Underwater Archaeology Field School in the Black Sea

The Project and the Course

General Information

Project type: Underwater archaeology field school, underwater excavations & marine geophysical survey.     

Project venue: Participants and staff stay in a hotel located in the downtown of Nessebar, on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. Accommodation is in shared double and triple bedrooms with A/C, Wi-Fi, bathroom with WC, etc. 

About the project: The field school is open to anyone with an interest in underwater archaeology and who holds a SCUBA Open Water Certificate issued by any worldwide recognized training organization. The project will introduce students to underwater/maritime archaeology and specialized techniques for research, recording, conservation and monitoring through:   

• Participation in the following research projects:   
  • Survey, excavation and documentation of submerged fortification walls of the ancient (Ancient Greek & Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Medieval Bulgarian) city of Mesambria, present-day Nessebar, UNESCO World Heritage Site   
  • Marine geophysical survey of submerged landscapes along the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast     
• Training and instructions in underwater excavation, photography, photogrammetry, marine geophysics, remote sensing, and conservation of finds from the marine environment
• Lectures on the archaeological, historical, environmental and institutional context of the research projects   
• Site visits and excursions to historical and archaeological sites along the western Black Sea Coast, Bulgaria. 

BHF Partners in this project:  

• Centre for Underwater Archaeology (CUA), Bulgaria;  
• New Bulgarian University, Bulgaria.   

• Institute for Field Research

Field school director: Dr. Nayden Prahov, Director of the Centre for Underwater Archaeology, Ministry of Culture; Assistant Professor at the National Institute of Archaeology with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences; Co-Founder of Balkan Heritage Foundation.   

Team members: Pavel Georgiev, Maritime Archaeologist at CUA and PhD student at the University of Southampton; Eng. Kiril Velkovski, Marine Geophysicist; Zdravka Georgieva, Maritime archaeologist, PhD student at the University of Southampton

Field School Dates: May 23 - June 13, 2026   

Application deadline: until the places are filled or latest April 24, 2026   

Number of field school places available: 8

Project language: English   

Academic credits available: Students can receive 9 ECTS credits through New Bulgarian University, Bulgaria 

Minimum age: 18   

Special considerations: The project is not recommended for individuals with solar allergies or other medical conditions that may be exacerbated by the intensive outdoor and underwater activities. The average May-June temperatures in the area are 25-35 ⁰C (77 - 95⁰ F) or higher. The average water temperature in the area in late May - June is 18-22 ⁰C (64 - 72⁰ F). The depth in the area of survey and excavations is 2 - 8 m (7 - 22 ft). Excavation and recording tools, as well as air tanks and diving weights, will be available at the site.   

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:

• Applicants must hold a SCUBA Open Water Certificate issued by any worldwide recognized training organization and up-to-date DAN insurance (http://www.daneurope.org/insurance).   
• The participants should have medical insurance and repatriation. The participants should inform the project staff about any health issues, allergies, and food preferences.
• Participants should provide evidence (log book) of at least four dives within the year prior to the field school. If the participants do not meet this requirement, they must do two to four extra dives in Bulgaria before the start of the field school with our diving center partner at their own expense.
• Participants should provide their own diving equipment: diving suit (at least 5 mm wet suit recommended) with hood (or with a separate hood), BCD, regulator, mask, fins, snorkel, knife, booties, belt, etc.). Participants who do not bring their own diving gear they can rent it from the partnering diving center at a price up to 25 EUR (approx. 29 USD) per day (depending on the items rented). Аir tanks and diving weights will be available at the site.   
• A laptop with Windows, macOS, or Linux.
• All participants are expected to prepare for the field school by reading the required readings listed below. 
• Participants should bring clothes and toiletries suitable for warm and sunny weather, but should also prepare for rainy, windy and chilly days.      

The Venue and Sites

Founded at the end of the Bronze Age by a Thracian tribe, Nessebar was one of the oldest towns on the western Black Sea Coast. Its name, which was originally Mesambria, originates from the Thracian words “Melsas”, the name of the legendary founder of the settlement and “bria”- the Thracian word for town. It is situated on a small peninsula (currently about 0.5 sq. km) that was connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus. Mesambria’s first Greek colonizers were of Dorian origin who settled there at the end of the 6^th century BCE. The town grew quickly and became one of the most powerful Greek colonies along the western Black Sea Coast. It had several temples, a gymnasium, a theatre, massive administrative buildings and corresponding infrastructure. Mesambria was also gradually surrounded by massive fortification walls. According to the ancient sources, it had two harbors, one to its north and another to its south.   

