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Balkan Heritage projects 2013:
stobi (the capital city of macedonia secunda) EXCAVATION PROJECT | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Project type: field school (excavations) Site/s: Archaeological site of Stobi, Macedonia - STOBI WAS INCLUDED IN THE 2012 WORLD MONUMENTS WATCH AMONG THE MONUMENTS WITH UNIVERSAL SIGNIFICANCE - read more here! Period(s) of occupation: Late Hellenistic, Roman, Early Byzantine (Second century BC - Sixth century AD) The nearest air terminals: Skopje, Macedonia (80 km) and Thessaloniki, Greece (160 km) - don't forget checking the low cost flight options! If participants arrive by plane to these airports, a transfer to Stobi may be arranged by request. Individual or group transfers’ price may vary depending on both distance and number of passengers from 30 to 110 EUR.
Travel/access to the site: Stobi is located in the center of the Republic of Macedonia. It can be easily accessed by: 1. travelling by bus or car on the highway E-75 (from Athens, Greece to Belgrade, Serbia and Central Europe across Macedonia) - the highway exit STOBI is just in front of the site's entrance; 2. catching a bus/train from Skopje (Macedonia), Thessaloniki (Greece)- the stop is at Gradsko (5 km. away from Stobi), from there participants/visitors could get a taxi to Stobi or request a free pick-up available from 8 am to 8 pm (please ask for details);
3. from neighbouring towns of Negotino (15 km) and Kavadartsi (20 km) participants/visitors could get on a bus to Gradsko or on a taxi directly to Stobi.
Description: For more than a century the ancient city of Stobi has been attracting scientists from all over the World to reveal its secrets. The first reported excavations started during World War I by German officers and the archaeologist F. Krischen. Periods of excavations:
To date only 15% of the territory of Stobi, that is surrounded by the city wall has been excavated. In 2010 the field school participants worked at: the Western Necropolis of Stobi (in use from the first century BC to the fifth century AD) and an ancient temple (templum in antis type) dated to the second and the third century AD.
The excavations in 2011 and 2012 were focused on the Northern Residential Area of Ancient Stobi, inhabited from the Late Hellenistic till the Late Roman period. Further excavations at the same area are planned for next season in conjunction with the efforts of the National Institute (NI) Stobi in order to preserve and display this part of the site. The layers to be studied in 2013 mainly include the Roman and Late Roman periods of the existing ancient neighborhood. They offer an amazing opportunity for all field school participants to study textbook clear stratigraphy, to practice all basic excavation techniques in the field and to look through centuries of the everyday life of the Roman citizens of Stobi Two field school sessions of the project are available in 2013, each including the following three modules: fieldwork including maintaining a field journal on a daily basis, filling out locus sheets and labels, drawing an elevation plan/a ground plan/a cross-section, 3D positioning of finds, taking coordinates with a level device, and taking photographs at the site; lectures, workshops and field trainings in Classic and Field Archaeology as well as Finds' processing and Documentation; and excursions to the old towns of Prilep and Bitola, the archaeological site of Heraclea Lyncestis as well as to Ohrid and Ohrid lake (UNESCO World Heritage Site) (Refer to the Course description and Field School agenda below!). Participants, who join all the two project sessions are going to have different schedule during the second session, including:
All participants will receive:
New Bulgarian University grants 6 credits to students for participation in one project session and 9 credits for participation in two sessions. Transcripts are available upon request for an additional tuition fee! For details please read the BHFS Regulations for obtaining ToR!
Archaeological and historical context: The historical references and archaeological excavations present 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. Affiliation: Balkan Heritage Field School/Foundation, National Institution Stobi (Macedonia) and the New Bulgarian University (Bulgaria)
Dig Director: Silvana Blazhevska (Director of NI Stobi, MA in Archaeology)
Project Coordinator: Angela Pencheva (archaeologist, Balkan Heritage; PhD student at Humboldt University-Berlin, Germany)
Season dates: 3 August - 1 September, 2013
Sessions' dates:
Field school session 1: 3 - 17 August, 2013 Field school session 2: 18 August - 1 September, 2013 Application Deadlines: Field school session 1: 1 July 2013 Field school session 2: 15 July 2013
Minimum length of stay for volunteers: 1 session (two weeks) Minimum age: 18 (16, if the participant is accompanied by an adult family member) Number of field school places available: Maximum 20
Language: English
Special requirements: The project is not recommended for individuals with
solar allergies or other special illnesses that might be exacerbated during
the intensive outdoor activities. The average summer temperatures in the
area are 25-38 C or higher.
All participants should bring clothes and cosmetics suitable for hot and sunny weather, although the weather in September might be really chilly. All participants are expected to have some (at least theoretical) background in archaeological field techniques and methods. Participants will use the tools and equipment available at the site and are not expected to bring any additional equipment.
Experience required: No
..... COURSE DESCRIPTION Instructors/Trainers: Silvana Blazhevska (Director of NI Stobi, MA in Archaeology), Angela Pencheva (Program Director of Balkan Heritage, PhD student at Humboldt University-Berlin, Germany), Goce Pavlovski, Jovan Radnyanski, Hristiyan Talevski, Zlatko Kovantsaliev (archaeologists, NI Stobi).
Lectures, workshops and field trainings: Designing of archaeological research
Excavation
Field and graphic documentation
Artifacts
Workshops:
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Room and Board arrangements: Participants will be accommodated in the archaeological base at the site, in rooms with two to three beds in cabins (recently furnished, air-conditioned, Wi Fi). Every cabin has 4 bedrooms + living room, 2 bathrooms with shower and WC. There is also a washing machine available. Participants are not expected to bring bedclothes or towels. Three meals per day are covered by the admission fee. Requests for vegetarian food are accepted!
Free time: Films and visits to the neighbouring towns/villages are the options for the free time in the evenings. Guided visits to the towns of Bitola, Prilep and Ohrid and Ohrid lake (UNESCO World Heritage site) are organized for all field school participants during the session weekend. Participants can join an optional excursion to Pella and Vergina, Greece on 17 and 18 August 2013. Look-up at the suggested travel ideas before/after the field school (not included in the project package and not covered by the admission fee)!
The Admission fee includes educational and fieldwork activities, tools, materials, Project Handbook, issue of Certificate of Attendance, full-board accommodation (including three meals per day), excursions/sightseeing tours/entrance fees and administrative costs.
EARLY REGISTRATION BY APRIL 1st, 2013: The Early bird admission fee for 1 project session is 1169 EUR (app.1459 USD Check current exchange rates!). The Early bird admission fee for 2 project sessions is 2338 EUR (app. 2929 USD Check current exchange rates!) REGISTRATION AFTER APRIL 1st, 2013 The regular admission fee for 1 project session is 1299 EUR (app.1629 USD. Check current exchange rates!) The regular admission fee for 2 project sessions is 2468 EUR / app. 3099 USD (including 5% discount for participation in 2 project sessions!). Check current exchange rates!) Admission fee transfer options (for further information contact Admissions Office at bhfs.admissions@gmail.com):
DISCOUNTS OFF THE REGULAR ADMISSION FEE:
NOTE, 5% OF EVERY ADMISSION FEE FOR THIS PROJECT DIRECTLY SUPPORTS THE BALKAN HERITAGE PROTECTION FUND’S ACTIVITIES!
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