Ivan Valchev

Assoc. Prof. Ivan Valchev serves as an Associate Professor specializing in Classical Archaeology at the Faculty of History, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, Bulgaria. Based at 15 Tzar Osvoboditel, 1504 Sofia, he maintains office hours Mondays 14:00-16:00 and Thursdays 11:00-13:00 in Room 31, with contact via +359 2 9308/564 or vulchev@uni-sofia.bg.

His academic foundation includes:

• High School: 'Yane Sandanski' High-school, Gotse Delchev (2001)
• Master's Degree: Archaeology, University of Sofia, Faculty of History (2007)
• PhD: University of Sofia, Faculty of History (2001), thesis 'Extraurban Sanctuaries in the Roman Province of Thrace (1st – 4th century)'

Valchev's research centers on Classical Archaeology and Ancient Religion within Roman Thrace, examining sacred landscapes, religious syncretism, and Thracian-Roman cultural interactions. His specialized training at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2008) and the American School of Classical Studies at Athens (2011) underpins fieldwork on sanctuaries, votive practices, and epigraphic evidence.

His 2008-2015 publications reveal consistent focus on religious topography in Thrace, analyzing sacred springs, urban cult sites, and imperial-era religious transitions. The 2015 monograph synthesizes decades of research on extraurban sanctuaries, while journal articles explore regional variations through epigraphic and archaeological evidence from sites like Hisarya and Dupnitsa.

Scientific Awards:

• No documented awards or fellowships in source materials

Available records indicate no formal PhD/Master's advisees or major research grants. His work appears institutionally embedded within Sofia University's Faculty of History without mention of dedicated laboratories or independent research teams, suggesting collaborative departmental engagement through the university's Department of Research Activity.