It reached the peak of its prosperity in the 3^rd – 2^nd centuries BCE, at which point it even minted its own gold coins. Commercial links connected it to towns from the Black Sea, Aegean, and Mediterranean coasts. Numerous imported precious artifacts now displayed in the Archaeological Museum of Nessebar provide material expression of the site’s rich economic, cultural, and spiritual life in this period. In 72 BCE, the town was conquered by Roman armies without resistance. At the beginning of the 1^st century CE, it was included within the borders of the Roman Empire. After the capital was moved to Constantinople in 324 CE and Christianity was accepted as the official religion of the Empire in 313 CE, favorable conditions arose for the renaissance of the town. New Christian basilicas, fortification walls, and water supply lines were built in the following centuries.   

The city was besieged and taken for the first time by the Bulgarians in 812 CE. It was situated in the border region between the Byzantine Empire and the Bulgarian State (Chanate and Empire) and periodically changed hands between the two powers. During the 12^th and 13^th centuries, active trade links were developed between Nessebar and some Mediterranean and Adriatic towns, such as Constantinople, Venice, Genoa, Pisa, Ancona, and Dubrovnik, as well as with the countries along the Danube River. During almost its entire Christian history, Nessebar was the seat of a bishop. Many churches and monasteries were built in the city and its surroundings, reflecting its prosperity and richness.   

Nessebar fell under Ottoman rule together with the Byzantine capital Constantinople in 1453 CE. During the following centuries, the economic and spiritual life did not stop and Nessebar’s harbor continued to be an important import and export center. The shipyard’s production, one of the main subsistences of the town, served the Ottoman fleet and the local merchants. In 1878,  Nessebar was liberated from the Ottomans and included in the borders of Bulgaria. Due to its unique natural position, rich cultural heritage, and the large number of well-preserved monuments (esp. churches from the 13^th – 14^th centuries), modern-day Nessebar is an archaeological and architectural reserve. In 1983, the Old Quarter of Nessebar was included in UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites.         

Underwater Heritage of Nessebar

Underwater studies in the region of Nessebar began in 1960 as a continuation of studies on land. Fifteen underwater archaeological campaigns were conducted in total (until 1983). During these studies, it was found that significant parts of the ancient town are below the sea level today. Ruins of fortification walls, towers (including a hexagonal one), staircases, gates and other structures from the pre-Roman era, Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, were traced in various sectors around the peninsula – northwest, north, northeast and east. The tracked layout of the fortification walls of Mesembria leads us to conclude that due to sea transgression, landslide activity, sea abrasion and a series of earthquakes, Nessebar has lost a significant intramural part of its territory. Today it lies underwater at a depth between 1,5 and 6 meters.

The Field School

The field school provides a comprehensive introduction and training in underwater archaeology through participation in an ongoing research project - discovering the submerged heritage of ancient Mesambria, present-day Nessebar (UNESCO World Heritage Site) on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. The training will include various underwater archaeology and interdisciplinary practices: underwater reconnaissance survey, archaeological excavations, underwater photography, photogrammetry and 3D modeling, mapping and recording of submerged archaeological structures and monuments, marine geophysical survey, etc. Our research aims to fill in the gaps in our scientific knowledge about the fortification system of Mesambria and its harbors, the coastal landscape changes and the Black Sea level fluctuation in Antiquity and the Middle Ages as well as human adaptation.

The field school's aim is to broaden the knowledge of our participants, to refine their skills and thus to enhance their career in Maritime Archaeology. It is open to beginners in the field too. All participants will receive a Balkan Heritage Field School Certificate specifying the topics and the hours of the field school activities (fieldwork, lectures, workshops, educational trips, etc.).

The Team

Field school director:   

• Dr. Nayden Prahov, Director of the Centre for Underwater Archaeology, Ministry of Culture; Assistant Professor at the National Institute of Archaeology with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences; Co-Founder of Balkan Heritage Foundation.

