Project type: field school (excavations)
THE PROJECT IS SUITABLE FOR BEGINNERS!

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/Early Byzantine (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 Thessaloniki (Greece) (180 km). If participants arrive by plane on these airports, a transfer to Bitola may be arranged by request (Please, specify this in your application form!). Individual or group transfers’ price may vary depending on both distance and number of participants from 30 to 100 EUR.

Description: According to the Athenian orator and lawyer Demosthenes, Heraclea was founded by Philip II (the father of Alexander the Great), as a strategic centre of the north-western Macedonian province of Lyncestis. Heraclea was named in honour of Heracles (Hercules), the claimed progenitor of the ruling Macedonian dynasty which Philip belonged to. The epithet “Lyncestis” means “the Land of the Lynx” in Greek. Nowadays the ruins of the ancient city lie at the western side of modern town of Bitola. For last 50 years the National Institute, Museum and Gallery of Bitola ( Macedonia) has been excavating that site 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, Theater, Early Christian basilicas and residential buildings (many of them decorated with polychrome mosaics).

Season 2011 envisions excavations in two sectors: the  acropolis or the area across the river (presumably Hellenistic and Early Roman) and the area around the Theater (Roman and Late Roman). Two field school sessions are available in 2011, each includes following three modules: fieldwork; educational course (lectures, workshops and field trainings), and excursions to the UNESCO heritage town and lake of Ohrid as well as the Roman city of Stobi (refer to the Course description and Field School agenda below!). Field school participants will work on random excavation sector with possibility to shift to another sector. Participants, who join the both project sessions will  have different schedule during the second session - the activities  in the afternoons will include: Workshop in mosaic-making, field surveys, finds' processing and documentation; excursions to Pelister National Park and local monasteries will replace the standard excursions in the second session. All participants will receive a Balkan Heritage Field School Certificate specifying the fieldwork hours, educational modules, and sites visited. 

New Bulgarian University grants to students 6 credits for participation in one project session and 9 credits for participation in two sessions. Transcripts are available upon request for an additional tuition fee!  Click for details!

Archaeological and historical context: Heraclea Lyncestis (founded in 4 century BC) 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 Roman period. Many names of bishops from Heraclea came from the fourth, fifth, and sixth- century sources. The Ostrogoths, led by their king Theodorich, sacked the town in AD 472 and again in AD 479, but it was restored in the late 5th and early 6th century. In the late 6th century the Slavs conquered Pelagonia and 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.

1. Early registration (before 1 January 2011);
2. Participation in more than 1 BH project or project session in 2011. (10% discount is valid for the second, third etc... project/session to be attended);
3. Participation in any BH project/s in the past;
4. Membership in Archaeological Institute of America.

NOTE, 5% OF EVERY ADMISSION FEE FOR THIS PROJECT DIRECTLY SUPPORTS THE  BALKAN HERITAGE PROTECTION FUND’S ACTIVITIES!