Bones of the Past: an Introduction to Zooarchaeology

The Project and the Course

General Information

Project type: Zooarchaeology Workshop

Workshop started: 2025

About the project and the workshop: This course introduces students to the essential concepts of zooarchaeology, giving a glimpse into the unwritten history of animals within ancient societies. The workshop provides a practical foundation for beginners by focusing on the anatomical identification of mammalian remains commonly found at archaeological sites.

Project venue: 

National Museum of Natural History - Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

BHF partners in this project:

• National Museum of Natural History - Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
• New Bulgarian University, Bulgaria

    

Academic coordinator: Dr. Nadezhda Karastoyanova (National Museum of Natural History - Bulgarian Academy of Sciences)

Field school coordinator: Lyuba Manoilova (Balkan Heritage Foundation & Field School Coordinator)

Lecturers:

• Dr. Nadezhda Karastoyanova - zooarchaeologist at the National Museum of Natural History - Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

    

• Stella Nikolova - PhD candidate (National Archaeological Institute with Museum - Bulgarian Academy of Sciences)
  

    

Field School Dates: June 28 - July 11, 2026     

Application deadlines: until the places are filled or May 29, 2026

Minimum length of stay: one week

Minimum age: 18

Number of field school places available: maximum 8

Language: English

Experience required: None

Special considerations:    

Visa Note: Citizens of the EU, EEA, UK, USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand do not need entry visas for Bulgaria. Those from countries not specified should check in advance if they require entry visas for either or both countries, and any associated costs will be the responsibility of the participants.

Special Requirements:

• Good manual dexterity skills and ability to perform delicate bench work.
• The reimbursement payment does not cover insurance. Students must arrange their own insurance before their trip to Bulgaria. All EU citizens can use Bulgarian medical services as long as they can provide evidence of their home-country health insurance with a card, certificate, etc.
• The participants should have medical insurance, including repatriation. The participants should inform the project staff of any health issues, allergies, and dietary preferences.
• Participants should bring clothes and toiletries suitable for warm and sunny weather (26 -36 °C).
• Participants should bring a white standard lab coat for work in the lab.
• Participants are also expected to prepare for the field school by reading the recommended reading and materials that will be sent via email before the beginning of the project.
• Participants will use the tools and equipment available at the labs and are not required to bring any additional equipment.   

The Workshop    

The workshop "Bones of the Past: An Introduction to Zooarchaeology" will be hosted by the National Museum of Natural History in Sofia, Bulgaria. It provides a great opportunity for students to gain basic knowledge and hands-on experience in the identification and analysis of animal bones. During the project, participants will work with osteological materials from the museum collection.

By the end of the workshop, the participants will:    

• Gain basic knowledge of mammalian osteology, focusing specifically on the most encountered mammalian species in archaeological contexts.
• Learn about the anatomy of common domestic animals (cattle, sheep, goat, domestic pig) and wild animals (red deer, fallow deer, roe deer, wild boar) 
• Learn methods for determining the age of animal remains using various techniques involving bones and teeth to assess growth stages.  
• Acquire the ability to distinguish animal species based on characteristic morphological features of remains from archaeological sites. 
• Gain insight into the relationships between humans and animals during different historical periods, opening a new way of understanding past societies.

All participants will receive:

• Reading materials (in PDF version by e-mail);
• Balkan Heritage Field School Certificate specifying the fieldwork hours, educational modules, and sites visited;
• BHFS T-shirt.        

 The Team   

Academic coordinator:

• Dr. Nadezhda Karastoyanova - zooarchaeologist at the Department of Paleontology and Mineralogy at the National Museum of Natural History

Field school coordinator:

• Lyuba Manoilova - Balkan Heritage Foundation & Field School Project Coordinator, PhD candidate in Anthropology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences 

Lecturers:

• Dr.  Nadezhda Karastoyanova - zooarchaeologist the Department of Paleontology and Mineralogy at the National Museum of Natural History  
• Stella Nikolova - PhD candidate in zooarchaeology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences  
• Dr. Nedko Nedelchev - managing director of Palaeontological Museum Dimitar Kovachev, Asenovgrad

    

The Program   

The course consists of three modules - theoretical (instructions and lectures), practical (hands-on lab work with the materials) and study visits with lectures (local museums and sites of interest) up to a total of approx. 65 hours.

INTRODUCTION TO ZOOARCHAEOLOGY

• Basic principles of Zooarchaeology.  

• Domestication. Evolution of domestic animals.  

• Anatomy of mammals. Bone morphology and dimensions.

• Anatomy of Artiodactyls Part 1. Anatomy of the body. Vertebrae, ribs, scapulae, pelvis.  
• Anatomy of Artiodactyls Part 2. Anatomy of the forelimbs. Anatomy of the hind limbs.  
• Comparative anatomy - how to identify taxons by the morphology of the bones.  
• Identification of animal teeth. Determining the age of animals based on the stage of tooth development and wear.

     Reading Background

• Gifford-Gonzalez, D., 2018. An introduction to zooarchaeology (p. 503). Cham: Springer.  