Team members:    

• Pavel Georgiev, Maritime Archaeologist at CUA and PhD student at University of Southampton ;   
• Eng. Kiril Velkovski, Marine Geophysicist;    
• Zdravka Georgieva, Maritime archaeologist, PhD student at University of Southampton

The Program

The field school provides a minimum of 130 hours of fieldwork and training (minimum 10 dives), workshops, lectures and guided tours as follows:

Field Work

• Practicing basic excavation techniques
• Creating graphic field documentation - ground plans, cross-sections
• Underwater photography and photogrammetry
• Marine geophysical survey  
• Archaeological dive survey      

Workshops

• Processing of data and information: creating 3D photogrammetry models, photomosaics, geophysical data processing, etc.   

Lectures

• Underwater Archaeological Heritage of the Western Black Sea Coast
• Overview of Bulgarian Underwater Archaeology   
• History and Archaeology of Nessebar
• Underwater Photogrammetry and Photography
• Underwater Geophysics and Remote Sensing
• Conservation of Finds from Marine Environment; Conservation of Underwater Structures in Situ, etc.

Guided Tours

• Archaeological Museum and the Old Quarter of Nessebar (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
• Archaeological Museum and the Old Quarter of Sozopol  
• Museum of Underwater Archaeology in Kiten and Museum of the Anchor in Ahtopol   

Reading Background   

REQUIRED READINGS    

Some of the required readings are available upon request in PDF format from the BHFS Library

Agisoft LLC 2023. Agisoft Metashape User Manual: Professional Edition, Version 2.0.Bowens, A.Underwater Archaeology: The NAS Guide to Principles and Practice, Second edition, 2009, Portsmouth, Blackwell Publishing, 15-169.

Bowens, A. Underwater Archaeology: The NAS Guide to Principles and Practice, Second edition, 2009, Portsmouth, Blackwell Publishing, 15-169.   

Pacheco-Ruiz, R., Adams, J. & Pedrotti, F. 2018. 4D modelling of low visibility Underwater Archaeological excavations using multi-source photogrammetry in the Bulgarian Black Sea, Journal of Archaeological Science, 100, 120-129.

Plets, R., J. Dix, R. Bates. Marine Geophysics Data Acquisition, Processing and Interpretation. Guidance Notes, English Heritage, 2013, 12-40.

Ognenova-Marinova, L., H. Preshlenov. Past and Future of the Underwater Archaeological Research in Nesebar, Bulgaria. – In: F. Maniscalco (ed.). Mediterraneum. Tutela e valorizzazione dei beni culturali ed ambientali. Tutela, Conservazione e Valorizzazione del Patrimonio Culturale Subacqueo, 4. Napoli, 2004, 263-269. ISBN 88-87835-50-0   

Preshlenov, H. Withdrawing Coasts. Geomorphology, Bathymetry and Archeological Cartography in Nessebar. – In: Iv. Karayotov (ed.). Bulgaria Pontica Medii Aevi, VI-VII. Mesambria Pontica. International seminar Nessebar, May 28-31, 2006. Studia in honorem Professoris Vasil Guzelev. Бургас, 2008, 51- 67. ISSN 1313-3535

Preshlenov, Chr. Morphodynamics of the coastal zone of the Nessebar Peninsula (Bulgaria): archaeological and geological benchmarks. – In: R. Kostov, B. Gaydarska, M. Gurova (ed.). Geoarchaeology and Archaeomineralogy. Proceedings of the International Conference, Sofia, 29-30 October 2008. Sofia, 2008, 305-307. ISSN 978-954-353-085-4

Preshlenov, H. Coastal Instability and Urban Changes – the Case of the Nessebar Peninsula – Geologica Balcanica, 39, 2010, 1-2, 325. ISSN 0324-0894   

Radić Rossi, I., Casabán, J., Yamafune, K., Torres, R. & Batur, K. 2019. Systematic Photogrammetric Recording of the Gnalić Shipwreck Hull Remains and Artefacts. 3D Recording and Interpretation for Maritime Archaeology.

RECOMMENDED READINGS   

Catsambis, A., B. Ford, D. Hamilton.The Oxford Handbook of Maritime Archaeology, Oxford University Press, 2011.   

Green, J. 2004. Maritime Archaeology, A Technical Handbook, Elsevier Academic Press.  

