North Macedonia: Stobi Roman Pottery Conservation (IFR)

Location: A1, North Macedonia

Session Dates: July 12-July 26, 2025

Application Deadline: February 1, 2025

Deadline Type: Rolling

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

Transport yourself to the ancient city of Stobi and help recreate and conserve the lost artifacts and ornamentation of this once-thriving center from the Roman Empire. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced student who wants to upgrade your skills, we invite you to join one of our workshops to focus on a specific material and investigate the challenges it poses. You’ll work alongside researchers and conservators from around the world as you get a firsthand look into the everyday life of a conservator. Apply your newly learned skills and techniques as you make a meaningful contribution to a large-scale excavation and conservation project supported by the national Ministry of Culture, Balkan Heritage Foundation, and multiple global universities.

Field school highlights:

• Gain hands-on experience that will prepare you to take part in professional conservation and restoration projects.
• Live a traditional fieldwork experience with an international group of students, researchers, and staff living on-site, often described as an adult summer-camp!
• Connect with history and your surroundings through excursions to UNESCO world heritage sites and other area spotlights.

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)