Stobi (The Capital City of Macedonia Secunda) Excavation

The Project and Course

General information

Project type: Field school & archaeological excavation. The variety of activities and the team's professionalism and flexibility make this project suitable for both beginners and advanced students in the field of Roman Archaeology.    

Тhe field school started: 2010

Site and venue: The Archaeological site of Stobi is near the village of Gradsko, the Republic of North Macedonia. Since 2012, Stobi has been included in the World Monuments Fund Watch list among the sites with universal significance - read more here!

Period in the project's focus: Roman, Late Roman (2nd century - 6th century CE)   

Major field school topics/activities:  archaeological field techniques and methods for excavation and documentation regarding the specifics of excavation of Roman and Late Roman urban sites; course on photogrammetry and 3D archaeological recording and modelling; finds processing; as well as excursions to significant heritage sites in the Republic of North Macedonia and Greece.   

BHF Partners in this project:    

• National Institution Stobi, Republic of North Macedonia;       
• New Bulgarian University, Bulgaria.

Dig directors: Dr Silvana Blazevska (archaeologist and director of the National Institution Stobi) and Goce Pavlovski (archaeologist at the National Institution Stobi, PhD Candidate in Archaeology)

Field school coordinators: Angela Pencheva (Balkan Heritage Foundation & Field School Program Director, PhD in Classical Archaeology) & Matthew Schueller (BHF-affiliated archaeologist; visiting Asst. Prof. at William and Mary, USA); Goce Pavlovski (archaeologist, NI Stobi, PhD Candidate in Archaeology);

Field school sessions available: 

• Four-week session: June 06 – July 04, 2026

Application deadlines:  Until the places are filled, or May 06, 2026

Minimum length of stay for volunteers: Four weeks 

Minimum age: 18 

Number of field school places available: Maximum 18  

Project language: English

Academic credits available: 12 ECTS credits are available through New Bulgarian University, Bulgaria. 

Experience required: No previous experience is required.

Special requirements: The project is not recommended for individuals with solar allergies or other medical conditions that might be exacerbated during the intensive outdoor activities. The average summer temperatures in the area range between 25-35°C (77-95°F) or higher. All participants should bring clothes and toiletries suitable for hot and sunny weather. Bear in mind that chillier days are very rare but not uncommon.       

The participants should have medical insurance, including repatriation. The participants should inform the project staff about any health issues, allergies, and food preferences.         

Participants are also expected to prepare for the dig by reading the recommended readings that will be sent by email before the beginning of the project.    

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

The ancient city of Stobi was the largest urban centre in the northern part of Roman Macedonia and later the capital of the province Macedonia Secunda. Its strategic position at the crossroads of the Axios valley route (Thessalonica–Stobi–Singidunum) and the diagonal road (Heraclea–Stobi–Serdica) made it an important administrative, commercial, and religious hub throughout the Roman and Late Roman periods.

The earliest mention of Stobi comes from Livy, who refers to Stobi in four passages, one of them revealing the location at the confluence of the Axios and Erigon rivers. After the Roman conquest, the city became part of the Fourth Meris and developed into a major salt-trading centre linking Macedonia with Dardania. Stobi gained the status of oppidum civium Romanorum in the 1st century BCE and became a municipium somewhat later. A coin mint was established under Emperor Vespasian in 69 CE.

The city flourished from the 1st to the 3rd centuries CE, when its most notable monuments were built: the Theatre, the Temple of Isis and Serapis, the Synagogue, the Building with Arches, and the Casa Romana. After a major earthquake around 300 CE, Stobi was rebuilt in the early 4th century CE and became the seat of a Christian bishop who participated in the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE.

In the 5th and 6th centuries CE, Stobi served as the capital of Macedonia Secunda and one of the leading Christian centres in the Balkans. Magnificent buildings such as the Theodosian Palace, the House of Peristeria, the Episcopal Basilica with its baptistery, and the Episcopal Residence (Casino) reflect the city’s prosperity. Stobi was attacked by the Ostrogoths under Theoderic the Amal (later Theoderic the Great) in 479 CE, and another earthquake around 520 CE damaged much of the city. Despite this, life continued until the early 7th century CE, when the city was abandoned.

