Project Type: Field School & Archaeological Excavation. This program is suitable for both beginners and advanced students, as well as anyone interested in archaeology, prehistory, and early farming communities in the Eastern Mediterranean and Europe during the Neolithic period.
Site: Amzabegovo Neolithic settlement, located near Sveti Nikole and Shtip, Republic of North Macedonia.
Excavation Start Date: 2019
Field School Start Date: 2025
Period(s) of Occupation: Neolithic
Major Field School Topics/Activities: The program focuses on the archaeology of the Balkan Neolithic (6400 – 4800 BCE). Participants will learn archaeological field techniques and methods for excavation and documentation, processing of finds and samples, and surveying. Activities include lectures on topics related to the Balkan Neolithic, prehistoric Europe, data gathering and processing, interpretation and presentation of results, as well as workshops on photography, archaeological drawing, GIS, and sediment flotation. Excursions to significant heritage sites in North Macedonia are also included.
BHF Partners in This Project: Municipality Institution People’s Museum, Sveti Nikole (North Macedonia), Austrian Archaeological Institute, and New Bulgarian University (Bulgaria).
Dig director: Dr.Darko Stojanovski, researcher at the Austrian Archaeological Institute focused on the neolithization process of the Balkans; Assistant Professor at the Goce Delchev University in Shtip; Director of several field research projects, including the long-term Amzabegovo project and the “Birth of Europe” field school program; Director of the “Neanderthal Crossroads” field school project of the Balkan Heritage portfolio between 2022 and 2023.
Research and Field School Team: Aleksandar Danev, Valentina Todorovska, Dr. Andrej Machkovski, Saskia Pail, Max Gruber, Dejan Georgiev, Ivan Sarashov, Kristijan Blazevski, Sasho Kiroski, Igor Gjorgioski.
Field School Coordinators: Dr. Darko Stojanovski and Aleksandar Danev
Field School Sessions Available: One 3-week session: July 5 - July 26, 2025
Application Deadline: Until all places are filled or May 1, 2025
Minimum Length of Stay: Three weeks
Minimum Age: 18 (16 if accompanied by an adult family member)
Number of field school places available: Maximum 15
Project language: English
Academic credits available: 9 ECTS
Experience Required: None
Special requirements: Participation in the project is not recommended for individuals with solar allergies or other health conditions that may be exacerbated during intensive outdoor activities. Average summer temperatures in the area range from 30 to 40°C (86 to 104°F). Participants should bring clothing and toiletries suitable for hot and sunny weather, while also preparing for potential rainy, windy, and cooler days. Additionally, participants are expected to prepare for the dig by reading the materials provided by the BHFS before the project begins. Tools and equipment will be available on-site, so participants are not required to bring any additional equipment.
During the 7th millennium BCE, the Balkan Peninsula served as a gateway for the spread of farming, animal husbandry, and Neolithisation from Anatolia and the Near East to Europe. The central Balkan river valleys, including the Vardar and Bregalnica River Valleys, were among the most significant migration routes during this period. Amzabegovo, situated between these two river basins, encapsulates nearly two millennia of Neolithic development in the Balkan region. It dates from 6300 to 4800 BCE, encompassing the era from the arrival of the first farmer settlers to the advent of metallurgy.
Amzabegovo is one of the most significant Neolithic sites in the Balkans, centrally located along the dispersal route from the Aegean to the Danube. It is not only a critical archaeological site but also a key to understanding the broader patterns of human development and cultural evolution during the Neolithic era in Europe. The site features a sequence of over twenty construction phases, including residential structures, pits, economic buildings, and burial sites. In addition to Neolithic remains, the site also contains the remnants of a Roman villa.
The site first attracted scientific interest in the late 1960s when it was excavated by a joint team from UCLA (USA) and the University of Belgrade (then part of former Yugoslavia). It was established that the site is over 10 ha in size, and represents the full duration and development of the Neolithic in the Balkan Peninsula. The emblematic white-painted pottery, widely represented here, was seen as a cultural mark of the Neolithic population of the Central Balkans, but at the same time some Near Eastern elements were noted (especially in the architecture and the use of marble for personal ornaments production). This research positioned Amzabegovo as a reference point for Balkan Neolithic studies. After a 50-year hiatus, field research was reinitiated in 2019 through a collaboration between Dr. Darko Stojanovski, serving as Director, and the Municipal Museum of Sveti Nikole, the host institution for the project. Since 2022, partnerships have expanded to include the Austrian Archaeological Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna, as well as several other European specialists. The ongoing project, titled "The First Farming and Urban Centers of Macedonia: Excavations at the Amzabegovo Neolithic Settlement," represents an international multidisciplinary scientific collaboration. Starting in 2025, the Balkan Heritage Foundation will join the team, and the project will introduce the "Birth of Europe" Field School Program.
