Bulgaria: Nessebar Underwater Archaeology (IFR)

Location: Nessebar, Bulgaria

Session Dates: May 24-June 14, 2025

Application Deadline: February 1, 2025

Deadline Type: Rolling

Website: https://ifrglobal.org/program/bulgaria-underwater-archaeology/

Program Type:
Field School

RPA Certified:
No

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

Project Director:
Dr. Nayden Prahov

Project Description:

Make your summer an adventure unlike any other by taking a deep dive into history and contributing to the preservation of Bulgaria’s maritime heritage. Nestled on a picturesque peninsula, Nessebar boasts a rich history dating back thousands of years, with traces of its past visible both above and below the water’s surface.  This field school offers the opportunity to explore the depths of the Black Sea, mapping the ancient city of Mesambria, while actively engaging with the local community to preserve their cultural heritage. You’ll play a vital role in initiatives such as establishing an underwater museum of archaeology, collaborating with locals, diving centers, tourists, and archaeologists alike to showcase the submerged heritage and landscapes of Nessebar.

Field school highlights:

• Contribute to our understanding of coastal landscape changes & human adaptation strategies to sea level fluctuations.
• Develop professional skills in underwater archaeology, including reconnaissance surveys, excavations, mapping, photogrammetry, 3D modeling, and more.
• Experience the charm of Nessebar & the beauty of the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast.

Period(s) of Occupation: Antiquity, Middle Ages

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: This program requires participants to have Open Water Diver Certification (any world-wide recognized training organization) and DAN diving insurance

Room and Board Arrangements:
Students will stay at the family hotel Emona Guest house in the Old Town Quarter of Nessebar. Rooms will have 2 or 3 beds with bathrooms with, TV, and air-conditioning. Cheap laundry service and free Wi-Fi is available. The distance from the hotel to the sites and the beach is approx. 200 / 400 m and it takes approx. 2 / 5 min to walk. Diving gear will be transported by a car. Meals. Breakfasts on workdays as well as the welcome and the farewell dinners are covered by the tuition fee. 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-$20. The project team will recommend restaurants for different preferences (cuisine, cost, dietary needs) and will arrange discounts for the students.

Academic Credit:
6 semester (9 quarter)