Dr. Viktoria Russeva is a distinguished Associate Professor at the Institute of Experimental Morphology, Pathology and Anthropology with Museum (IEMPAM), Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS), where she has been a dedicated faculty member since 1998. Her academic and professional journey reflects a sustained commitment to advancing knowledge in the fields of anthropology and archaeology. Dr. Russeva completed her Master’s degree in Archaeology at Sofia University in 1997, laying a strong foundation in archaeological theory and practice, followed by a PhD in Anthropology in 2004, which enabled her to integrate anthropological methodologies with archaeological research to study human populations, their cultural dynamics, and biological development. To further deepen her expertise, she undertook a postdoctoral specialization in paleoanthropology at the Department of Anatomy & Anthropology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, from 2003 to 2004. This international experience not only expanded her technical and analytical skills but also provided her with a broader perspective on comparative human evolution and the global dimensions of anthropological research. Dr. Russeva’s primary research interests span paleoanthropology and archaeology, with a focus on several interrelated subfields including paleodemography, anthropological typology, paleopathology, and osteoarchaeology. Her work has been instrumental in understanding human skeletal variation, patterns of ancient population structures, health, and disease in past populations, as well as the anthropological implications of archaeological findings. She combines meticulous fieldwork, laboratory analysis, and comparative studies to uncover insights into human adaptation, demographic changes, and cultural practices over time. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges the gap between anthropology and archaeology, allowing for comprehensive reconstructions of past human societies and their biological characteristics. Over the course of her career, Dr. Russeva has produced 16 scholarly publications, which collectively have accumulated over 3,700 reads and approximately 20 citations on ResearchGate. Her research has been published in leading journals such as Acta Morphologica et Anthropologica and Anthropological Researches and Studies, contributing significantly to the academic discourse on human evolution, skeletal biology, and archaeological anthropology. Through her publications, she has disseminated findings that inform both theoretical perspectives and practical methodologies in her fields of study, supporting the development of evidence-based approaches to paleoanthropological and archaeological research. In recognition of her substantial contributions to science and education, Dr. Russeva has been awarded the title of Associate Professor and has maintained active membership in several national and international scientific societies. She has participated in collaborative research projects with institutions worldwide, strengthening interdisciplinary networks and fostering international academic exchange. Her postdoctoral research at Tel Aviv University, in particular, exemplifies her commitment to global collaboration, allowing her to apply advanced analytical techniques in comparative anthropological studies and to contribute to the broader understanding of human evolutionary history. Through her teaching, mentorship, and research, Dr. Russeva continues to shape the next generation of anthropologists and archaeologists while advancing the frontiers of knowledge in human history and biological diversity.

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Featured Publications

Russeva, V. (2025). The earthquake casualties from Heraclea Sintica – Buried under debris of the portico of the Roman forum. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105338

Russeva, V. (2024). Bones, bites, and burials: Investigating a skeleton from Eneolithic necropolis for evidence of probable lion attack in Bulgaria. SSRN. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5077953

Russeva, V. (2023). Anthropological investigation of human skeletal remains from late Roman tombs in the western necropolis of Deultum. Archaeologia Bulgarica.

Russeva, V., et al. (2022). A genetic probe into the ancient and medieval history of Southern Europe and West Asia. Science. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abq0755

Russeva, V., et al. (2022). Ancient DNA from Mesopotamia suggests distinct Pre-Pottery and Pottery Neolithic migrations into Anatolia. Science. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abq0762

Russeva, V., et al. (2022). The genetic history of the Southern Arc: A bridge between West Asia and Europe. Science. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abm4247

Russeva, V. (2018). An Ottoman-age femme fatale: Archaeothanatological context for the deviant burial of a woman from site no. 6 on the Haemus highway in Bulgaria. Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Historica.

Russeva, V. (2016). Human skull artifacts – Roundels and a skull cap fragment from Kozareva Mogila, a late Eneolithic site. Archaeologia Bulgarica.

Russeva, V. (2012). Religion, magic or medicine? New finds of trepanned skulls from southeastern Bulgaria, 11th–13th c. Archaeologia Bulgarica.