North Macedonia: Stobi Roman Pottery and Glass Conservation (IFR)

Location: A1, North Macedonia

Session Dates: June 1-June 21, 2024

Application Deadline: April 1, 2024

Deadline Type: Rolling

Website: https://ifrglobal.org/program/north-macedonia-pottery-glass-conservation/

Program Type:
Field School

RPA Certified:
No

Affiliation:
Institute for Field Research (IFR), Balkan Heritage Foundation (BHF)

Project Director:
Bilyana Jankulovska, Dr. Angela Pencheva & Dr. Eva Todorova

Project Description:

The main goal for this program to provide theoretical and hands-on training experience on pottery and glass conservation. It does so through the exposure of students to the conservation techniques and specifics of two different materials, enabling them to evaluate and appreciate similarities and differences in conservation problems, approaches, methods, technique, design and material choice applied on different types of artifacts. 

The pottery and the glass vessels for the workshop in Republic of N. Macedonia come from the excavations of the Roman and Early Byzantine city of Stobi and are provided by the National Institution Stobi (NI Stobi). These are mainly locally produced Roman and Late Roman ceramic shapes. 

Students begin their training with replicas of ancient vessels and then progress to originals once they reach an acceptable level of skill, accuracy and precision. Most students will be able to master conservation and restoration efforts within the course of this field school and expect to complete work on 2-5 artifacts by the end of the program, depending on the initial state of objects’ conservation, the necessity of conservation treatment and the individual performance of the student. 

Upon successful completion of the course, they will be prepared to take part in projects for conservation, restoration and documentation of archaeological pottery, under the supervision of professional conservators and restorers. 

Period(s) of Occupation: Roman, Early Byzantine, Classical

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: Students are expected to stay the full length of the program.

Minimum Age: 18

Experience Required: None

Room and Board Arrangements:
Participants stay at the recently renovated, air-conditioned cabins at the archaeological base camp next to the ancient site of Stobi. Students will be housed in rooms with 2–3 beds each. Each cabin has 4 bedrooms, a living room, and 2 bathrooms with showers. A washing machine and Wi-Fi are available for free. The Stobi cleaning staff will clean and disinfect the rooms & bathrooms and common spaces every day. In the beginning of the field school students will be introduced to the safety protocol for the hotel, the shuttle and the site upon arrival. Meals: Three meals (fresh, homemade food) per day are provided. Meals usually take place at the field house premises, except for lunch packages during excursions. This field school can accommodate vegetarians, vegans and individuals with lactose-intolerance diets. Kosher and gluten-free diets are impossible to accommodate at this location.

Academic Credit:
4 semester (6 quarter)