BALKAN HERITAGE (BH) FIELD SCHOOL

Balkan heritage (BH) field school by BYC association, Bulgaria has operated since 2003. In 2007, new associates - Regional History Museum - Stara Zagora (Bulgaria) and N.I. Institute and Museum - Bitola (Macedonia) joined the BH Field school.

Balkan heritage field school realizes projects in the areas of study, protection, restoration and promotion of sites, artifacts and practices presenting cultural heritage of Southeastern Europe. Our participants are students, scholars and volunteers from all over the World.

BH field school admits participants for both:

• Field school sessions combining 3 basic modules: educational (lectures, trainings and workshops), practical (excavations, lab work, fieldtrips, documentation, restoration and conservation etc.) and excursions to attractive archaeological and cultural sites around the project’s location.
• Volunteer workcamps supporting in various ways local heritage protection in Southeastern Europe.
  

BH PROJECTS IN 2003-2007:

Zaminec 2003 – both field school and workcamp projects assisted excavation of the prehistoric settlement located on Zaminec hill in Northwestern Bulgaria. Excavations found an intramural necropolis and a huge number unstratified (because of recent treasure-hunters interventions) materials related to Krivodol – Salcutsa - Bubanj Hum IA (Balkan Late Copper age culture spread out over the territory of present NW Bulgaria, E Serbia and SW Romania between 4400-4000 B.C.).
Partners: SEEYN Network (BiH), Vraca Historic Museum (Bulgaria), BAA Ivan Venedikov (Bulgaria).

Mezdra 2004 – field school project along with excavations of a prehistoric house in sector 2 of Mezdra Fortress (NW Bulgaria). The artifacts found here: tools and weapons by flint, stone, copper and bone as well as numerous well preserved vessels refer to the Balkan Late Copper age culture: Krivodol – Salcutsa - Bubanj Hum I A (spread out over the territory of present NW Bulgaria, E Serbia and SW Romania between 4400-4000 B.C.).
Partners: Mezdra Municipality (Bulgaria), Vraca Historic Museum (Bulgaria), BAA Ivan Venedikov (Bulgaria).

Dragoman 2005 – field school project along with “frescoes-hunting” photo expedition to medieval churches (13-14 century AD) in Nishava region (Western Bulgaria). Photographs and documentary notes added the existing database for churches St. Nicolas in Kalotina (14 century) and St. Peter near Berende (14 century).
Partners: Dragoman municipality (Bulgaria), EO Foundation (Bulgaria), SEEYN (BiH).

Dragoman 2006 – field school and workcamp project assisted photo-expedition following the trace of Roman highway Via militaris in Dragoman municipality (Western Bulgaria). Photographs and documentary notes added existing database for trace of this major Roman artery.
Partners: Dragoman municipality (Bulgaria), EO Foundation (Bulgaria), SEEYN Network (BiH).

Stara Zagora 2007 - both field school and workcamp projects assisted rescue excavations of AVGUSTA TRAIANA-BEROE-BORUI archaeological reserve under contemporary town of Stara Zagora. Excavations found interesting structures (houses, streets, portion of the city wall, drainage channels and water pipes) and artifacts of Roman urban culture (2-5 century A.D.) A campaign for cleaning of the Roman forum and promotion of volunteer participation in maintaining of town cultural heritage attracted both local and international volunteers.
Partners: Regional History Museum - Stara Zagora, Open Society Club - Stara Zagora (Bulgaria), SEEYN Network (BiH).