BALKAN HERITAGE (BH) FIELD SCHOOL

Balkan Heritage (BH) Field School (est. 2003) functions as a legal part of Balkan Heritage Foundation, Bulgaria and implements projects in the areas of study, protection, restoration and promotion of sites, artifacts and practices presenting the cultural heritage of Southeastern Europe with participation of students, scholars and volunteers from all over the World.
BH key partners are: Regional History Museum - Stara Zagora, Regional History Museum - Varna, Svilengrad municipality (Bulgaria), N.I. Institute and Museum - Bitola and Youth Cultural Center-Bitola (Macedonia).

BH field school admits participants for :
  • 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.
  • Cultural excursions in Southeastern Europe discovering “hidden” cultural treasures of the area not only through common sightseeing, but also through behind-the-scenes visits and experience of good life secrets (spa, wine tasting, clubbing etc.).

BH PROJECTS IN 2003-2008:

Zaminec 2003 (Bulgaria) – 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 of 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 BC). Partners: SEEYN Network (BiH), Vraca Historic Museum (Bulgaria), BAA Ivan Venedikov (Bulgaria).

Mezdra 2004 (Bulgaria) – 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 referring 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 BC). Partners: Mezdra Municipality (Bulgaria), Vraca Historic Museum (Bulgaria), BAA Ivan Venedikov (Bulgaria).

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

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

ATBB field school project and Stara Zagora heritage workcamp 2007 (Bulgaria) - both field school and workcamp projects assisted rescue excavations of the AVGUSTA TRAIANA-BEROE-BORUI archaeological reserve under the 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 (second-fifth century AD) 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).


“Frescoes-hunting” photo expedition to medieval churches of West Bulgaria 2008 – field school project along with “frescoes-hunting” photo expedition to four late medieval churches (14-17 century AD) in Nishava region ( West Bulgaria). The result was much more than organizers had expected. Participants upgraded existing iconographic schemes, architecture plans and sections and completed photographic database of both churches: St. Nicolas in Kalotina (14 century) and St. Peter near Berende (14 century). Medieval graffiti covering the narthex of St.Nicolas were documented and opened a side-study topic to be continued in 2009. Photographs and documentary notes were added to the existing database of two other churches: St. Nicolas (16 century) in Malo Malovo monastery and St. Petka in Balsha (17 century). Their further study will be included in the 2009 program.
ATBB rescue excavations project and Stara Zagora heritage workcamp 2008, Bulgaria - three field school projects and one workcamp assisted rescue excavations of the AVGUSTA TRAIANA-BEROIA-BORUI archaeological reserve under the contemporary town of Stara Zagora. Excavations found a Roman aqueduct, part of the ditch surrounding the Roman city, architectural fragments and artifacts of Roman and Late Roman urban culture (2-6 century AD). Field school participants took part in every-day excavation process. Workcamp participants took also part in a campaign for cleaning of the Roman forum that really attracted local journalists and in consequence media raised the topic of neglected cultural sites in Stara Zagora. Partners: Regional History Museum – Stara Zagora.
Heraclea Lyncestis field school project and Bitola heritage workcamp 2008 (Macedonia) - both field school and workcamp projects assisted excavations of the ancient city of HERACLEA LYNCESTIS next to the contemporary town of Bitola. During the dig participants worked in a sector of a Late Antique basilica and found numerous architectural fragments and artifacts of Late Roman urban culture (mostly sixth century AD). Partners: N.I. Institute and Museum - Bitola and Youth Cultural Center-Bitola ( Macedonia).