Prahov, N., Zborover, D. The Ancient Mesambria Field School in Underwater Archaeology: Synergy in Benefit of Bulgarian Cultural Heritage.- In: ACUA Underwater Archaeology Proceedings, 2020, An Advisory Council of Underwater Archaeology Publication, Society for Historical Archaeology, 49 – 56; ISBN: 978-1-939531-38-4   

Reich, J., Steiner, P., Ballmer, A., Emmenegger, L., Hostettler, M., Stäheli, C., Naumov, G., Taneski, B., Todoroska, V., Schindler, K. & Hafner, A. 2021. A novel Structure from Motion-based approach to underwater pile field documentation, Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 39.

Travel, Accommodation & Practicalities   

Travel

The nearest air terminals: Sofia Airport, Burgas airport (35 km), Varna airport (100 km). A transfer to Nessebar may be arranged by request and can be shared by several participants.

How to get there? Bus lines connect Nessebar with Burgas and Sofia (the Bulgarian capital).

A detailed travel info-sheet for reaching the hotel from the nearest international airport will be provided for enrolled students.

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

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

Accommodation*: Participants will stay in comfortable rooms with two or three beds (bathrooms with shower and WC, TV, air-conditioning) in the downtown of Nessebar, close to the beach and the archaeological site. Staying an extra day costs 40 EUR. Single rooms are available upon request for an additional fee of 180 EUR per week.   

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

Meals: Breakfasts on work days, as well as the welcome and farewell dinners, are covered by the reimbursement payment. Students are responsible for their daily lunch and dinners and all meals on days off.   

Nessebar offers a variety of restaurants that can meet everyone’s preferences and dietary requirements – from fast food options to cozy gourmet restaurants. The average meal price (soup/salad, main dish and dessert) can cost between 10 to 40 EUR. The project team will recommend restaurants for different preferences (cuisine, cost, dietary needs) and will arrange discounts for the students.

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: During the summer, Nessebar offers a lot of opportunities for sports and entertainment. Possible leisure activities during the siesta and days off are: swimming, sunbathing, beach sports including surfing, visiting local beaches and tourist (natural and heritage) sites, scuba diving, fishing, sailing, etc.    

Trips:   

• Old town of Nessebar (ancient Mesambria, UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Museum of Archaeology - Nessebar.
• Old town of Sozopol (ancient Apollonia Pontica) and Museum of Archaeology - Sozopol.
• Museum of the Anchor in Ahtopol
• Museum of Underwater Archaeology in Kiten      

Technicalities & Practicalities  

Insurance: The reimbursement payment does not cover insurance. It is necessary to arrange your own DAN 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: A southern European (subtropical) climate dominates the region, making early summer hot 25-35 ⁰C (77 - 95 ⁰F) but breezy. Rainy and chilly days in this season are rare but not excluded.

What to bring?

• Diving gear (Except diving weights and tanks, which will be provided by the field school). If you do not wish to bring your own diving gear, you may rent such from Nessebar diving centers at a price of up to 25 EUR per day (depending on items rented)
• Your diving logbook   
• A laptop (a powerful one) with Windows, macOS, or Linux
• A set of walking or hiking shoes for the excursions
• Clothing suitable for outdoor activities (consider weather conditions from hot and sunny to rainy and chilly)
• Wide-brim hat   
• A small backpack (for your water bottle, snacks, camera, etc.)
• A light raincoat for possible rainy and windy days
• Medication - It is not necessary to bring over-the-counter medicine since you can buy all common types in Bulgaria. It is recommended, however, that you bring any individual prescription medication in sufficient quantities for the duration of this program and make sure to have all your medication in your carry-on luggage while traveling.
• A converter for 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.
• Good attitude for work, fun, study, and discoveries

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 current exchange rates!

Early Bird Cost - until January 31, 2026:

Early Bird Cost for the three-week project session is 5599 EUR/ approx. 6500 USD

Regular Cost - after January 31, 2026:      

The Regular cost for the three-week project session is 5999 EUR / approx. 6900 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 attending a 3-week or longer field school session. To obtain US credis and certification apply and enroll directly through the Institute for Field Research (IFR), USA. They 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 or a field school session shorter than 3 weeks. They should enroll directly through the Balkan Heritage Field School. 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.

Participants in the field school who do not need academic credit units are not expected to pay for them.