. Below the topsoil, well as comparison with the core from the distinct layers were recognized, dated to the Atolovo mire is in progress and should be sixth to third century A.D. respectively. No completed by April 2011. C14 dates commis- features or structures were detected in the test sioned for the Atolovo mire in fall 2010 have trench. While most materials were not associ- yielded a well-aligned sequence (only one re- Newsletter No. 8, Summer 2011 ated with any specific feature, the density and versal), reaching to 32,000 years cal B.C.. diversity of material especially in the top half of the deposit was remarkable. Pottery and Interim Report on ARCS Site Preserva- architectural remains were interspersed with tion Projects at Nicopolis ad Istrum and animal bone, coin and metal work. Several Deultum, 2010 large pieces of slag and many small imple- ments indicate metal production and process- Emil Nankov, Archaeology Program Officer, ing activities at the site. ARCS reports:

Central test trench 3 revealed the stone foun- In 2010 two major site preservation projects dation of a late antique house in a shallow received funding through ARCS upon the rec- deposit on top of bedrock. Dated by a hoard ommendation of the ABF Archaeological Ad- of 9 coins into the sixth (536-572) century visory Committee at the Field Museum in A.D., the structure seems to have housed ad- Chicago. These were “Conservation and Protection ministrative or business activities, with a quan- of Monuments and Signatures in the Town of the Vic- tity of metal ﬁnds, ceramics, and jewelry. At tory Nicopolis ad Istrum” and “Conservation, Resto- the conclusion of excavations, the test trenches ration, and Socialization of Archaeological Monuments were covered by nylon and backﬁlled. Final from Ancient Colony Deultum near Debelt village”. In pottery analysis is in progress. late summer of 2010, ARCS concluded Grant Agreements with the institutions responsible The supra-regional phase of the paleo- for these two sites--the Regional Historical ecological research was conducted by Simon Museum of Veliko Turnovo and the Historical Connor of the University of Algarve in late Museum of Sredets, respectively. This is an August and early September. Dr. Connor and interim report on activities accomplished by his two assistants toured most of the Bulgarian the SPCME projects for four months pollen sites between Varna and mountain lakes (September-December 2010). As Archaeology

Figure 3 (left): work in progress at the site of Do- doparon.

Figure 4 (right): processing small ﬁnds at the archaeological base.

16 Newsletter No. 8, Summer 2011

Figure 5 (upper left): new roof over statue base, Nico- polis ad Istrum.

Figure 6 (upper right): new roof over drainage channel, Nicopolis ad Istrum.

Figure 7 (lower left) and Figure 8 (lower right): fragmentary bronze statue of Septimius Severus, Deultum.

Program Officer, I made monthly trips to these belt, 20 km. southwest of Burgas. The main sites to perform strict oversight on the progress focus of the project is the curation of artifacts of these projects. In the process, we have been unearthed during the primary excavations in able to establish solid working relationships the 1980s. These finds will be publicly dis- with the project directors, Dr. Pavlina played upon completion of the project. The Vladkova, Curator of Antiquities at the Re- centerpiece is a fragmentary bronze statue of gional Historial Museum of Veliko Turnovo, the Roman emperor Septimius Severus – a and Dr. Krasimira Kostova, Director of the unique find in the territory of Bulgaria – Municipal Museum of Sredets, and their whose restoration is underway (Figures 7-8). staffs. Thanks to the professional skills of Dr. Daniela Cherneva, a conservator from the National At Nicopolis ad Istrum – a Roman town Museum of History, Sofia, the conservation founded by the emperor Marcus Ulpius Traia- work on the Roman glass is now complete. For nus to honor his victories over the Dacians in this project, the Sredets museum has been AD 101 and 106, located near the village working closely with highly specialized per- Nikyup, 20 km. northwest of Veliko Turnovo . sonnel based in museums, institutes and labo- One of the main goals of the project has been ratories in Sofia. Petya Nikolova (National Mu- completed: roofing was constructed over (1) seum of History, Sofia) and Dr. Petya Penkova the ancient council house of the city, (2) an (National Institute of Archaeology with equestrian statue base (Figure 5), (3) a built Museum-Bulgarian Academy of Sciences) are drainage channel (Figure 6), and (4) two wells; supervising the conservation of the statue of and individual protective covers were placed Severus. An initial step has been made towards on several significant inscriptions. The next receiving permission from the "Road admini- stage of the project focuses on site mainte- stration" in order to install special road signs in nance and socialization by means of explana- the territory of Burgas district that will point tory information boards and road signs. After the way to Deultum. Since the project has be- only four months’ work, the site has already gun, ARCS has been delighted to learn from become much more accessible for visitors. the project director that another major, state- funded initiative, involving renovation of the At Deultum is a Roman colonia founded by the archaeological base at Deultum, is in the final veterans of Legio VIII Augusta during the first stages of preparation. century A.D., located near the village of De-

