Project type: field school (excavations)
THE PROJECT IS SUITABLE FOR BEGINNERS AND VOLUNTEERS!
Site/s: HERACLEA LYNCESTIS (founded in the fourth century BC by Philip of Macedon and conquered by the Romans two centuries later) was one of the key urban centers on Via Egnatia road that connected Rome and Asia Minor in Antiquity.
Period(s) of occupation: Hellenistic, Roman, Late Antique (fourth century BC – sixth century AD)
Travel/access to the site: Bitola is in the Southwestern part of Republic of Macedonia, 15 km from the border with Greece. It may be reached by both bus and train from major Macedonian cities and border points. The nearest air terminals are Skopje (160 km), Ohrid (75 km) and Thessalonica (Greece) (180 km). If participants arrive by plane on these airports, a transfer to Bitola may be arranged by request (Specify this in your application form!). Individual or group transfers’ price may vary depending on both distance and number of participants from 25 to 100 EUR. Ask for details!

Description: At the western side of Bitola, Macedonia lie the ruins of an ancient city. In last 50 years the Institute-Museum-Gallery of Bitola ( Macedonia) has excavated this site called Heraclea Lyncestis uncovering Hellenistic, Roman, and Late Antique pages of town history. In 1950s state authorities declared archaeological heritage there for an archaeological reserve. During last half century were uncovered and restored significant monuments of Antiquity (Forum, Amphitheater, Early Christian basilicas and residential buildings (many of them decorated with polychrome mosaics). Season 2009 envisions excavations in three sectors: The area behind the hill (Hellenistic), Theater forum (Roman), and a basilica (Late Antique). Two field school sessions are available in 2009, each including three modules: fieldwork; educational course (lectures, workshops and field trainings), and excursions to the UNESCO heritage town and lake of Ohrid as well as Pelister national park (refer to the Course description and Field school agenda!). Field school participants will work on random excavation sector with possibility to shift to another sector. All participants are to receive BH field school certificate specifying fieldwork hours, educational modules and sights visited. The BH certificate along with the BH evaluation letter and participant's field report are considered as credit worthy by most universities and colleges worldwide.

Archaeological and historical context: Heraclea Lyncestis is situated on a low hill at the crossroad of Via Egnatia (called so after 148 BC) and the road connecting Pelagonia with the Vardar valley. Such a location made Heraclea strategically important, and it became the principal town and administrative center of the district of Lyncestis (a fertile plain surrounded by wooded mountains). Heraclea is mentioned in the chronicles describing the campaigns of Julius Caesar during the civil wars as a supply depot, and inscriptions of veterans who settled here date as early as the turn of the new era. Numerous private and official inscriptions as well as discovered monuments and artifacts attest town’s importance during the Early Roman Empire. Many names of bishops from Heraclea came from the fourth, fifth, and sixth- century sources. Twice the Ostrogoths led by their king Theodorich in AD 472 and again in 479 sacked it but it was restored in the late fifth and the early sixth century. Finally the Slavs in the late sixth century conquered Pelagonia and the Heraclea’s urban history came to the end.

Excavations have revealed several sections of the fortification wall on the acropolis and two basilicas in the main part of the town. Both basilicas have well-preserved mosaics from fifth and sixth century AD, depicting geometric and figured patterns. The most interesting of the mosaics, remarkable for its size and decoration structure was found in the narthex of the large basilica – the rectangle framework (110 sq.m) contains 36 octagonal panels with images of fishes, water birds and mythological figures; the panels are linked by intricate meanders. Excavations near both basilicas have uncovered fourth and fifth century AD streets and buildings. Mosaics cover the floors of several private and public buildings near the basilicas.

A large part of the ancient theater, built on the slopes of the acropolis in the second century AD, has been excavated and the auditorium has been recently restored.