The research questions stemming from the site, with a focus on the Neolithic period, encompass a range of topics such as settlement organization, architecture, demography, economy, diet, human-animal interactions, household organization, and material culture. A key question is understanding the regional dynamics and the role of Amzabegovo as the largest settlement in the cluster of sites within the Bregalnica River basin, as well as its communication and trade routes.
This field school is an amazing opportunity to:
The field school excavations will commence in 2025, in conjunction with the ongoing excavations at the Amzabegovo site. This three-week field school offers a valuable opportunity for both beginners, who will be introduced to the methodologies and theoretical knowledge necessary for participating in archaeological excavations of prehistoric sites, and for students with a deeper interest in the Neolithic studies of Europe and the Near East.
Students who are required to prepare field reports and presentations for their universities can receive additional instruction and assistance.
All participants will receive:
The three-week course provides a minimum of 135 hours of fieldwork, workshops/lab work, lectures/instructions and guided tours as follows:
Lectures/Instructions:
Field work - on-site excavations including:
Workshops:
Guided tours in North Macedonia:
Arrival date: 05 July 2025
Arrival and check-in at Danilov Guest House, in Shtip, North Macedonia by 7:00 pm.
8.00 pm - 9.30 pm - Traditional Macedonian Welcome Dinner.
Taxi transfers from Skopje airport may be arranged for an additional fee upon request.
Morning: Orientation, Walking Tour of Shtip
Afternoon: Lectures
6:00 am - Transfer to the site
6:30 am - 8:30 am - Fieldwork*
8:30 - 9:00 am - Breakfast at the site
9:00 - 11:00 am - Fieldwork*
11:00 - 11:15 am - Break
11:15 am - 1:00 pm - Fieldwork*
1:00 - 1:30 pm - Transfer to Shtip
1:30 - 2:30 pm - Lunch
2:30 - 5:00 pm - Siesta break
5:00 - 8:00 pm – Finds cleaning and sorting/Lectures/Workshops
8:00 pm - Dinner
* In case of rain, the field school program provides substitute activities including finds processing workshops, lab work and film projections at the university.
13th and 20th of July
12 July 2025: Tour of Stobi, the Ancient Roman Capital of Macedonia Secunda. Tour of the Archaeological Museum in Skopje, the modern capital of N. Macedonia, traditional lunch and visits to Skopje’s old town.
19 July 2025: Tour of Roman/Early Byzantine town of Bargala, guided tour of the archaeological site and the medieval church of St. George. Visit to the Medieval monastery St. Gavril Lesnovski.
All tours are covered by the reimbursement payment.
Departure. Check-out by 12.00 pm
Departure date: July 26, 2025
Taxi/shuttle transfers to the airport in Skopje may be arranged for an additional fee upon request.
REQUIRED READINGS
Gimbutas, M., Anza, ca. 6500-5000 B. C.: A Cultural Yardstick for the Study of Neolithic Southeast Europe, Journal of Field Archaeology, Vol. 1, No. 1/2 (1974), pp. 26-66
Naumov, G., Fidanoski, Lj., Tolevski, I., Ivkovska, A. (eds.), The Neolithic Communities in the Republic of Macedonia, Skopje (Dante), 2009
Project venue: Accommodation will be provided in Shtip, North Macedonia, where all participants are required to arrive. The excavation site at Amzabegovo is approximately 20 km from Shtip. Free transportation between Shtip and Amzabegovo will be available for all participants during workdays. All lectures, workshops, and activities not held at the archaeological dig site will take place at either the Museum in Sveti Nikole or the premises of "Goce Delchev" University in Shtip.
The nearest air terminals: Skopje is the nearest airport (66 km) in North Macedonia, alternative options being Thessaloniki airport, Greece (194 km) and Sofia airport, Bulgaria (214 km).
How to get there?: There are regular buses operating between Skopje and Shtip, with ticket prices ranging from approximately 5 to 7 EUR. A taxi from Skopje Airport to Shtip costs around 60 EUR. The Balkan Heritage Field School (BHFS) can assist in coordinating among participants who wish to share a taxi.
Visa requirements: Citizens of EU, EEA, USA, Canada, Japan, Republic of Korea, Australia and New Zealand do not need a visa to visit the Republic of North Macedonia for up to 90 days. Citizens of all other countries may need a visa. The Balkan Heritage Foundation can send an official invitation letter that should be used at the relevant embassy to secure a visa to the program. For further details please visit our Visa information page.