17 To Athens and Istanbul By Denver Graninger, Director and Professor, American Research Center in Soﬁa

ARCS is committed to fostering the develop- during Late Antiquity (IV – VI AD)’ (Prof. E. ment of the next generation of Bulgarian Gencheva), ARIT. scholars. Now in its second year, the FADS (Fellowships for Advanced Doctoral Students) Nayden Prahov, Department of Archaeology, program administered by ARCS sends ad- Soﬁa University, ‘Reconstructing the Pa- vanced Bulgarian doctoral students to conduct leolandscape and Creating Predictive Models research at the American School of Classical for Identifying Submerged Archaeological Studies at Athens (ASCSA) or the American Sites’ (Prof. T. Stoyanov), ASCSA. Research Institute in Turkey (ARIT) for a period of one month. From a deep pool of 28 Ivanka Slavova, Department of Archaeology,

Newsletter No. 8, Summer 2011 applicants, ARCS awarded 10 fellowships in Soﬁa University, ‘Archaeobotanical research as February 2011. Here follows a list of the fel- a resource of data about the paleodiet, pa- lowship winners, their institutional afﬁliations leoenvironment and the use of plants in ritual and research projects, and where each fellow context during Antiquity in present-day south- held their fellowship: east Bulgaria’ (Prof. J. Atanassova), ASCSA.

Teodora Bogdanova, National Institute of Ar- Miglena Vassileva, National Institute of Ar- chaeology with Museum-Bulgarian Academy chaeology with Museum-Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, ‘The role and place of toiletries in of Sciences, ‘Classification of the fibulae in the life of Greek women in the Greek colonies Thrace during the Late Iron Age’ (Prof. M. in the western Black Sea area, 6th-1st c. BC’ Tonkova), ASCSA. (Prof. K. Panayotova), ASCSA. Slava Vassileva, Department of Archaeology, Drago Garbov, Department of Archaeology, Sofia University, ‘Painted Pottery from Apol- New Bulgarian University, ‘Settlement of the lonia Pontica: the Kerch style vases’ (Prof. M. Middle Struma valley in late antiquity (4th-7th Reho), ASCSA. c. AD)’ (Prof. I. Gatsov), ASCSA. ARCS also offered short-term fellowships to Vladislav Ivanov, Department of History, Regular and Associate Members from ASCSA Sofia University, ‘The Order of Hospitallers in to conduct research at ARCS. Here follows a Rhodes as a factor in the Balkan Politics (XIV list of the fellowship winners, their institutional -XV c.)’ (Prof. A. Nikolov), ARIT. affiliations, and their research projects:

Silvia Ivanova, Department of Archaeology, Martin Gallagher, Boston Univeraity, ‘Settle- Soﬁa University, ‘Chemical composition and ment patterns in Archaic Thrace’. typology of Bronze Age copper and copper alloy artifacts from Bulgaria’ (Prof. I. Kuleff), Reema Habib, Florida State University, ‘Eth- ASCSA. nicity and the Thracian/Celtic frontier’.

