Bona Mansio - Roman Road Station on Via Diagonalis

The Project and the Course

General Information

Project type: Field school & archaeological excavation. The course is a balanced combination of lectures in the field of Classical Archaeology, with a focus on Thrace during the Roman and late Roman periods. The course is designed primarily for students in Classical Archaeology, Anthropology, History, Art History, and other related scientific fields, but the variety of activities and the team's professionalism and flexibility make this project suitable for both beginners and advanced students.  

The field school started: 2016

Site: Mansio Lissae – Roman Road Station, situated between the towns of Septemvri and Vetren, southern Bulgaria.

Project venue: Villa Velis is a newly built tourist complex including a spa hotel and a winery. It is located in the southern part of the village of Karabunar, 8 km (5 mi) from the motorway exit "Trakia" on the road to Velingrad. During the project work days all participants will be taken from the hotel to the site (which is located 8 km away) and back.

Period(s) of occupation: Roman, Late Roman, Medieval    

Major field school topics/activities: Archaeological field techniques and methods for excavation and documentation; Roman and Late Roman fortification and architecture; documentation and conservation of Roman and Late Roman finds (mainly pottery & metal), excursions to significant heritage sites in Thrace, Bulgaria.

BHF partners in this project: Septemvri Archaeological Museum "Prof. Mieczyslaw Domaradzki", Bona Mansio Excavation Team from the National Archaeological Institute with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Pazardzhik Regional Museum of History and New Bulgarian University (Bulgaria).

Dig director: Alexander Manev (PhD Candidate in Archaeology, Department of Classical Archaeology, National Institute of Archaeology and Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences)

Field school coordinator: Angela Pencheva (PhD in Classical Archaeology; Balkan Heritage Foundation & Field School Program Director); Lyuba Manoilova (PhD candidate in Anthropology; Balkan Heritage Foundation & Field School Program Coordinator)

Dates: August 29 - September 19, 2026    

Application deadlines: July 30 or until the places are filled

Minimum length of stay for participants: three weeks

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

Number of field school places available: Maximum 18

Project language: English

Experience required: No previous experience is required.

Academic credits available: 9 ECTS credits are available through New Bulgarian University, Bulgaria.

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:  Participation in the project is not recommended for individuals with solar allergies or other medical conditions that may be exacerbated by intensive outdoor activities. The average summer temperatures in the area range from 25-38° C (77 - 100° F) or higher. All participants should bring clothes and toiletries suitable for hot and sunny weather, but should also prepare for possible rainy, windy and chilly days. Participants are also expected to prepare for the dig by reading the required readings, which will be sent to them by email before the project begins. Participants will use the tools and equipment available at the site and are not expected to bring any additional equipment.

The Site and the Excavation Project

Via Diagonalis (Via Militaris) became the most important road through the Balkan Peninsula in Roman times. It connected Singidunum (modern Belgrade, Serbia) on the Danube River with Byzantium (Istanbul, Turkey)—the city that would later become the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. The road stretches approximately 1,000 km (600 miles) and passes through major Roman cities including Naissus, Serdica, Philippopolis, and Hadrianopolis. It served as the fundamental link between the western and eastern parts of the Empire and was the official route for armies moving throughout the provinces.

Mansio Lissae, later renamed Bona Mansio (Latin for "Good Station"), is one of the few archaeologically researched Roman road stations on Via Diagonalis. The site's original name derives from the Thracian settlement of Lissa, whose exact location remains unknown. The road station sits in the Thracian Valley, between the Roman cities of Serdica (modern Sofia) and Philippopolis (modern Plovdiv). In the fourth century, it became a fortified structure—one of many built to safeguard the main road. The station takes the form of an irregular quadrangle surrounded by thick walls with corner towers. The ruins of the fortification are still visible high above ground.       

Initial archaeological exploration of the site began in 2002 through test soundings conducted during a collaborative Bulgarian-French expedition investigating the region's ancient heritage. These preliminary excavations uncovered a cultural deposit exceeding 3 meters in depth and exposed fortification walls surviving to heights of 4 meters. While the roadside complex encompasses a considerable area, excavation efforts since 2016 have focused on the fortified settlement that served as the administrative and residential center during the 4th-6th centuries CE. Continued investigations are progressively clarifying the site's chronological development and cultural significance.

Although no modern construction threatens the Roman cultural legacy, the site is considered endangered. Over recent decades, it has become a training ground for treasure hunters drawn to Roman archaeological valuables. The threat of further destruction, combined with scientific interest, set this project in motion. Through the first archaeological campaigns in 2016–2019, BHF aimed to draw the attention of the local community and surrounding municipalities to prioritize this endangered site for cultural heritage protection.