• Reitz, E. J., & Wing, E. S., 2008. Zooarchaeology, Second edition. Cambridge University Press. https://laboratorioarqueozoologiauaslp.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/reitz-wing-2008-zooarchaeology.pdf  

• Schmid, E., & Garraux, O., 1972. Atlas of animal bones: for prehistorians, archaeologists and quaternary geologists. Knochenatlas. Für Prähistoriker, Archäologen und Quartärgeologen.  

• Binford, L. R., 2014. Bones: ancient men and modern myths. Academic press.

  Travel & Accommodation

Sofia hosts an International Airport, intercity bus stations, metro and train networks. 

Visa Requirements: Citizens of the EU, EEA, UK, USA, Canada, Japan, Republic of Korea, Australia, and New Zealand do not need a visa to visit Bulgaria. Citizens of all other countries may need a visa. The Balkan Heritage Foundation can provide an official invitation letter to facilitate the visa application process at the relevant embassy. For further details, please visit our visa information page. Bulgaria is a full member of the Schengen Area and part of this borderless zone, allowing people to travel between Bulgaria and other Schengen countries without passport checks at land borders. Holders of a valid Schengen visa issued by another Schengen country can enter Bulgaria using that visa.

                 Accommodation & Meals                      

The reimbursement fee does not include accommodation and meals except the coffee breaks during the workshop. Sofia is a tourist city, so you can easily find different kinds of accommodation depending on your budget. If anyone needs assistance finding stable accommodation, feel free to reach out to the admissions - we would be happy to help. The most popular websites/apps for booking places to stay are Booking.com and Airbnb, which offer a wide range of options to suit all budgets.   

The city is well connected with a cheap metro and bus system. The prices of the inexpensive and mid-ranged restaurants vary between 15 - 25 Euros for a three-course menu.

 Free Time & Trips

Free Time: Sofia offers a wide range of entertainment options, including spa services, sports, sightseeing, and shopping. For more information, visit: Sofia Guide.

Technicalities & Practicalities 

Insurance: The reimbursement payment does not cover insurance. Students must arrange their own health insurance before their trip to Bulgaria. The insurance must cover, as a minimum, the following risks: medical treatment in case of an accident or disease, as well as costs related to evacuation and repatriation. All EU citizens can use Bulgarian medical services as long as they can provide evidence of their home-country health insurance with a card/certificate, etc.

Weather: Moderate continental climate influenced by the surrounding mountains. The weather in July is very hot, however, with temperatures up to 30-35°C or 86-95°F.

What to bring?

• A pair of comfortable shoes for walking/hiking;
• Wide-brim hat;

• Small backpack (for your water bottle, snacks, camera, etc.)
• Lab coat
• Medication - only prescription medication you may need. It is not necessary to bring non-prescription medication from your country since you can buy all basic non-prescription drugs in Bulgaria. Make sure to have all your medication in your carry-on luggage while traveling.
• A converter to an EU-type electricity wall-plug if needed.   
• E-SIM or Data Roaming: We strongly recommend that participants purchase an e-SIM card with mobile internet tailored to their personal needs while in Bulgaria, unless they have coverage through their data roaming plan. While the hotels provide internet access, we cannot guarantee its quality or reliability, which may include interruptions, excessive network load, or potential server issues.
• A good attitude for work, fun, study and discoveries.

NB! All tools and materials for the workshops will be provided by the organizers!  

The Cost

BHFS project reimbursement payment covers: Educational and fieldwork activities, 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: accommodation and 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 additional expenses related to medical quarantine (food delivery, accommodation, etc.).

The costs in USD are approximate. Please check the current exchange rates!

Early Bird Cost - until January 31, 2026:   

Early Bird cost for a one-week project session is 2299 EUR/ approx. 2640 USD  

Regular Cost - after January 31, 2026:         

Early Bird cost for the two-week project session is 2499 EUR/ approx. 2870 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 the Admissions Office at: [email protected]!

Discounts off the Regular Cost:

* 5% DISCOUNT OFF the regular cost available for:

1. Participation in more than one BHFS project in 2026 (discount applies to the second, third, etc. project).
2. Membership in the Archaeological Institute of America.

* 10% DISCOUNT OFF the regular cost available for:

1. Participation in any BHFS project/s in the past.

* 12% DISCOUNT OFF the regular cost available for:

1. Group Participation (three or more people who participate together in one BHFS project in 2026). The discount is valid for each participant.

* 15% DISCOUNT OFF the regular cost is available for:

1. Group Participation (three or more people, who participate in more than one BHFS project in 2026 (the discount is valid for each participant).
2. BHFS alumni who participate in more than one BHFS project in 2026 (discount applies to the second, third, etc. project).
3. BHFS alumni who attended a full project in the past and returned to the same project.

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.

Academic Credits   

New Bulgarian University grants 6 ECTS credits to students for attending the two-week workshop. Transcripts of Records (ToR) are available upon request for an additional tuition fee of 400 EUR for EU students and 600 EUR for Non-EU students.

For 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.