2025 Debelt, Bulgaria: Conservation of Ancient Greek Pottery

Location: Debelt Bulgaria

Season: June 7, 2025 to June 21, 2025

Session Dates: Single session

Application Deadline: June 7, 2025

Deadline Type: Rolling

Website: https://www.fieldsciences.org/program/2025-bulgaria-debelt-greek-pottery/

Discount for AIA members: None

Program Type:
Field School

RPA Certified:
No

Affiliation:
Center for Field Sciences & Balkan Heritage Foundation

Project Director:
Dr. Daniela Cherneva (Chief instructor, Balkan Heritage Foundation); Ms. Biljana J. Peeva (Restorer of Pottery and glass Artefacts at the National Institution Stoby); Dr. Teodora Bogdanova (Assistant Professor in Archaeological Institute with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences & Adjunct Professor, CPCE, New Bulgarian University); Dr. Margarit Damyanov (Assistant professor at the Department of Thracian Archaeology, Archaeological Institute with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences) and Mr. Alexander Manev (Department in Classical Archaeology, Archaeological Institute with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences)

Project Description:

This is an introductory workshop for the conservation of ceramics, using ancient Greek pottery recovered from sites in the Western Black Sea coast of Bulgaria. This program will guide students through the history of Ancient Greek pottery and the process of pottery conservation, restoration, documentation, and study. The program takes place in the archaeological reserve with a museum “Deultum” in the village of Debelt.

The course includes three modules: 1) practical work in conservation of ancient pottery, working on ceramic artifacts recovered during excavations at cemetery of Apollonia Pontica (present-day Sozopol, Bulgaria); 2) lectures on topics related to the archaeological context of conserved vessels and to conservation process of ancient Greek pottery; 3) excursions to the ancient coastal towns of Nessebar (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and a tour of Sozopol (including study visits to their archaeological museums).

Period(s) of Occupation: Classical Period

Notes:
Tuition cost is $3,450; Program awards 4 semester credit units (equivalent to 6 quarter credits units) through our school of record – Culver-Stockton College

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: Full season

Minimum Age: 18 years old

Experience Required: There are no prerequisites for participation in this field school but note that conservation work requires good manual dexterity skills and ability to carry out delicate bench work. Students will receive hands-on training in conservation work and will spend most of the time learning how to conserve ceramics in a lab setting. Students will be taught how to use a variety of laboratory procedures and equipment – from microscopes to analytical instruments. Conservation work is slow and may be tedious. It requires patience and focus. This is an introductory course so we will cover all the very basic elements of conservation ethnographic work.

Room and Board Arrangements:
Accommodation will be at the archaeological base part of National Archaeological Reserve - Deultum, which is located 22 km from Burgas. It has comfortable ensuite rooms with two to three beds. Free use of wi-fi, washing machine, and kitchen. Bed linen and towels are provided. Wi-Fi is available on the first floor of the lobby area. There is a restaurant on site, where participants will have all their meals served.

Academic Credit:
Program awards 4 semester credit units (equivalent to 6 quarter credits units) through our school of record – Culver-Stockton College.