Presentation оf the BHF Directors at the 8th World Archaeological Congress, Kyoto, Japan   

Between 28^th of August and 3^rd of September 2016 the Balkan Heritage Foundation (BHF) directors Mr. Ivan Vasilev and Dr. Nayden Prahov participated in the 8^th World Archaeology Congress (WAC) in Kyoto, Japan as session co-organizers and lecturers. Their presentation - Cultural Heritage Field Schools – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly was dedicated to the images the cultural heritage field schools have among the scientific and academic communities. These images – figuratively represented as the Good, the Bad and the Ugly have been formed due to various practices implemented by the field schools teams around the world. They reflect the attitude toward and interest in collaboration and participation and are essential for the field school organization.

A discussion regarding negative practices at some field schools resulted in the defining of important issues such as:

• How the field schools could be adequately rated?
• What would be the right rating and evaluating organization or system?
• How some standards in the cultural heritage field schools implementation could be established?

The presentation was based on the experience of the Balkan Heritage Foundation. Since its establishment in 2008 it has implemented more than 85 heritage field schools in Bulgaria and Republic of Macedonia (mostly excavation and conservation projects) with more than 1500 participants from all over the World.   

During their trip to Japan both BHF directors visited many cultural heritage sites in Kyoto, Tokyo, Nara, Osaka and even climbed Mount Fuji.