Таngible Cultural Heritage: A Cinderella in the Home of Ethnology (Educational Essay)

Abstract

The article aims to provoke a discussion about studying and teaching tangible cultural heritage in Bulgaria. It compares the curricula in Ethnology at different universities. It is obvious that very little attention is drawn to the tangible cultural heritage. This leads to very poor preparation of students who are about to become teachers or to work in museums. A new trend for change is observed at St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo. It is taught by the expert in tangible cultural heritage Pavlin Chaushev, PhD. In recent years, the number of lecture courses in which he presents various aspects of material culture from antiquity to the present day has increased. Plamen Sabev, PhD, who is Head of the Laboratory for restoration and conservation at the Regional Museum of History in Veliko Tarnovo, was also involved in teaching ethnologists. His expertise in 3D reconstructions of museum sites is particularly interesting and promising for students. The author points out the positive effect of studying and teaching tangible and intangible cultural heritage at the University on students, and hopes this trend to be shared by other universities.