Balkan Heritage Field School Team
Our Office
Ivan Vasilev
Founder, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of Balkan Heritage Foundation, BHFS Instructor
Archaeologist; Adjunct Professor, New Bulgarian University, Bulgaria; Chair of the the Bi-National Commission for the Preservation of Bulgaria’s Cultural Heritage.
Research interests: Cultural Heritage Management; Medieval Balkan Archaeology & History; Architecture & Arts of Eastern Christianity
Dr. Angela Pencheva
Founder, BHFS Program Director, Member of the Board of Directors of Balkan Heritage Foundation, BHFS Instructor
Ph.D. in Classical Archaeology, Humboldt University, Germany. Adjunct Professor, CPCE, New Bulgarian University, Bulgaria. ICCM Board Member.
Research interests: Late Classical & Hellenistic Archaeology & History of the Balkans; Cultural Heritage Management; Ancient Mosaic Conservation
Dr. Matthew Schueller
Representative of BHFS in USA & Canada, BHFS Instructor
Ph.D. in Classical Archaeology at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.
Research interests: Roman Macedonian & Thracian Archaeology; Roman Architecture & Cultural Dialogue
Dr. Vassil Tenekedjiev
Balkan Heritage Foundation Branch Manager - Varna, BHFS Instructor
Ph.D. in Archaeology, Sofia University, Bulgaria. Archaeologist & Assistant professor at the Department of Archaeology, Varna Regional Museum of History.
Research Interests: Late Antiquity & Early Christian Archaeology & History; Christian Art; Orthodox Iconography
Lyuba Manoilova
Office & Program Assistant
Ph.D. Candidate in Physical Anthropology at Institute of Experimental Morphology, Pathology and Anthropology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
Research interests: Classical archaeology, Late Antiquity, Osteoarchaeology, Paleopathology.
Chriselpida Kamma
Admissions & Administrative Officer
Ph.D. Candidate in History at Sofia University.
Research interests: Culturology, Medieval history and archaeology, Cultural heritage management and marketing
Eduard Baltov
Office & Project Assistant
Anton Chalakov
Project Assistant
Professional Photographer and Marketing Specialist.
Our Instructors, Dig Directors and Consultants
Adamantia Panagopolou
BHFS Instructor
Ph.D. Candidate in Physicochemical Analyses on Byzantine and Post-Medieval Pottery & Teaching Assistant in Leiden University, Netherlands. Teaching Assistant in Ionian University, Greece & Aegean University, Greece
Research interests: Physicochemical Analysis & Conservation of Historical & Archaeological Inorganic Materials; Field Conservation
Alessandro Lugari
BHFS Instructor
Alexander Manev
BHFS Instructor, Dig Director & Coordinator
Ph.D. Candidate in Archaeology, National Institute of Archaeology and Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
Research interests: Late Antiquity & Early Christian Archaeology & History; Ecclesiastic Architecture.
Dr. Alexey Gotsev
BHFS Dig Director & Instructor
Ph.D. in Archaeology. Associate Professor at the Department of Thracian Archaeology, National Institute of Archaeology and Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
Research interests: Archaeology of the Classical Antiquity and Ancient Thrace
Anna Eirikh-Rose
BHFS Coordinator, Dig Co-Director & Instructor
Permanent researcher at the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA)
Research Interests: Neolithic of the Near-East and Europe; Ancient pottery technology and use.
Bilyana Yankulovska-Peeva
BHFS instructor
MA in Conservation of Art & Archaeology in Skopje University, North Macedonia; Conservator, National Institute Stobi
Research interests: Conservation of Ancient Roman Pottery and Glass
Bogdan Athanassov
BHFS Consultant
Assistant Professor in Archaeology at the New Bulgarian University, Sofia. Director of the Archaeometry and Experimental Archaeology Lab
Research interests: Prehistory of Eastern Europe and Anatolia; Aegean Bronze and Iron Age Archaeology; Cultural Anthropology; Public Archaeology
Brent Whitford
BHFS Instructor
Ph.D. Candidate in Anthropology, State University of New York at Buffalo, United States of America and MSc in Anthropology, Trent University, Canada.
