Project type: volunteer
camp
THE PROJECT TYPE IS A VOLUNTEER WORKCAMP
NOT A FIELD SCHOOL SESSION!
Site/s: AVGUSTA TRAINA-BEROE-BORUI
(three consequent town names used between A.D. 107 and the 1360s) is
located under present-day Stara Zagora town center.
Period(s) of occupation: Roman (A.D. 107-370s), Late
Antique (A.D. 370s – 590s), Medieval (A.D. 590s– 1360s)
Travel/access to site: Stara
Zagora, Bulgaria is a major transport junction. It may be reached
by both bus and train from major Bulgarian cities with air terminals
and Bulgarian border points. The nearest air terminals
are Sofia (200 km), Plovdiv (90 km) and Burgas (200 km). If participants
arrive by plane on these airports, a transfer to Stara Zagora 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 55 EUR. Ask for details!
Description: Due to the emerging modern town centre
and related construction projects, Stara Zagora Regional History Museum
has implemented an intensive programme of rescue excavations uncovering
the Roman, Late Antique and Medieval phases of town history. The 2008
season of rescue excavations will take place in six (from 150 m2 up
to 550 m2) sectors (but where mainly Roman and Late Antique layers are
to be studied). In addition, one or two sites within the archaeological
reserve – namely a Roman villa and an Early Christian church –
require cleaning and conservation. Both activities require local and
international volunteers to help support the Museum with the rescue
excavations (digging, brushing, measuring, washing and cataloguing
artifacts, etc) and the maintenance of archaeological
sites (painting, removing grass and plants, cutting trees, cleaning
and conservation). Volunteers will be involved in the development
of advocacy campaign KEEP THE HERITAGE ALIVE - this is a local
campaign aiming to raise public awareness towards cultural heritage
protection and involvement of more local volunteers in cultural heritage
protection activities. Activities will take place in the town on rotational
basis. The work is from 7:30 am to 1:00 pm every day but weekends with
30 min break. All volunteers interested in Archeology and Cultural
heritage preservation are welcome. Six workshops and lectures in the
area of Roman archeology and history as well as cultural heritage management
will be provided. Excursions to the Rose valley, Thracian tombs around
Kazanlak (5th-3rd centuries B.C.), Stara Zagora thermal baths and Plovdiv
will be organized for all Workcamp participants. Participants will receive
a Balkan Heritage Field School participation certificate.
Archaeological and historical context: Archaeological
discoveries in Stara Zagora provide evidence for the existence of human
habitation dating back to the Early Balkan Neolithic (8000 BP). There
are many successive periods of occupation beneath the modern town. The
Roman city was named Augusta Traiana after the Emperor Trajan, who founded
it soon after the end of AD 107. During the Dacian wars, perhaps in
the reign of the Emperors Antoninus Pius AD 138–161) and Marcus
Aurelius (AD 161–180) solid marble architecture was erected, as
in every prominent city of the Roman Empire. Augusta Traiana was the
second largest city in the province of Thracia. In the Late Antique
period, Augusta Traiana already had a new name – Beroe. During
numerous attacks by Goths, Huns, Avars and Slavs during the Great Migration
of people (AD 370s–680s), the curtain wall and many of the public
and private buildings within the city were damaged or destroyed. In
the Medieval period, Beroe grew as an important political, military
and administrative centre, which changed frequently between the Byzantine
and Bulgarian Empires. Bulgarians first conquered it in AD 708 calling
it Borui (Boruigrad). The town kept this name until the Ottoman conquest
in the 1360s. However, most archaeological deposits of the Medieval
period (7th – 18th centuries) were damaged or destroyed during
town reconstruction following the Russian-Turkish Liberation War (1877–78).
Organizer: BH fieldschool
Workcamp leader: Nayden Prahov, who has been volunteering
in BH workcamps since 2003.
Workcamp dates: 16-30 July 2008
Application Deadline: 15 June 2008
Minimum age: 16
Number of workcamp places available: 8-20
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 or other special illnesses.
Work will be assisted by local workers.
Experience required: No
Room and Board arrangements: In 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-bedded
rooms with WC & Showers& TV & air condition (single rooms
available upon request for an additional fee of 100 EUR) in a comfortable
town
hotel . Three meals per day are being served in the hotel
restaurant. Requests for vegetarian food are also accepted. Participants
are not expected to bring any additional equipment.
Free time: Guided visits around the town of Stara Zagora
and to the Valley of Thracian kings as well as Plovdiv are organized
for all workcamp participants. The town of Stara Zagora offers a lot
of opportunities for sport and entertainment. http://tour.starazagora.net/.
There is also an opportunity to join an extra
excursion before or after the workcamp.
Participation fee: 399
EUR * (app. 520 USD
but check current exchange rates! ) –
including full-board accommodation, excursions/sightseeing tours/entrance
fees, participation in workshops, medical insurance and administrative
costs. Travel to and from the workcamp and all additional expenses are
covered by volunteers. 10% discount of the participation fee
available in case of early registration (before 10 January 2008).
15% discount from the participation fee available in case of
participation in more than 1 BH project.
* This amount is valid for all participants,
who apply directly before BH fieldschool. Applicants using SEEYN or
Alliance networks’ member as a sending organization pay different
participation fees (Please refer to your sending organization!)
APPLY ONLINE FOR PARTICIPATION IN STARA ZAGORA
HERITAGE VOLUNTEER WORKCAMP
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