During the Medieval period (11th–14th centuries CE), a small settlement survived among the ruins, but Stobi eventually disappeared from record until its rediscovery in the late 19th century.

Periods of excavations:

For more than a century, the ancient city of Stobi has been attracting scientists from all over the world to reveal its secrets. 

The first reported excavations were begun during World War I by German officers and the archaeologist Hald and later on Krischen;

1923 to 1940 - Excavations, directed by Balduin Saria and R. Eger, Kj. Truhelka, V. Petkovic, J. Petrovic, Dj. Mano-Zissi - the Belgrade National Museum;

1955 to 1969 - Excavations carried out by the Archaeological Museum of Skopje and the Agency for Protection of Monuments of Culture, Macedonia;

1970 to 1980 - Excavations, directed by Dj. Mano-Zissi and J. Wiseman - the Museum of Veles, Macedonia, University of Austin, Texas, and later Boston University, USA.

1992 to 1995 - rescue excavations by the Agency for Protection of Monuments of Culture, Macedonia;   

The National Institution Stobi (NI Stobi) was founded in December 2008 as an independent governmental institution under the Ministry of Culture. The large-scale excavations conducted by S. Blazhevska (NI Stobi) began in 2009. Since then, until the present day, numerous archaeological and conservation projects have been successfully finalized (for more information, see: www.stobi.mk).    

Despite all the excavation campaigns, only 15% of the territory within the city walls of Stobi has been excavated.   

The Baptistery at Stobi, Republic of North Macedonia by Balkan Heritage Foundation (BHF) on Sketchfab

The Temple of Isis, Stobi, Republic of North Macedonia by Balkan Heritage Foundation (BHF) on Sketchfab

The Field School

FIELD SCHOOL HISTORY (2010 - 2025)

In 2010, the field school project concentrated on two places: the Western Necropolis, in use from the 1st century BCE to the 5th century CE and the temple of Isis, dated to the 2nd and the 3rd century CE.

In 2011 and 2013, the field work took place in the Northern Residential Area of Stobi, inhabited mainly in Late Antiquity.

Since 2014, the participants in the field school have been excavating an area next to one of the most representative residential buildings in Stobi: the Theodosian Palace, located at the center of the city, bordered by two main streets: Via Principalis Inferior and Via Principalis Superior. The building, which is richly decorated with mosaics, was given its name by early scholars under the assumption that the Emperor Theodosius I was accommodated there during his visit to Stobi in 388 CE.

The excavations in this area brought to light a late antique building situated between the Theodosian Palace and an adjacent building, the so-called “Jail”, due to the discovery of shackled skeletons in the 1920s. In 2026, the work will continue in the same area in an effort to investigate the chronological and architectural relationship between the three buildings. 

The field school includes the following three modules:   

• Fieldwork, including excavation of Roman and Late Roman layers and structures: practicing basic excavation techniques and developing archaeological field documentation by maintaining a daily field journal, filling locus sheets and labels, drawing an elevation plan/ a ground plan/ a cross-section, 3D positioning of finds, taking coordinates with a dumpy level, as well as taking photographs at the site; 

     

• Lectures and workshops in Roman and Field Archaeology, Finds' Processing and Documentation; workshops on Photogrammetry & Surveying for Archaeological and Architectural Recording alongside the excavation. Further training will be given in the operation of a Total Station and the establishment of a survey control network of the site.           

• Excursions to the old towns of Bitola, the archaeological site of Heraclea Lyncestis, as well as to Ohrid and Ohrid Lake (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Skopje and to the ancient Macedonian capital Pella and the royal burial complexes in Vergina (UNESCO World Heritage Site) in Greece (optional, not covered by the reimbursement payment).

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

Course objectives:

To prepare students to perform basic excavation tasks: the use of tools, digging techniques, sieving, scraping, etc.

