Dankó Imre szerk.: Bolgár tanulmányok III. (A Hajdú-Bihar Megyei Múzeumok Közleményei 37. Debrecen, 1980)
Dankó Imre: The 1300 year old Bulgaria – Preface and summary
As we know the most ancient inhabitants of Bulgaria were the Tracian. This territory was organized to be a province by the Romans in 6 B.C. and called it Moesia. They could keep it in their possession up to 375. At that time the Roman Emperor, Valens gave shelter to the Visigothic tribes escaping from the Huns. They could seize power there for a short time but they were not able to withstand the wandering tribes' attacts in the migration period. First it came under the rule of the Huns then the Slavs. In 681 Asparuk and his people occupied this territory and in league with the Slavs living here he founded a new state. This state became stronger and stronger in the course of the centuries up to 1019, when Byzantine Empire could overcome Bulgaria. One of the most important relics of that period can be found in the district of Sumen (Madara, Pliska, Preslav). The old castle of Sumen is also the relic of this time. It is also considered to be the best archeological work in Bulgaria. It is Vera Antonova who carries out excavations there and takes part in the restoration. It was possible for our archeologists to get an inside view of this research. György Módy, the archeologist of our museum took a study-tour in order to gain experiences there. The study of Vera Antonova may throw light on the importance of the castle and the town itself in the Middle Ages. Bulgaria and its people have been in close connection with our country from several points of view for a long time. These connections have been studied by historians, linquists, archeologists and ethnographers since the beginning of the Hungarian scientific researches. At this moment we may say that we know more about this land and its people as formely. To know Bulgaria better and learn more about its history led us to form new contacts. It was not a new idea as it had already had some tradition. I refer only to the researches of István Ecsedi and Géza Fehér. Otherwise, I have to mention the cult of Kossuth in Sumen. On the basis of this cult Debrecen and Sumen formed fraternal link after the liberation. This has resulted collaboration in all walks of life not only between the two towns, but the two countries as well. This fraternal link, which means scientific artistic and sociological co-operation, is patronized by our museum in Debrecen, The Déri Museum took part in the organization and foundation of the Kossuth Museum in Sumen. That's why we-and not the staff of the Hungarian National Museum —were invited to take part in the ceremony of the 20th anniversary of its foundation. For years our scientists have been able to take study-tours in Bulgaria (Dr. János Bencsik, Elek Németh, Dr. György Módy, Dr. Miklós Nyakas, Dr. Gyula Varga, Erzsébet G. Kapusi, Katalin Sz. Kürti, Péter Fodor, Ibolya M. Nepper, Ibolya V. Szathmáry, Katalin D. Sallay, Péter Horváth, and I also went to Bulgaria several times.) Our collègues made exhibitions in Sofia and in Sumen, visited a great number of museums and memorial places there, learnt a lot about the Bulgarian culture and life. Naturally thay carried out scientific researches, too. They wrote about their Bulgarian experiences in travel reports, in the volumes of the Bulgarian Studies and in other publications as well. Our commemoration of István Ecsedi in Sumen and in Debrecen or the Bulgarian Scientific Session held in Debrecen are worth mentioning here. I have to say words about my work without immodesty —as the most comprehensive scientific researches were done by me. I visited Bulgaria 14 times and was the guest of several institutions, museums. I could make acquintances with scientists,
