At 18:00 on 20.09.2022 at the National Museum of Natural History of BAS was opened the exhibition “See the Unseen: The Dawn of Humanity” with the author of the scientific concept Prof. Nikolai Spassov.
The exposition is the second of a series of temporary exhibitions presenting previously unseen specimens from the scientific collections of the National Museum of Natural History-BAS. It is related to the paleoanthropological discoveries made in our country and in the Balkans in the last 15 years – findings that change our perceptions of the first steps of humanity – both those of the pre-humans standing at the beginning of the human evolutionary line, and of the first modern humans inhabiting Europe.
The exhibition was opened by the Minister of Culture Prof. Velislav Minekov, the Director of the Museum Prof. Pavel Stoev and by Assoc. Prof. Ina Aneva – Scientific Secretary of the Biodiversity, Bioresources and Ecology Division of BAS. Prof. Nikolai Spassov introduced his guests to the exciting discoveries, starting with a story about the first potential ancestor – the Graecopithecus. The exposition is accompanied by a museum narrative which goes through the history of the human species and shows the research of scientists related to the penetration of man into Europe (which occurred about 2 million years ago). The exhibition ends with the remains of the first Europeans found during the excavations of Assoc. Prof. Nikolai Sirakov from NAIM-BAS. They show that the first Europeans passed through the Balkans. Their remains have been found so far only in the Bacho Kiro cave, added Prof. Spassov. 
Assoc. Prof. Ina Aneva expressed her gratitude to the colleagues from NMNHS – BAS for the shared pieces of inspiration, sought and collected with much devotion, excitement and enthusiasm. Thanks to their work, we all have the opportunity to experience the magic of mysterious discoveries that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world. She stressed that Prof. Nikolai Spassov is one of the brightest and most brilliant discoverers of the mysterious and exciting ancient worlds inhabited by people and animals once living on earth. The worldwide recognition and reputation of a leading scientist in the field of palaeontology is a source of pride for all of us and a serious contribution to raising the profile of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences on the world stage.
The exhibition can be seen until 31.03.2023 in the foyer of the National Museum of Natural History – BAS (1, Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd.).
