Description: The WORKSHOP FOR RESTORATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF ANCIENT ROMAN POTTERY, 2010 is one of two follow-up projects of the Workshop for restoration and documentation of Ancient (Greek and Roman) pottery, 2009 by Balkan Heritage. It will be hosted by National Institute of Stobi, Macedonia at Stobi Archaeological Park. It will guide the participants through the history of Roman and Late Roman pottery, its production and consequent stages of archaeological conservation, documentation, study, and restoration. Both the theoretical and practical courses will be based on Roman pottery found in the ancient city of Stobi. The project includes three modules: practical work in documentation and restoration of Roman pottery; educational course (lectures, trainings, study - and behind-the-scenes visits) and excursions to the St.Archangel Michael Monastery (10th century), the old towns of Prilep and Bitola, the archaeological site of Heraclea Lyncestis, Ohrid and Ohrid lake (UNESCO World Heritage Site) as well as to a contemporary pottery workshop. Refer to the Course description and Workshop agenda! By the end of the workshop the participants will:

Archaeological and historical context: The historical references and archaeological excavations show a picture of the continuity of occupation in Stobi. The remains of the Archaic (sixth century BC) and Classical period (fifth-fourth century BC), discovered by the excavations, point to the earliest periods of Stobi's history. However, the small quantity of finds from that time and the lack of historical records do not yet indicate  much about the earliest settlement. The first historiography records that mention Stobi are provided by the Roman historian Titus Livy, and concern the period of the second century BC, when (in 197 BC) the Macedonian king Philip V defeated the Dardanians in the vicinity of Stobi. According to Livy, during the Roman conquests in Macedonia, Stobi became an important center for salt trading. In AD 69 Empreror Vespasian granted Stobi the rank of municipium and the right to mint its own coins. Salt trading and the  strategic position between two rivers, on the cross-road of the ancient road along the Vardar valley and branches of Via Diagonalis and Via Egnatia, brought long-term prosperity from first to third centuries AD. Several buildings are dated to this period: the Theater, the first City Wall, Porta Heraclea, part of the Forum Romanorum, Casa Romana, the Synagogue and the water supply system. In 267/69 the city suffered from raids by Goths and Herules. After their devastating attacks, Stobi was rebuilt, but following a different urban model. Most of the building ruins visible today are dated to this period. In the fourth century AD Stobi became an important Christian center and seat of mighty bishops. In the fifth and sixth century, Stobi was the capital city of the Roman province Macedonia Secunda, but suffered from the raids of Huns, Ostrogoths, Avars and Slavs. An earthquake in 518 AD marked the end of urban living in Stobi. In later centuries there are some records for a small Slav community that settled here. The last historical reference regarding Stobi is about the victory of the Byzantine troops over the military crew of Stobi in the XI century AD.

-Review of basic methods for uncovering, “first aid”, consolidation in situ, cleaning, sorting out and storing of ceramic artifacts;

-Conservation and restoration of ancient pottery;

-History of Stobi and Macedonia in the Roman period (second century BC - sixth century AD);

-Technology, Typology and Chronology of the Roman pottery with examples from Stobi;

-Archaeological documentation (drawing, graphic reconstruction, photographing, description, etc.) of Roman pottery.

Workshops

-Basic methods for uncovering, “first aid”, consolidation in situ, cleaning, sorting out and storing of ceramic artefacts – training/workshop

-Conservation and restoration of Roman pottery (with fragmented pottery from Stobi) – 8 workshops;

-Archaeological documentation (drawing, graphic reconstruction,  image processing using Corel Draw, photographing, description etc.) of Roman pottery – 8 workshops.

APPLY ONLINE FOR ADMISSION TO THE WORKSHOP FOR RESTORATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF ROMAN POTTERY!