To prepare students to perform basic field documentation tasks: the use of measuring and documentation tools and devices, creating written (locus sheets, field journals, finds labels, etc.), photo, and graphic documentation (drawing of stratigraphical situations, architectural structures, contexts, etc.).

To introduce students to basic find processing procedures: cleaning, selecting and arranging archaeological finds, field inventory, technical pottery drawing, the organization of finds storage, etc.

To introduce students to contemporary 3D recording techniques, including Digital Photogrammetry, Satellite Positioning and Total Station Surveying.

To introduce students to the range of materials and cultures of Stobi and the region in the Roman and Late Roman period.

To introduce students to teamwork, ethical standards and contemporary methods of work on an archaeological site.

To introduce students to health and safety requirements at an archaeological site.

Learning outcomes:

Students participating in this field school will gain basic knowledge of excavation techniques, field documentation practices and finds processing, leaving them better prepared for any future archaeological fieldwork projects. They will have certain knowledge in the history and archaeology of Stobi and Macedonia during the Hellenistic, Roman and Late Roman periods and basic training in photogrammetry capture and processing. During the outlined activities participants will learn skills transferable outside of excavations, such as analytical thinking, teamwork, the ability to meet deadlines and adapt to outside conditions, which will aid them when seeking employment in any work field. 

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:         

• Dr. Silvana Blazhevska (archaeologist and director of the National Institution Stobi)   
• Goce Pavlovski (archaeologist, NI Stobi: PhD candidate in Archaeology)
• Jovan Radnanski (archaeologist, NI Stobi)   

• Dimitar Nikolovski (archaeologist, NI Stobi)      

• Dr. Mathew Schueller (BHF-affiliated archaeologist; visiting Asst. Prof. at Hampden-Sydney College, USA )    
• Kristen Jones (PhD Student, Department of Geography & Planning, Queen's University, Canada)

The Program

The four-week field school session provides a minimum of 180 hours of fieldwork, workshops/lab work, lectures/instructions and guided tours.

Field Work   

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

Workshops

• Practical total station operation;
• Introduction to surveying: GNSS;
• Photogrammetry capture and processing;
• Archaeological documentation of pottery (drawing, graphic reconstruction, photographing, description, etc.);
• Cleaning of pottery;
• Basic principles of finds processing.

Lectures  

• History of Macedonia in Antiquity (Hellenistic, Roman and Late Roman Period)
• History and Archaeology of Stobi and Introduction in the Excavation Area 
• Architecture and Urban Development of Stobi   
• Cemeteries and Burial Practices in Stobi
• Typology of Roman and Late Roman Pottery, with Examples from Stobi    
• Religious Beliefs in Stobi
• Basic Field Methods and Practices for Excavation and Documentation
• Introduction to the Field Journal; Locus Sheets, Log Book and Other Forms 
• Stratigraphy: Horizontal, Vertical and Chronological
• From the Field to Storage: Review of Basic Methods for Uncovering, "First Aid", Consolidation in Situ, Cleaning, Sorting, Labeling, Documenting and Storing Ceramic Artifacts

   

• Field Graphic Documentation: Scale-drawing of: Ground-plan/elevation-plan/Cross-section
• Excavations Preparation. Preliminary Indoor Research
• Excavation Completion. Post-Excavation Work and Analyses. Excavation
• Total Station and GNSS Surveying; Ground Control Setup
• Digital Photogrammetry of Excavations and Total Station Operation; Mapping in 3DM Analyst
• Processing Photogrammetry Data in 3DM Analyst and Agisoft Photoscan
• History of Bitola and Heraclea Lyncestis
• History of Ohrid.  

Guided tours (covered by the participation fee):

• Bitola and Heraclea Lyncestis;
• Ohrid and Ohrid Lake (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
• Tour of Skopje  
• Pella and Vergina (not covered by the participation fee).

Reading Background   

Anderson-Stojanovic, V.R. Stobi, The Hellenistic and Roman Pottery, Princeton University Press, 1992.   

