CONSERVATION OF ANCIENT POTTERY PACK

The Project and Course

General Information

This project is included in the BHF-IFR Program for the Balkans   

Description: The project package is a combination of two Balkan Heritage Field School (BHFS) projects focused on conservation, restoration and documentation of Ancient Greek and Roman pottery. It provides to both students and people interested in conservation and archaeology comprehensive learning, lab and intercultural experience for four weeks while working at two sites in two countries. Additionally, the program has amazing travel opportunities including tours of archaeological sites and historic towns in North Macedonia and Bulgaria.

Package type: Field school & pottery conservation. Suitable for both beginner and advanced students as well as those interested in Ancient Greek and Roman archaeology. Individual program and task assignments are available to advanced students.

Artifacts & monuments in the project's focus: Ancient Greek pottery from the necropolis of Apollonia Pontica, Bulgaria, and Late Roman pottery from the Roman city of Stobi in the Republic of North Macedonia.

Periods in the project's focus: Classical Greek and Hellenistic (5th century BCE - 3rd century BCE) and Roman and Late Roman (2nd century - 6th century CE)

Project partners: Balkan Heritage Foundation, Museum of Archaeology - Sozopol, Bulgaria and NationaI Institution Stobi, New Bulgarian University, Institute for Field Research (IFR).

Venues of the projects in the Pack: Stobi, R. of North Macedonia and Sozopol, Bulgaria   

Pack sessions available: 6 June - 4 July, 2020

Application deadline: Until the places are filled, or latest 10 April 2020

Minimum length of stay: five weeks

Minimum age: 18 (16, if the participant is accompanied by an adult family member)

Number of field school places available: 8

Project language: English

Experience required: No

Special requirements: Good physical condition and command of manual operations. All participants should bring clothes and toiletries suitable for hot and sunny weather, although the weather might be sometimes chilly and rainy.    

Participants are encouraged to bring their laptops with at least 20 GB free disk space and a mouse. Operating system recommended: Windows XP or newer, Mac OSX or newer.    

All participants are expected to prepare for the workshop by reading at least the BHFS handbook (the BHFS e-handbook will be sent by e-mail to all registered students before the beginning of the project) and other recommended readings.   

Participants will use the tools and equipment available at the labs and are not expected to bring any additional equipment.

The Project Package

Please visit each field school project web page for details concerning the programs, the pottery for conservation, recommended readings, travel & accommodation information and other practicalities.

Our Admissions Officer is ready to answer all your questions concerning the PACK at [email protected]. BHFS can provide alumni contacts for further feedback on the field school projects in the package.

Travel & Accommodation   

Travel

Venues of the projects in the Pack:

1. Archaeological site of Stobi, Republic of North Macedonia. The Hellenistic, Roman and Late Roman city was a significant urban center in Antiquity and capital of the Roman province Macedonia Secunda in the Late Antiquity. Stobi was included in the 2012 World Monuments Watch list among the monuments with universal significance - Read more here.     
2. Summer resort town of Sozopol (Ancient Apollonia Pontica) on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast

The nearest air terminal:

1. To Stobi: Skopje, North Macedonia (80 km/50 mi), Thessaloniki, Greece (160 km/100 mi) and Sofia (Bulgaria, 300 km/186 mi). If participants arrive at the first two airports, a transfer to Stobi can be arranged by request. Individual or group transfers' price may vary depending on both distance and number of passengers from 30 to 110 EUR.

     

2. To Sozopol: Burgas (40 km/ 24 mi), Varna (150 km / 93 mi), Sofia (400 km / 250 mi.)  Transfers can be arranged by request. Individual or group transfers' price may vary depending on both - destination and number of passengers from 30 to 210 EUR

How to get there: Stobi is located in the center of the Republic of North Macedonia. It can be easily accessed by: 1.  bus or car on the highway E-75 (from Athens, Greece to Belgrade, Serbia and Central Europe across North Macedonia) - the highway exit STOBI is just in front of the site's entrance; 2. catching a bus/train from Skopje (North 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 9.00 am to 7.00 pm on the arrival day (please ask for details); 3. from neighboring towns of Negotino (15 km) and Kavadartsi (20 km) participants could get on a bus to Gradsko or on a taxi directly to Stobi.

Travel between the field school projects in the Pack: Stobi - Sozopol

Stobi, North Macedonia is located about 700 km/430 mi from Sozopol, Bulgaria. The latter can be reached by:

1. (train/bus) Stobi (i.e. Gradsko) - Skopje, North Macedonia- 1-1½ hrs then
2. (bus) Skopje, North Macedonia - Sofia, Bulgaria - 4½ hrs then
3. (bus) Sofia - Sozopol- 5½ hrs
4. or (bus) Sofia - Burgas - Sozopol (NB! Change buses at Burgas!) - 6 hrs.

Travel costs (by public transport) between Stobi and Sozopol as well as the accommodation in Sofia are covered by the admission fee. Participants will be fully supported by the BHFS staff for their trip between the pack's locations.

Accommodation & Meals & Free Time & Practicalities

Accommodation and 3 meals per day are fully covered by the admission fee in Stobi. Accommodation and breakfast are covered in Sozopol. Please visit each field school project's page for all the details about accommodations, meals, free time and other practicalities.   

1. Workshops for Conservation of Roman Pottery and Glass  
2. Workshop for Conservation of Ancient Greek Pottery

The Admission Fee   

The admission fee is valid only for students who enroll in this field school through the Balkan Heritage Field School (BHFS). Students wishing to obtain credits and benefit from the advantages of the BHF-IFR Program for the Balkans must apply and enroll through the Institute for Field Research (IFR), USA and pay admission fees corresponding to the IFR's terms and conditions.   

The Admission fee includes: Educational and work activities, full-board accommodation (accommodation + 3 meals per day) in Stobi and bed & breakfast accommodation in Sozopol, tools, materials, project handbook, issue of Certificate of Attendance, excursions/sightseeing tours/entrance fees, travel fees (by public transport) between Stobi and Sozopol, accommodation in Sofia (in a downtown hostel, in double or triple room) and administrative costs.  The fees in USD are approximate.Please check current exchange rates!

The Admission fee for the four-week project pack is 2499 EUR / approx. 2745 USD   

Admission Fee Transfer Options:

- Bank transfer
- On-line transfers via the Balkan Heritage virtual POS Terminal VISA, MASTERCARD & MAESTRO cards are accepted.
- TransferWise money transfer

For further information contact Admissions Office at [email protected]

Academic Credits   

New Bulgarian University grants 6 ECTS credits for participation in Workshops for Conservation of Roman Pottery and 6 ECTS credits for Workshop for Conservation of Ancient Greek Pottery. Transcripts of Records (ToR) are available upon request for an additional tuition fee. For details please read the Regulations for obtaining Transcripts of Records  

Students who study outside Europe wishing to obtain academic credits for this field school project (pack) should apply to the BHF-IFR Program for the Balkans and enroll through the Institute for Field Research (IFR), USA. They will be awarded 8 semester credit units (equivalent to 12 quarter units) through Connecticut College and will receive a letter grade. The tuition fee is included in the IFR admission fee.