Balkan Heritage projects 2010:
MEZEK Heritage WORKCAMP
Project type: volunteer camp
THE PROJECT TYPE IS A VOLUNTEER WORKCAMP NOT A FIELD SCHOOL SESSION! THE WORKCAMP ACCEPTS ALSO TEENAGERS OLDER THAN 16!
Site/s: Thracian tombs (fifth-fourth century BC) and Neutezikon fortress (twelfth-fourteenth century AD) located near present-day village of Mezek (on Bulgarian-Greek border, Southeastern Bulgaria).
Period(s) of occupation: Classical Thracian (fifth-fourth century BC), Medieval (twelfth-fourteenth century AD)
Travel/access to site: Mezek, Bulgaria is 12 km away from the border town of Svilengrad - from there all participants will be given a lift to Mezek in the evening of June the 3rd, 2010 (meeting hour will be appointed after all registered participants submit their itineraries). Svilengrad may be easily reached by both bus and train from following cities with air terminals: Sofia, Bulgaria (280 km), Plovdiv, Bulgaria (120 km), Istanbul, Turkey (250 km) and Alexandroupoli, Greece (180 km). The nearest border points are Kapitan Andreevo – Kapi kule (Bulgaria-Turkey) and Kapitan Petko Voyvoda-Ormenion (Bulgaria-Greece). A pick-up transfer to Mezek may be arranged from Sofia airport upon request (Specify this in your application form!). Individual or group transfers’ price may vary depending on number of participants from 25 to 55 EUR. Ask for details!

Description: The municipality of Svilengrad, Bulgaria has recently started a program for development of cultural tourism and promotion of local cultural heritage involving both professionals and volunteers. In 2009 Balkan Heritage Field School was invited to support that initiative and as a result it organized an international heritage work camp in the area (Look at the results!). BH team selected the village of Mezek as a starting point for cooperation with that municipality, based on high concentration of archaeological sites, nice landscape and available opportunities for full-board accommodation and free time of participants. The 2010 work camp's objectives are: 1.) to support Balkan Heritage surveys in the area, aiming to back-up one or two excavation projects in the area in 2011 through field - and geomagnetic surveys of sites in the area; and 2) to support the municipality’s program in maintenance of both archaeological sites: Neutezikon fortress and Thracian tombs in Mezek, and their visitors’ infrastructure through painting, varnishing, putting signs, removing grass and plants, cleaning and editing English texts, brainstorming in the area of heritage management.

Activities will take place in the area of Mezek. The work is from 7:30 am to 1:00 pm every day but weekends with 30 min break. Eight workshops and lectures in the area of archaeological field methods, geomagnetic surveys in Archaeology as well as Thracian, Roman and Medieval (Bulgarian and Byzantine) archeology and history will be organized in the afternoons. Excursions to the ancient Bulgarian town of Plovdiv, Mezek wine cellar and Roman villa Armira will be organized for all workcamp participants. Participants will receive Balkan Heritage Field School letter of attendance, specifying the type and duration of volunteer activities.

By the end of the workcamp participants will learn how to:

  • work with geo radar;
  • plan and carry out geomagnetic survey;
  • analyse the results from a geomagnetic survey;
  • plan and perform field surveys;
  • work with maps and GPS;
  • varnish and paint ;);
Archaeological and historical context: The fortress of Mezek that stands on the beautiful northeastern slopes of Rhodopi Mountain was called in the Middle age Neutezikon. Now it is the best-preserved medieval fortress in the area. It was built in eleventh or twelfth century by Byzantines, but latest in 1230 it was occupied by Bulgarians. It had resisted to all the enemies before Ottoman Turks conquered it in the late fourteenth century. Although in that time the fortress was abandoned, its impressive walls and towers had remained almost intact until 1900, when local Ottoman garrison used the fortress’ stones for construction of new barracks in Svilengrad.
Two monumental Thracian tombs (built by large stone-blocks) and two unearthed burial mounds are situated nearby. They were built in the fifth-fourth century BC. One of them is among the largest Thracian burial mounds and the tomb inside has the longest corridor (30 m.) found in any Thracian tomb. Probably all of them belonged to a Thracian noble family residing in Mezek, not far from the Thracian capital USCUDAMA (present-day Edirne, Turkey).
 
Organizer: Balkan Heritage Field School
Workcamp leaders: Ivan Vasilev and Nayden Prahov ( Bulgaria) are archaeologists and professional work camp leaders, qualified for work with teenagers.
Workcamp dates: 3-16 June 2010
Application Deadline: 1 May 2010
Minimum age: 16
Workcamp places available: 8-10
Language: English
Notes: hard physical work under hot South European sun (average temperatures 25–35°C or higher). The project is not recommended for those with solar allergies and difficult flexibility or any other having mental or serious physical disabilities!
Experience required: No

Room and Board arrangements: In rooms with two, three and four beds in a nice forest chalet near the fortress of Neutezikon. The chalet has a washing machine available for self-service and TV (in the dining hall). Access to internet is available in Svilengrad internet cafes and hotels. Three meals per day will be served in the chalet dining hall or outdoors. Requests for vegetarian food are accepted! Participants are not expected to bring any additional equipment or sleeping bags, but towels.

Free time: Guided visits to the ancient Bulgarian town of Plovdiv, Mezek wine cellar and Roman villa Armira are organized for all work camp participants. The chalet is not far from sports complex with an open-air swimming pool and tennis court. The village of Mezek is in the beginning of Trans-Rhodopi biking track. The neighboring town of Svilengrad offers various opportunities for entertainment as well.

Participation fee: 699 EUR * (app. 1000 USD but check current exchange rates!) – including full-board accommodation (including meals), excursions/sightseeing tours/entrance fees, participation in workshops, medical insurance and administrative costs. Travel to and from Svilengrad and all additional expenses are covered by volunteers. 10% discount from the admission fee available in case of:
1. Early registration (before 1 January 2010)
2. Participation in more than one BH project or project session in 2010. (10% discount is valid for the second, third etc... project/session to be attended)
3. Participation in any BH project/s in the past.

APPLY ONLINE FOR PARTICIPATION IN MEZEK VOLUNTEER WORKCAMP