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

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

   

Zlatka Stanilova

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.

Barbara Remedios

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

Eduard Baltov

Office & Project Assistant       

Anton Chalakov

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

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.

  

Darko Stojanovski

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

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

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

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

Sanja Petkovska 

BHFS Coordinator

Accountant & Administrative Officer of the National Institution Stobi. BA in Economics, European University, Skopje, North Macedonia

  

Sarah Lacey

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

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

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

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

  

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