Currently, BHF is the main sponsor of the excavations, and all income from the 2026 field school participation fees will go toward financing the archaeological campaign!                                                                

The Field School

The practical goal of the 2026 campaign is to continue excavating in front of the fortress's main gate and to uncover the fortification wall. The long-term objective is to create a strategy for preserving the settlement's architectural elements. The scientific aspect aims to gather information about the site's character and chronological development, contributing to the study of the Roman road system in Thrace. In accordance with these objectives, the project's starting campaign is set with the following tasks:

• Create a master plan of the existing fortification structures.
• Conduct excavations within and outside the fortification wall.
• Map the excavated area on the master plan.
• Process and document all collected material from the excavations.
• Develop a general stratigraphy for the site.

The 2026 project session includes three modules:

• Fieldwork—excavation, keeping a field journal daily, completing context sheets and labels, drawing elevation plans, ground plans, and cross-sections, 3D positioning of finds, taking coordinates and site photography.
• Lectures, workshops, and instruction in Roman and Field Archaeology, finds processing, documentation, and conservation workshops for pottery and metal.
• Excursions to two major Roman cities in the territory of present-day Bulgaria: the ancient Philippopolis (modern Plovdiv) and Diocletianopolis (modern Hisarya) - refer to the Course Program and Agenda below.

Students who must prepare field reports and presentations for their universities can receive additional instruction and assistance.

All participants will receive:

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

The Team

Instructors, Trainers and Area Supervisors:

• Alexander Manev, Balkan Heritage Foundation Affiliated Archaeologist; PhD Candidate in Archaeology, Department of Classical Archaeology, National Archaeological Institute and Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences   
• Angela Pencheva, Balkan Heritage Foundation & Field School Program Director; PhD in Classical Archaeology    

• Lyuba Manoilova, Balkan Heritage Foundation & Field School Project Coordinator; PhD candidate in Anthropology at the Institute for Experimental Morphology, Pathology and Anthropology and Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

• Emilia Ivanova MA in Art Conservation, Conservator of Coins and Metal Artifacts, Sofia History Museum, Sofia, Bulgaria; Visiting professor at at the National Academy of Arts, Sofia, Bulgaria

The Program

The field school session provides a minimum of 120 hours of fieldwork and training, workshops, lectures and guided tours as follows:

Field Work

• Practicing basic excavation techniques;
• Use of tools and working techniques;
• Creation of field documentation - field journal, context sheets and labels, ground plans and cross-sections, photographs, etc.
• Identifying and sorting of archaeological finds;

Lectures

• From Field to Storage: Review of Basic Methods for Uncovering, "First Aid", Consolidation in Situ, Cleaning, Sorting, Labeling, Documenting and Storing Ceramic Artifacts
• Introduction to the Field Journal, Context Sheets, and Other Forms of Archaeological Documentation
• Basic Field Methods and Practices for Excavation and Documentation
• Introduction to the History of the Balkan Peninsula and Thrace in the Roman and Late Antique Periods (I-VI c. CE);
• Bona Mansio. Sources and Evidence;
• Roman Settlement Network and Road System in Thrace
• Pottery Production in Thrace during Roman and Late Antique Periods (I-VI CE);
• Development and Characteristics of the Fortification System in Thrace in the Roman and Late Antique Periods (I-VI CE);
• History and Archaeology of Plovdiv;
• Roman Numismatics in Thrace (I - VI CE);
• History and Archaeology of Diocletianopolis;

Workshops

• Archaeological documentation of pottery (drawing, graphic reconstruction, photographing, description, etc.);
• Pottery washing
• Conservation of Metal Artifacts

Guided Tours

• Tour of the city of Plovdiv (the ancient Roman city of Philippopolis), including the Archaeological Museum, Old Town Quarter and major Roman monuments;   

• Tour of the city of Hisarya (the ancient Roman city of Diocletianopolis), including the Regional History Museum and the Roman baths 

Reading Background

Jacobs I. (ed.) Production and Prosperity in the Theodosian period. Interdisciplinary Studies in Ancient Culture and Religion 14. Leuven – Walpole, 2014.

Johnson S. Late Roman Fortifications, London, 1983.

Hayes J.W. Late Roman Pottery, London, 1972.

Hayes J.W. Handbook of Mediterranean Roman Pottery.