Balkan Heritage Foundation, National Institution Stobi, 2016 - Workshop for Conservation of Roman and Late Roman Pottery from Stobi (2010 - 2014)   

Blazevska, S. - "Urban Transformation of Stobi. From oppidum civium Romanorum to capital of Macedonia Secunda", in Milena Raycheva – Martin Steskal (eds.), Roman Provincial Capitals under Transition. Proceedings of the International Conference Held in Plovdiv 04.-07.11.2019, Österreichisches Archäologisches Institut Sonderschriften Band 6 (Wien 2021), pp. 189-213. 

Boardman, J., et al. (ed.) The Oxford History of the Classical World. Oxford & New York, 1986.

Brown, P. The World of Late Antiquity AD 150-750 (Library of World Civilization). Norton & Company, 1989.

Errington, R. M. A History of the Hellenistic World: 323-30 BC. Wiley-Blackwell, 2008.

Errington, R. M. A History of Macedonia. Barnes Noble, 1994.

Grant J., Gorin S. and Fleming N.. The Archaeology Course Book: an introduction to themes, sites, methods and skills. Routledge, 2008.

Renfrew, C. and Paul B.. Archaeology: Theories, Methods and Practice. New York, 2006.

Wiseman, J.R. and Mano-Zissi D. Stobi: A City of Ancient Macedonia, Journal of Field Archaeology, 3(3): 269-302, 1976.   

Travel & Accommodation & Practicalities   

Travel   

All participants are individually responsible for arranging and covering the cost of their travel to the host country, including booking flights and obtaining any required travel documents or visas (if applicable).

Nearest Airports

The closest international airports to the Stobi site are:

Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia – approximately 80 km / 49 miles

Thessaloniki, Greece – approximately 160 km / 100 miles

Transfers from these airports to Stobi can be arranged upon request.      

Transfer Arrangements

Participants who wish to use the BHFS transfer service must provide their flight details one month before the program starts to the BHFS Admissions Officer.   

This information should be submitted when completing the Travel Form, within the time frame requested. Failure to provide this information on time will be considered as a confirmation that the participant intends to travel to the site independently.

In such cases, the BHF will have no obligation to arrange or assist with airport transfers, and participants will be fully responsible for reaching the site on their own.

Transfer fees:

From Skopje Airport / Bus / Railway Station to Stobi – up to 140 EUR per ride

(The cost can be shared if 2–3 participants arrive around the same time)

From Thessaloniki Airport (Greece) – up to 200 EUR per ride

(The cost can be shared if 2–3 participants arrive together)

Transfers are provided by taxi, and the fee must be paid in cash directly to the driver. 

Transfer Coordination

The pick-up time will be scheduled in advance by the Stobi Coordinator.

Final transfer details, including the exact departure time and the names of participants sharing a taxi (if applicable), will be sent one week before the program starts, once all itineraries have been confirmed.

All participants, whether booked for a shared or individual transfer, must inform the coordinator immediately if their flight, train, or bus is delayed, canceled, or rescheduled.

Failure to provide timely notice may result in additional transfer charges.      

Information for participants who will arrange their own transportation:

Bus or Train:

The main bus and train stations of Skopje are in the same area.

From Skopje to Stobi or Gradsko:

- Trains run at 06:23 am to Stobi: https://mzt.mk/poagane-od-skopje/

- Buses run every hour from 6 am to 9 pm to Gradsko

https://ruleturs.techinreact.com/?SearchCity=%D0%93%D0%A0%D0%90%D0%94%D0%1%D0%9A%D0%9E&SearchTransporter=&Datum=2023-05-10

From the Gradsko or Stobi train station, participants can call the organizers for a ride to

the site (between 9.00 am and 8.00 pm on the arrival day).

Link for international railway connections: http://www.eurorailways.com

Visa requirements: Citizens of the EU, EEA, USA, Canada, Japan, the 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 for the program. For further details, please visit our Visa information page.  