Research interests: European Neolithic and Chalcolithic Archaeology, Human-Environmental Interactions & Eco-Cultural Niche Modeling; Geomatics Applications (GIS and Remote Sensing)
Christos Karydis
BHFS Coordinator & Instructor
Ph.D. in Preventive Conservation, History and Scientific Analysis of Organic Materials, Assistant Professor at Ionian University, Greece
Research interests: Preventive Conservation; Conservation of Textiles, Icons and Easel Paintings
Dr. Daniela Cherneva
BHFS instructor
Ph.D. in Archaeological Conservation and Restoration, University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, Bulgaria.
Research interests: Conservation of Ancient Glass, Stone & Greek Pottery.
Dr. Darko Stojanovski
BHFS Co-Dig Director, Coordinator & Instructor
Ph.D. in Quaternary and Prehistory, University of Ferrara, Italy.
Research Interests: European Prehistory & Neolithisation; Balkan Neolithic; Population Dispersal in Pleistocene Europe; Neanderthal Mobility Patterns and Behaviour; Middle Palaeolithic Stone Tool Technology
Dr. Dragan Radovich
BHFS Coordinator & Consultant
MA in Art History & Archaeology, Skopje University, Republic of North Macedonia. Museum Curator in Museums and Galleries of Podgorica, Montenegro
Dimitar Nikolovski
BHFS Instructor
MA in Archaeology at Skopje University, North Macedonia; Archaeologist at the National Institution Stobi.
Research Interests: Roman and Late Antique Glass; Virtual Reconstruction of Cultural Heritage; Late Antique Urbanization
Dr. Evelina Todorova
BHFS Instructor
Ph.D. in Archaeology, Sofia University, Bulgaria. Assistant professor at the Department of Medieval Archaeology, National Institute of Archaeology and Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Research interests: Byzantine and Medieval Balkan Archaeology; Medieval Pottery; Medieval Jewelry; Burial Practices in Medieval Balkans
Dr. Emil Nankov
BHFS Instructor
National Archaeological Institute with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Research Interests: Research interests: Classical archaeology, Thracian archaeology
Galia Atanasova
BHFS Instructor
MA in Archaeology, Shumen University, Bulgaria. Museum Curator at Shumen Regional Museum of History..
Research Interests: Digitization of Cultural and Historical Heritage
Dr. George Bevan
BHFS Consultant & Instructor
Ph.D. in Classics, University of Toronto;Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and Planning at Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada; Cross-appointment to the Departments of Art History and Classics at Queen’s University.
Research interests: Late Antique History and Archaeology; Epigraphy; GIS; UAV Mapping; Photogrammetry.
Goce Pavlovski
BHFS Instructor
MA in Archaeology, Skopje University, North Macedonia; Archaeologist at the National Institution Stobi.
Research Interests: Pre-Roman & Roman Archaeology & Architecture of Macedonia; Roman Theatres.
Jovan Radnjanski
BHFS Instructor
MA in Archaeology, Skopje University, North Macedonia; Archaeologist at the National Institution Stobi.
Research Interests: Roman and Late Roman Pottery; Late Antiquity, Roman Archaeology & Architecture, Oriental and Egyptian cults & Roman Religion
Dr. Julien Vieugue
BHFS Coordinator, Dig Co-Director & Instructor
Permanent researcher at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). PhD in Archaeology, University of Paris 1 (France)
Research Interests: Neolithic of the Near-East and Europe; Food habits of Prehistoric Societies; Ancient pottery technology and use
Dr. Kamen Boyadzhiev
BHFS Coordinator, Dig Co-Director & Instructor
Ph.D. in Archaeology, Archaeologist and Head of the Exhibitions’ Department at the National Institute of Archaeology and Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
Research interests: Prehistory and Prehistoric Archaeology; Prehistoric Weapons and Tools; Warfare in Prehistory; Prehistoric Stone Artifacts.
Dr. Katharine Kolpan
BHFS Instructor
Assistant professor at the Department of Culture, Society and Justice at the University of Idaho, Ph.D. in Anthropology.
Research Interests: Bioarchaeology, forensic anthropology, osteology and osteometry, isotope analysis.