Marta Ivaylova, Department of Classical Katie Lamberto, State University of New Studies, Soﬁa University, ‘Minor Prophetic York-Buffalo, ‘Dionysus cult in ancient Gods in the Ancient Greek Pantheon. Func- Thrace’. tion and Development’ (Prof. M. Slavova), ASCSA. Sarah Madole, New York University, ‘Descent into the Underworld: mythological narratives Alexander Manev, National Institute of Ar- on Roman sarcophagi’. chaeology with Museum-Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, ‘The Role of the Church in set- tlements’ life in the dioceses Thrace and Dacia

18 The NEH Challenge Grant: ARCS on Newsletter No. 8, Summer 2011 Way to Sustainable Financial Future

By Todor T. Petev, Director, United States Office of the American Research Center in Sofia In the past year ARCS has been fortunate to responding portion of the matching grant is attract several major donations and grants of a irretrievably lost. size that permitted the Center to expand sig- nificantly its academic activities and projects To increase the incentive for donations to- and to launch an endowment campaign. The wards the NEH Challenge Grant, two busi- National Endowment for the Humanities nessmen have recently challenged us to raise (NEH) Challenge Grant ($750,000) awarded $5,000 and $10,000, respectively (each with a to ARCS in 2010 ushers the Center into a new 1:1 match). Pledges are also eligible for the phase of development and financial sustain- NEH grant and these have to be fulfilled by ability. The purpose of the grant is to set up an July 31, 2015. ARCS is a tax exempt as a endowment that will generate income for the 501(c)(3) organization, as determined by the development and maintenance of the library U.S. Internal Revenue Service. collection and also for staff salaries. In order to receive the full NEH match, ARCS must raise Inquiries on how to help us with this challeng- $2,250,000--a ratio of $1 from NEH for every ing opportunity may be sent to ARCS - United $3 in non-federal funds. So far, ARCS has States Office, 120 Goldwin Smith Hall, De- raised a total of $398,816. Every July 31st until partment of Classics, Cornell University, Ith- 2015, ARCS has to report the total amount aca, NY, 14853; Telephone: (917) 572-2491; raised for the given period; if the donations E-mail: [email protected]. are beneath the assigned benchmark, the cor- An Update on the ARCS Library By Todor T. Petev, Director, United States Office of the American Research Center in Sofia With the acquisition of permanent quarters in development, from the Getty Foundation, the 2008, the American Research Center in Sofia America for Bulgaria Foundation, and the began to develop a strong research library, Kress Foundation. The Center has also been now numbering about 10,800 volumes. The successful in acquiring, either by donation or core strengths of the collection are in ancient by purchase, several major book collections Balkan history and archaeology, with growing from institutions or retiring scholars. In 2010 coverage of Balkan culture, history and society ARCS received a five-year Challenge Grant of the Middle Ages, the twentieth century, and from the National Endowment for the Hu- the contemporary period. The collection in- manities ($750,000). One of the main pur- cludes an increasing number of materials that poses of that grant is to establish an endow- are unique or hard to access elsewhere in Bul- ment fund for the library. For every dollar from garia. the grant ARCS has to raise three dollars. Set- ting up a library endowment is the only way to The library is managed by a full-time qualified ensure continuous development and proper librarian. It is open to the public during work management of the collection. hours throughout the year. The facility is equipped with a wireless high-speed internet Any donations of books or financial contribu- connection and several electronic databases, tions towards the challenge grant will be including JSTOR, are available to library pa- deeply appreciated by ARCS and by our in- trons. An ever increasing number of students creasing number of readers. and scholars are making use of the collection. Should you have any questions, please contact In the last few years ARCS has been very for- Todor Petev, Director, US Office of ARCS, at: tunate to receive major grants for collection [email protected].

19 Zemen Monastery, Church of St. John the Theologian, window detail.

! FIA АМЕР SO И THE AMERICAN RESEARCH CENTER IN SOFIA КА IN Н R С E К T И N Н E А C У Denver Graninger, Director and Professor

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Ц American Research Center in Soﬁa, 75 Vasil Petleshkov St., 1510 Soﬁa, Bulgaria

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И M Я A ! Todor Petev, Director - United States Office American Research Center in Sofia - United States Office, 120 Goldwin Smith Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 Tel.: 917-572-2491; [email protected]

http://www.einaudi.cornell.edu/arcs/