Accommodation & Meals 

Accommodation: Participants will be accommodated in the recently renovated air-conditioned cabins at the archaeological base next to the ancient ruins of Stobi, in rooms with two to three beds. Every cabin has 4 bedrooms and a living room, 2 bathrooms with showers and a WC. A washing machine and Wi-Fi are available for free at the site. 

Meals: Three meals (fresh, homemade food) per day are covered by the reimbursement payment. They usually take place (except for the lunch packages during the excursions) at the base's premises. Requests for vegetarian food are accepted. Specialized diets (vegan, kosher, gluten-free, etc.) are difficult to maintain at this location.

Participants must pay for extra meals, beverages, services and products. There is no option for single room accommodation at Stobi.   

Free Time & Trips

Free time: Films, sports games, and visits to nearby towns and villages are among the available evening leisure activities.

Extra trips and excursions:

• 1-day excursion (not covered by the reimbursement payment) to Pella and Vergina (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Greece, for an extra fee starting from approx. 100 EUR.

Please follow the links above for excursion details.     

Technicalities & Practicalities

Insurance: The reimbursement payment does not cover insurance. It is mandatory to arrange your own health insurance before your trip to the Republic of North Macedonia. There are hospitals, clinics and pharmacies in all the larger towns. Foreigners must pay for health services, but might receive a refund if their home country has signed the Health Insurance Convention with the Republic of North Macedonia (you should check this information with your Ministry of Health). The insurance must cover at a minimum the following risks: medical treatment in case of an accident or disease, as well as costs related to evacuation and repatriation.

Weather: A moderate continental climate dominates in Stobi. Summers there are usually hot (up to 40-45° C; 100 – 110° F). Rainy and chilly days in this season are rare but not excluded.   

Important notice:

If you plan to use your credit/debit card in North Macedonia, please inform your bank before

departure! The currency in North Macedonia is the Macedonian DENAR (DEN) and it is the only accepted currency in the country. You can see notes and coins in circulation at:

http://www.nbrm.mk/?ItemID=C2B15406ABC3BC46B2525F6...

Please note that shopping malls, hypermarkets and many shops in North Macedonia, bigger towns and resorts will accept credit/debit cards. However, that is not the case for the smaller “domestic” shops throughout the country, where the only method of payment is cash.

What to bring?   

• Work shoes (a pair of comfortable hiking shoes) and clothes suitable for outdoor work. Keep in mind the diverse weather conditions (from rainy and cool to sunny and warm)! Don’t forget both your raincoats and sunscreen. Long trousers are recommended because of the potentially harmful plants, insects and reptiles.  
• 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.)
• Medication - only prescription medication you may need, since you can buy all basic non-prescription drugs in North Macedonia. 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.   
• We strongly recommend that all participants purchase an e-SIM card with mobile internet suited to their personal needs while staying in the EU. Although there is internet at the site, we are not responsible for its quality or reliability. We cannot guarantee that there won’t be interruptions, excessive network load, or potential server issues.
• A good attitude for work, fun, study and discoveries ;)

   

  NB! Excavation & documentation tools and materials, as well as working gloves, are available at the site!      

• More information for Parents: https://www.bhfieldschool.org/information/parents...
   

The Cost   

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, full-board accommodation (3 meals per day), 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, 2026:

Early Bird Cost for a four-week project session is 3699 EUR/ approx. 4260 USD

Regular Cost - after January 31, 2026:     

The Regular Cost for a four-week project session is 3999 EUR/ approx. 4605 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   

US credit units are available to all students. To obtain US credits and certification apply and enroll directly through the Institute for Field Research (IFR), USA. Participants enrolled through IFR will be awarded 8 semester credit units (equivalent to 12 quarter units) through our academic partner Connecticut College and will receive a letter grade.    

The tuition fee is included in the IFR admission fee.   

ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) credit units are available for students attending European universities . They shall enroll directly through the Balkan Heritage Field School. New Bulgarian University grants 12 ECTS credits for attending the four-week session. Transcripts of Records (ToR) are not included in the reimbursement payment and are available upon request for an additional tuition fee.

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.