The archive of Professor Georgi Zlatarski – knowledge source of the foundation of geology and paleontology in Bulgaria

Abstract

This paper presents a part of the documents, which are stored in the personal archive of Professor Georgi Zlatarski at the Department of University Archive of Sofia University (Bulgaria). This valuable treasure embodies not only the development of geology in Bulgaria, but also the path of a brilliant scientist towards the realization of the plans he shared in 1880 in a letter to Prof. Konstantin Irechek: “to divide Bulgaria in separate parts and to study each one in detail”; to “make a precise geological map”, and to “arrange and systematize the collection of Bulgarian fossils”. At the end of his not very long life, it can be seen that Prof. Zlatarski succeeded in realizing his plans. In 2022, a joint project between the Faculty of Geology and Geography and the Department of University Archive, which aimed to promote the archival heritage of this eminent scientist, was carried out. With the help of geologists and paleontologists, some of the document annotations were revised to define more accurately certain documents or scientific studies. After the revision, the archive is at a higher scientific level, as it includes precise terms in geology and paleontology, making it more understandable and accessible to specialists in these fields. The chronological limits of some of the undated documents were also specified. A permanent exposition of documents on the websites of the University Archive and the Faculty of Geology and Geography, as well as a presentation on the scientific career of Prof. Zlatarski, which will be used in teaching, will soon be available.