Lander J. Roman Stone Fortifications. Variation and change from the first century AD to the fourth, BAR International Series 206, 1984.

Pena J.T. Roman Pottery in the Archaeological Record, Cambridge, 2007.

Poulter A. (ed.) Ancient Bulgaria. Parts 1 & 2. University of Nottingham, 1983.

Valeva, J., Nankov, E., Graninger D. (ed.) A Companion to Ancient Thrace, Wiley Blackwell, 2015.

Van Tilburg C. Traffic and Congestion in the Roman Empire, Routledge, 2007.

Travel & Accommodation & Practicalities

Travel

Project venue: Villa Velis is located in the village of Karabunar, 84 km/52 mi away from the Bulgarian capital Sofia and just 8 km/5 mi away from the "Trakia" motorway exit to Velingrad. The distance from the villa to the site is approx. 15 km/9.5 mi, and it takes approx. 15/20 min to drive. 

The nearest air terminals are: Sofia (Bulgaria, 84 km/52 mi away) and Plovdiv (Bulgaria, 50 km/ 34 mi away.)  If participants arrive at one of these airports, a transfer to Villa Velis in Karabunar can be arranged by request. Individual or group transfer prices may vary, depending on the number of passengers, from 25 to 100 EUR. Ask for details.

How to get there: Participants who individually arrange their travel will be expected to arrive at Villa Velis on the arrival day by 7.00 pm. It may be reached by bus from Sofia (approx. 1 ½ hrs). A detailed travel info-sheet will be provided to enrolled students.

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 vis

Accommodation & Meals

Accommodation*: Villa Velis, Karabunar, Bulgaria- in comfortable rooms with two, three to four beds (bathrooms with shower and WC), with A/C and TV in a local newly built hotel. The hotel has a small swimming pool and SPA, free of charge for the participants in the field school. There are cheap laundry services and free Wi-Fi is provided. Extra night - 80 EUR (per night per person), Single room - 800 EUR (for four weeks).

*Subject to change. May be substituted with similar level accommodation.

Meals: Three meals (fresh, organic Bulgarian homemade food) per day are covered by the reimbursement payment and usually take place in the hotel’s restaurant. Requests for vegetarian food are accepted. Brown-bag lunches are provided during the excursions.

Participants must pay on their own for extra days and for single room accommodation as well as for extra meals, beverages, services and products!

Free Time & Trips

Free time: Possible leisure activities during the siesta and days off in and around Karabunar are: swimming in/sunbathing around the hotel pool, hiking in the Rhodope Mountains, wine-tasting , visiting local tourist sites, traveling by the narrow gauge train to Velingrad (popular and larger spa and wellness town) or shopping and sightseeing in the neighboring cities of Pazardzhik and Plovdiv.

Technicalities & Practicalities

Insurance: The reimbursement payment does not cover insurance. It is mandatory to arrange your own health insurance before your 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: South-European climate dominates in the field school area, making summers hot (30-40° C, 86-104° F). Rainy and chilly days in this season are rare but not excluded.

What to bring?

• A pair of working shoes (sneakers, running shoes) and a pair of comfortable shoes for walking/hiking;
• Clothing suitable for an outdoor working environment: sun-hat and light clothes with long sleeves and legs (protecting from the sun and insects), including a light raincoat (consider weather conditions - hot and sunny, but rain may fall as well);
• Wide-brim hat.
• Small backpack (for your water bottle, snacks, camera, etc.)
• Swimming suit.
• Medication - only prescription medicines you may need. It is not necessary to bring non-prescription medicine 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! Excavation & documentation tools and materials, including working gloves, are available at the site!

The Cost    

All field schools are organized as non-profit initiatives by the Balkan Heritage Foundation. The expenses related to participation in the field school, including costs incurred by participants, are financed through reimbursement payments made by the participants themselves.

BHFS project reimbursement payment includes coverage for: educational and fieldwork activities, accommodation and meals, tools and materials, access to project readings, issuance of a Certificate of Attendance, administrative costs, and travel related to fieldwork and excursions included in the program, along with relevant entrance fees.

BHFS project reimbursement payment does not cover: travel expenses to and from Sofia, nor any costs associated with activities not included in the field school program. Additionally, it does not include medical products and services or any expenses related to medical quarantine (such as food delivery or accommodation).

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

Regular Cost:

The Regular Cost for the three-week project session is 3499 EUR/ approx. 4100 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 9 ECTS credits for attending the three-week session. Transcripts of Records (ToR) are available upon request for an additional tuition fee. For details: Regulations for obtaining Transcripts of Records.