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The Archaeological Institute with a BAS Museum has a long history. In its present form it operates since 1949 and is the successor of the Department of Values established in 1878-1879 to the Sofia Library. It was converted in 1892 as a National Museum. In 1921 it became the Bulgarian Archaeological Institute - the first scientific institute in Bulgaria.

It is impossible in a few lines to be presented the most important of the remarkable works of the Archaeological Institute of the Academy of Sciences. Even just listing the main sections suggests very broad spectrum of its research: "Prehistory", "Thracian archeology", "Ancient Archaeology", "Medieval Archaeology", "Numismatics and epigraphy", etc.

It is impossible to list the names of all the eminent specialists who have contributed to the recognized authority of the Archaeological Institute. However, two names should be mentioned: Konstantin Irechek and Professor Bogdan Filov - engine in the creation of the museum and its director for 20 years after its creation.

The Archaeological Institute today is a treasure trove of over 450 000 items held in its funds. The Institute has 6 500 medieval and 200 ancient stone monuments and vast numismatic collection.

Be sure to stroll around the hall "Vault" where the emphasis is on three world-famous treasures: from Vulchitrun Lukovit and the treasure from Nikolaev. In the hall are presented objects with extremely high artistic and historical significance. In this part of the exhibition sets out for the first time and the latest findings from the region of Kazanlak: the entire inventory of Svetitsa hill, with the unique golden burial mask, and head of the bronze statue of Kosmatka mound in Shipka. Vault Room is located on the second floor of the eastern extension of the museum building.

The Prehistoric exhibition occupies the lower floor of the north wing of the museum building. The exhibits are dated from 500 000 years BC to 1 600 BC. The collection is arranged chronologically, with special attention given to the major findings from the first settlements in the Bulgarian lands. Exhibits for each period are grouped by themes - tools and weapons from different materials - stone, flint, bone, horn, brass, bronze, ceramic production with characteristic regional features, ritual objects. Particularly interesting are the objects found near Karanovo.

On the two floors of the central hall of the Museum are exposed the monuments dating from the Late Bronze Age to the Middle Ages. They illustrate the main periods of the history of the wider region of Southeastern Europe. There are emphasized the most important and characteristic aspects of the major cultures that have met and merged into this land: Thracian, Hellenic, Roman, Byzantine, Bulgarian, Ottoman. On the ground floor collections are exposed in four separate sectors related to the periods: II-I millennium BC., I-IV century, V-VII century, VIII-IX century.