BALKAN HERITAGE (BH) FIELD SCHOOL

Balkan Heritage (BH) Field School (est. 2003) functions as a legal part of Balkan Heritage Foundation - Bulgarian public, non-profit, non-governmental organization. It implements various educative projects in the areas of Archaeology, Cultural Anthropology, Folklore, Art History, Restoration and Conservation of artefacts and monuments, Fine Arts and Theology.
 
Balkan Heritage Mission is to support study, protection, restoration and promotion of sites, artefacts and practices belonging or related to the cultural heritage of South-eastern Europe.


Balkan Heritage Field School implements the following types of projects with participation of students, scholars and volunteers from all over the World:
  • Field school projects(could be either excavations or workshops or expeditions etc.) combine 3 basic modules: theoretical (lectures and trainings), practical (excavations, workshops, lab work, field trips) and excursions to attractive archaeological and cultural sites around the project’s location.
  • Volunteer workcamps supporting in various ways local heritage protection in South-eastern Europe.
  • Cultural excursions in Southeastern Europe discovering “hidden” cultural treasures of the area not only through sightseeing, but also through behind-the-scenes visits and experience of good life's secrets (spa, wine tasting, clubbing etc.).

    balkan Heritage PROJECTS 2003-2009:

    Zaminec 2003 (Bulgaria) – (field school and workcamp projects). The excavations of the prehistoric settlement located on Zaminec hill in Northwestern Bulgaria 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 and workcamp projects). The excavations of a prehistoric house in sector 2 of Mezdra Fortress (NW Bulgaria) discovered: 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) – (workcamp project). The very first “fresco-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), Eko Obshtnost Foundation (Bulgaria), SEEYN (BiH).

    Dragoman 2006 (Bulgaria) - (workcamp project). The  project assisted a  photo-expedition tracking 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), Eko Obshtnost Foundation ( Bulgaria), SEEYN Network (BiH).

    Stara Zagora Heritage Workcamp 2007-2008 (Bulgaria) - both work camp projects, organised consequently in 2007 and 2008, assisted rescue excavations of AVGUSTA TRAIANA-BEROIA-BORUI archaeological reserve under the contemporary town of Stara Zagora and cultural heritage sites' maintenance in  the town. Two cleaning campaigns of the Town's Roman forum attracted local journalists and as a consequence media raised the issue of neglected cultural sites in Stara Zagora. Partners: Regional History Museum - Stara Zagora, Open Society Club - Stara Zagora (Bulgaria), SEEYN Network (BiH).

     

    Fresco-Hunting” Photo Expedition to Medieval Churches of West Bulgaria 2007-2009 – (field school project). For the last three years “Fresco-hunting” photo expedition has upgraded existing iconographic schemes, architecture plans and sections and completed photographic database of following churches and chapels (14-17 century AD) in Nishava region ( West Bulgaria): St.Nicolas in Kalotina, St. Peter in Berende, St.Petka in Balsha, cave chapel of St.Petka in Tran, monastery churches in Malo Malovo and Razboishte. Medieval graffiti on the narthex' walls of St.Nicolas in Kalotina were documented in 2008 and opened a side-study topic.

     

    A Byzantine cold case file - Early Christian monastery excavations in Varna 2009 (Bulgaria) - (field school project). The excavations of the early Christian church (sixth century) on Djanavara hill in Varna started revealing 100 y/o mystery around that unique monument. Partner: Regional History Museum –  Varna (Bulgaria).

     

     

    Avgusta Traiana-Beroia-Borui 2007-2009 ( Bulgaria) - (field school  project). Rescue excavations in the archaeological reserve under the contemporary town of Stara Zagora found a Roman aqueduct, part of the ditch surrounding the Roman city, public and private buildings and numerous architectural fragments and artifacts of Roman and Late Roman urban culture (2-6 century AD). Partner: Regional History Museum – Stara Zagora (Bulgaria).

     

     

    Mezek Heritage Workcamp 2009 ( Bulgaria) - the workcamp project supported maintenance of cultural heritage sites (Thracian tomb and Medieval fortress) in the village of Mezek. As a part of the workcamp program, participants visited various cultural sites in the region and assessed their tourist potential. Partner: Municipality of Svilengrad (Bulgaria).

     

     

    Workshop for restoration and documentation of Ancient (Greek and Roman) pottery 2009 ( Bulgaria) - (field school project). The workshop guided the participants through the history of ancient Greek and Roman pottery, its production and consequent stages of archaeological conservation, documentation, study, and restoration. Partners: Regional History Museum – Stara Zagora (Bulgaria) and Apollonia Pontica Project (Bulgaria).

     

     

    Heraclea Lyncestis 2008 - 2009 and Bitola Heritage Workcamp 2008 (Macedonia) - (field school project and workcamp). Both projects assisted excavations of the ancient city of HERACLEA LYNCESTIS next to the contemporary town of Bitola. Partners: N.I. Institute and Museum - Bitola and Youth Cultural Center-Bitola ( Macedonia).