Dr. Kelly Reed
BHFS Consultant & Instructor
Ph.D. in Archaeology, Leicester University, United Kingdom, Programme Manager and Researcher at the Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford.
Research interests: Archaeobotany; Food Systems; Agricultural Development; Cultural Adaptations to Environmental Change and Global Sustainability.
Dr. Krastina Panayotova
BHFS Dig Director & Instructor
Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Classical Archeology, National Institute of Archeology and Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Ph.D. in Archeology, Sofia University, Bulgaria
Research interests: Ancient Greek Archaeology; Greek Colonies on the Black Sea Coast; Funerary Practices and Traditions of the Ancient Greeks Apoikaas
Kristen Jones
BHFS Instructor
Ph.D. Candidate in Geography, MA in Classics and Archaeology, Queen's University, Canada
Research Interests: Digital Recording and Analysis of Archaeological Assets; Surveying; Digital Photogrammetry; 3D Modelling; Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Dr. Lidia Domaradzka
BHFS Consultant & Instructor
Ph.D. in Classical Philology and Visiting professor, Sofia University, Bulgaria; President of the “Pistiros” Association. Epigraphist in Greek & Latin. Former Teacher at the National School for Ancient Languages and Cultures “Constantine-Cyril Philosopher”, Sofia, Bulgaria
Research Interests: Ancient Greek & Roman Coinage; Epigraphic Monuments
Maya Nikolova
BHFS Instructor
Conservator & Restorator at Archaeological Museum “Prof. M. Domaradski" in Septemvri, Bulgaria.
Research Interests: Ceramics, Vessel Making Techniques; Restoration of pottery & Glass
Dr. Margarit Damyanov
BHFS Instructor
Ph.D. in Archaeology & Assistant Professor at the Department of Thracian Archaeology, National Institute of Archaeology and Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences; Editor of the National Geographic Bulgaria Magazine.
Research interests: Ancient Greek Colonization along the Black Sea Coast; Ancient Greek Pottery; Thracian Archaeology.
Miglena Raykovska
BHFS Instructor
Ph.D. Graphic Reconstructions of the Immovable Archaeological Heritage, New Bulgarian University, Bulgaria. Member of EXARC и AHFAP. Managing partner GIGASCAN Bulgaria Ltd.
Research interests: Restoration and Conservation of Archaeological Monuments; Graphic Reconstructions and 3D Modeling for the Immovable Heritage; Computational Photography; Digital Photogrammetry.
Milosh Zivanovic
BHFS Instructor
MA in Archaeology, Beograd University, Serbia; Archaeologist at Center for Conservation and Archaeology in Cetinje, Montenegro
Research interests: Processing and Glass production; Ancient & Medieval Archaeology & History
Miroslav Marinov
BHFS instructor
Founder of Sofia Photography School; MA in Turkish and German Philology at Sofia University, Bulgaria; Freelance Photographer.
Mishko Tutkovski
BHFS Instructor
Ph.D. Candidate in Archaeology and Art History, Skopje University, North Macedonia. Mosaic Conservator, National Institution Stobi
Research interests: Late Antique History and Archaeology; Documentation, Conservation and Restoration of Ancient Mosaics and Wall-Paintings; Cultural Heritage Management
Dr. Nayden Prahov
Founder of the Balkan Heritage Foundation, BHFS Instructor and Underwater Archaeologist
Ph.D. in Archaeology, Sofia University, Bulgaria. Director of the Centre for Underwater Archaeology, Assistant Professor, National Archaeological Institute with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Adjunct Professor, CPCE, New Bulgarian University, Bulgaria.
Research interests: Underwater and Maritime Archaeology; Predictive Modeling and Spatial Analyses
Nikolas Sarris
BHFS Instructor
Ph.D. in Book Conservation at the University of the Arts, London, United Kingdom; Senior Book Conservator at the National Library of Greece.
Research interests: Historic Bookmaking; Archaeology of Bookbinding; Conservation of Books
Dr. Nadezhda Karastoyanova
BHFS Instructor
Ph.D. in Zooarchaeology in National Museum of Natural History, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Zooarcheologist in the National Museum of Natural History, Bulgaria.
