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

Venue: 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): Roman, Late 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 to check 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.

Description: In 2013 the WORKSHOP FOR CONSERVATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF ROMAN MOSAICS will be hosted for a second time by the National Institution Stobi, Macedonia at the Roman city of Stobi (nowadays an archaeological park).

Approximately 1560 square meters of the excavated territory of the ancient city of Stobi are covered with entirely or partly preserved mosaics, dated mainly between the second and sixth century AD. Most of them were discovered in the public or residential  Roman and Late Roman buildings at the site: the Episcopal Basilica, the Extramural Basilica, the Theodosian Palace, the Synagogue II, the "Casino", the House of Peristeria and the House of Polycharmos.
Variations of geometric, floral and animal motifs are represented in the most popular ancient mosaic techniques: opus tesselatum, opus sectile as well as opus barbaricum and opus vermiculatum.
The first preventive conservation of part of the mosaics in Stobi was already started  in the 1930s and continued sporadically in the following decades. Nowadays, due to exposure of unfavorable climate conditions and lack of long term maintenance in the past decades, the condition of many of the mosaics requires urgent conservation and preservation.
In 2009, NI Stobi started a long term project for the complete conservation and presentation of the mosaics at Stobi. With the implementation of each workshop for Conservation and Documentation of Roman Mosaics, Balkan Heritage aims to facilitate the complete conservation of at least one of the endangered mosaics in Stobi and to contribute to this ongoing project.
The project was first initiated in 2012 and focused on the conservation of one of the floor mosaics in the Theodossian Palace. Thanks to the hardworking conservation team of NI Stobi and project participants as well as the Balkan Heritage funding, the task was successfully completed. For the year 2013, the project aims to continue with the conservation of one of the mosaics in the Episcopal Basilica, which is considered to be the oldest and most important Early Christian monument in the Republic of Macedonia.

The Episcopal Basilica has several construction phases dated between the 4th century AD and the end of the 6th century AD (see the plan). The two major construction phases of the Episcopal Basilica are clearly reflected in the architecture, wall paintings and the mosaic floor decoration.
The floor in the first phase of the nave was covered by a colorful mosaic with dominant geometric and floral motifs in opus tessalatum. In this earliest phase of the mosaic decoration, Christian symbolism is recognized in two central fields on the west end of the nave. The initials of Jesus Christ (in Greek letters) are in one of the framed areas while the other is a medallion containing a Christological message to all believers who visit the church. Later (around 360 - 370 AD), the first church was reconstructed and extended to the east by the holiest bishop Eusthatius, who is mentioned as the commissioner of the reconstruction in the mosaic in front of the new altar over a splendid kantharos – symbolizing the Source of Life.  
In the second half of the 5th century above the Old Episcopal basilica, the new three - aisled basilica of Bishop Philip was built. The floors in the nave, the south aisle and the narthex were covered with mosaics, as well as the walls, judging by the many  glass tesserae uncovered.
Especially impressive is the mosaic covering the floor of the second construction phase (the end of 5th –beginning of the 6th century AD) of the baptistery, which illustrates the 41st psalm of David with two alternated presentations of peacocks and deer around a kantharos.  

During the workshop participants will be guided through the consequent stages of  the conservation, restoration and  documentation, as well as the history and technology, of Roman and Late Roman mosaics. They will work with either authentic Late Roman mosaic fragments or on an original Late Roman mosaic floor in situ located/found in the ancient city of Stobi !
The project includes three modules: practical work in documentation and conservation of Roman mosaics; lectures and trainings  as well as excursions to the town Bitola, the archaeological site of Heraclea Lyncestis, Ohrid and Ohrid lake (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Refer to the Course description and the Workshop agenda Refer to the Course description and the Workshop agenda!

By the end of the workshop the participants will:

...

COURSE DESCRIPTION

BHFS Lecturers and Trainers:

• Dragan Vergoski (Senior Conservator, National Conservation Centre of Macedonia) 
• Giulliano Lauchoski Vergoski (Conservator, National Conservation Centre of Macedonia)
• Dimitar Nikolovski (Archaeologist, NI Stobi)
• Mishko Tutkovski (Conservator, NI Stobi)

Lectures and Workshops:

APPLY ONLINE FOR ADMISSION TO THE WORKSHOP FOR CONSERVATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF ROMAN MOSAICS