On May 12, 1972, by Order № 185 of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Institute of Thracology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences was established with a founding director Prof. Dr. habil. Alexander Fol. According to this Order, the institute started its activities on May 15, 1972. Therefore, the anniversary of the institute is being celebrated between these two important dates. The decision was initiated by a group of extremely talented generation of young scientists, such as: Prof. Alexander Fol, Acad. Vladimir Georgiev, Prof. Velizar Velkov, Prof. Georgi Mihailov, Prof. Ivan Venedikov, Prof. Hristo Danov, Prof. Vasilka Tapkova-Zaimova, Prof. Zlatozara Gocheva.

The Institute of Thracology was established as a specialized unit for interdisciplinary research of the history of Thracian antiquity. Its main tasks are to coordinate scholarly research of Ancient Thrace and Thracians in the context of Paleo-Balkan studies, as well as to study pre-Greek and non-Greek components in the ancient Balkan and West Asia Minor cultural and historical space. The focus of the Institute of Thracology is the Thracian history, culture and language in the broader context of Indo-European studies and as a significant part of the European and world cultural and historical heritage.

Since April 3, 2006, by decision of the General Assembly of BAS the Institute bears the name "Prof. Alexander Fol”. On June 25, 2007, by decision of the General Assembly of BAS it was reorganized to Centre of Thracology "Prof. Alexander Fol. Since July 1, 2010 the Centre of Thracology "Prof. Alexander Fol” is merged with the Institute of Balkan Studies into the Institute of Balkan Studies & Centre of Thracology “Prof. Alexander Fol” at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

Text and pictures: Prof. Vanya Lozanova-Stancheva, D.A.