Research Interests: Prehistoric Archaeology; Neolithic and Chalcolithic Periods in the Balkans; Domestication and Hunting
Dr. Orlene McIlfatrick
BHFS Instructor
Ph.D. in Prehistoric Archaeology, University of Edinburgh, Scotland. Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at The British Institute at Ankara and Ceramic Analyst & Small Finds Illustrator at Archaeo-Ceramic Services
Research Interests: Prehistory of Europe and Anatolia; Chalcolithic Ceramics; Anthropomorphic Figurines; X Ray Fluorescence and Thin Section Petrography; Experimental Archaeology and Kiln Building
Pavel Georgiev
BHFS Instructor
MA in Archaeology and Archaeometry, Sofia University, Bulgaria. Maritime Archaeologist at the Bulgarian National Centre for Underwater Archaeology. CMAS Diving Instructor.
Research interests: Underwater Archaeology; 3D Documentation of Underwater Cultural Heritage; Archaeological Conservation.
Sanja Petkovska
BHFS Coordinator
Accountant & Administrative Officer of the National Institution Stobi. BA in Economics, European University, Skopje, North Macedonia
Sarah Lacy
BHFS Instructor
Associate Professor of Anthropology, California State University Dominguez Hills, Los Angeles, United States of America. Ph.D. in Biological Anthropology in Washington University
Research Interests: Middle & Upper Paleolithic European Archaeology; Bioarchaeology; Neanderthal Health
Silvana Blazhevska
BHFS Dig Director
Ph.D. in Classical Archaeology, Skopje University, North Macedonia. Archeologist & Curator of National Institution Stobi
Research interests: Classical and Roman archaeology; Religion & Cult
Stanislava Angelova
BHFS Instructor
BA of Archaeology, Sofia University, Bulgaria; MA Student in Medieval Archaeology, Sofia University
Research Interests: Medieval & Byzantine Archaeology, Late Antique and Medieval Numismatics
Dr. Teodora Bogdanova
BHFS Deputy Dig Director & Instructor
Ph.D. in Archaeology at the National Museum of Natural History, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Curator at Museum of Archaeology - Sozopol, Bulgaria; Adjunct Professor, CPCE, New Bulgarian University, Bulgaria.
Research interests: Ancient Greek Colonization along the Black Sea Coast; Ancient Greek Pottery; Women’s Toiletries in Greek Colonies
Tome Filov
BHFS Instructor
MA in Art Conservation, Skopje University, North Macedonia; Conservator, National Institution Stobi
Research interests: Conservation of Ancient Mosaics and Wall-Paintings; Documentation of Mosaics and Frescoes.
Trajce Nacev
BHFS Co-Dig Director & Instructor
Associate Professor at Goce Delchev University, North Macedonia. Ph.D. in Archaeology, Goce Delchev University
Research Interests: Prehistoric and Classical Archaeology; Conservation, Restoration and Reconstruction of Immovable Cultural Heritage
Dr. Tsvete Lazova
BHFS Instructor & Consultant
Associate Professor in History and Theory of Culture, New Bulgarian University, Sofia. Ph.D. in History in Sofia University, Bulgaria.
Research interests: Ancient Ethnicity; Ancient Thrace and Mediterraean Multiculturalism; Cultural Anthropology
Valeri Petrov
BHFS instructor
MA in Archaeology, Sofia University, Bulgaria. Curator at the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies with Ethnographic Museum in Sofia
Research interests: Chalcolithic Settlements; Field Archaeology
Viara Petrova
BHFS Deputy Dig Director & Instructor
MA in Archaeology, Sofia University, Bulgaria. Interim Director of Archaeological Museum "Prof. M. Domaradski" in Septemvri, Bulgaria
Research Interests: Archeology of Thracian Settlements; Ancient Greek Ceramics
Dr. Yavor Boyadzhiev
BHFS Dig Co-director & Instructor
Ph.D. in Archaeology and Associate Professor at the National Institute of Archaeology and Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Research interests: Prehistory and Prehistoric Archaeology; Physicochemical Methods for Dating in Prehistory