Accommodation: Participants will stay at Danilov Guest House, located in the center of Shtip. The guest house offers double rooms (twin beds) with a toilet and shower on each floor. Guests have free access to Wi-Fi, a washing machine, and basic leisure and sports/training equipment. Bed linens and towels are provided. Single room accommodation is available upon request for an additional charge. The guest house is conveniently situated within walking distance of local amenities.
Meals: Three meals per day, featuring organic Macedonian homemade food, are included in the reimbursement fee. During workdays, all meals are typically served at a nearby restaurant. Meals on weekends are also held at the same restaurant, except for lunches provided during excursions. The field school can accommodate vegetarians, vegans, and individuals with lactose intolerance; however, it cannot cater to kosher or gluten-free diets.
Participants are responsible for covering any additional days of stay, single room accommodation, as well as extra meals, beverages, services, and products.
Free Time: BHFS participants can make the most of their stay in Shtip by exploring the beautiful hilly landscape surrounding the city, including hikes, walking, running, and training tracks along the banks of the Bregalnica River and in the Isar Hill area. The area features three 14th-century churches and the ruins of an old castle. Additionally, the recently renovated local swimming pool is available for cooling off during free days.
Extra Trips and Surroundings: In the wider area of Eastern North Macedonia, participants can visit the intriguing geo-formation known as the Stone Dolls, located near Kuklitsa village (60 km from Shtip), as well as the Kokino site (100 km from Shtip), a geological formation and Bronze Age site recognized as one of the oldest megalithic observatories in the Balkans. For nature lovers, Berovo (85 km from Shtip), an idyllic mountain town with a picturesque lake, makes for a great day trip. A must-see in the Central Balkans is the town of Ohrid and its lake (230 km from Shtip), situated in the southwestern reaches of North Macedonia. This UNESCO-protected natural and cultural monument is renowned for its stunning beauty, featuring crystal-clear waters and magnificent mountain peaks, coupled with archaeological sites that testify to continuous cultural development over the past 8,000 years.
Insurance: The reimbursement payment does not include insurance. It is mandatory to arrange your own health insurance prior to your trip to North Macedonia. The insurance must cover at a minimum the following risks: medical treatment in the event of an accident or illness, as well as costs related to evacuation and repatriation.
Weather: The region is dominated by a southern European (Transitional Mediterranean to Continental) climate, resulting in hot summers with temperatures ranging from 30 to 40°C (86 to 104°F). While rainy and chilly days during this season are rare, they are not entirely excluded.
What to Bring?
Excavation & documentation tools and materials, as well as working gloves are available at the site!
All field schools are conducted as non-profit projects by the Balkan Heritage Foundation, Bulgaria. Their costs, including students' costs related to participation in the field school are covered by the reimbursement payments made by field school students.
BHFS project reimbursement payment covers: Educational and fieldwork activities, hotel + breakfast (in the working days), tools, materials, project handbook or readings, issue of Certificate of Attendance, administrative costs, travel related to the fieldwork and the excursions included in the field school program plus relevant entrance fees.
BHFS project reimbursement payment does not include: travel costs to and from the project venue or related to activities not included in the field school program; medical products and services and any expenses related to medical quarantine (food delivery, accommodation, etc.).
The costs in USD are approximate. Please check current exchange rates!
Early Bird Cost - until January 31, 2025:
Early Bird Cost for three-week project session is 2899 EUR/ approx. 3080 USD
Regular Cost - after January 31, 2025:
The Regular cost for three-week project session is 3099 EUR / approx. 3300 USD
Reimbursement Transfer Options:
- Bank transfer
- Online transfers via the Balkan Heritage virtual
POS Terminal. VISA, MASTERCARD & MAESTRO cards are accepted.
-
Wise money transfer
For further information contact Admissions Office at: [email protected]!
* 5% DISCOUNT OFF the regular cost available for:
* 10% DISCOUNT OFF the regular cost available for:
* 12% DISCOUNT OFF the regular cost available for:
* 15% DISCOUNT OFF the regular cost is available for:
NOTE, 5% OF EVERY COST FOR THIS PROJECT DIRECTLY SUPPORTS THE BALKAN HERITAGE PROTECTION FUND'S ACTIVITIES!
For more information about scholarships, low-cost flights, hotels, etc. please feel free to contact us or look at our recommended links.
To obtain US credis and certification apply and enroll directly through the Center for Field Sciences (CFS), USA.
New Bulgarian University grants 9 ECTS credits to students for attending this field school. Transcripts of Records (ToR) are available upon request for an additional tuition fee of 600 EUR for EU students and 900 EUR for Non-EU students.
Details: Regulations for obtaining Transcripts of Records.
Participants in the field school who do not need academic credit units are not expected to pay for them.