Courses
1. Training Excavation
The investigations will include extensive stratigraphic excavations, as well as mapping of the archaeological features and architectural remains uncovered. In the course of the training excavation students will attain basic surveying skills. An individual programme of activities intended to give students direct experience of all the activities follows up this training. Students will be taught to take responsibility for the excavation and recording of their own area, under the guidance of a site supervisor. This practical course provides an ideal introduction to the world of archaeology. Prior experience is not necessary, as training will be provided in excavation methodology, surveying, planning, archaeological drawing, etc.
2. Planning and Section Drawing
Participants will be taught how to draw the features they excavate - both in plan and in section (profile). Planning is usually carried out with the use of a 1 metre planning frame and at a scale of 1:20.
During the course the following topics will be covered:
• Surveying Techniques: Setting out a Grid - Plane Table Drawing; Levelling; Contour surveying using a Theodolite
• Trowelling, planning and recording of archaeological features.
• Architectural survey
• Context sheet recording
• Artefact identification
• Archaeological photography.
3. Laboratory
The project incorporates daily laboratory work where students participate in the processing and documentation of the artifacts recovered from the site. All participants will have a chance to work with artefacts recovered during the excavation. This work will involve washing them and marking them with their find and context number.
During the course the following topics will be covered:
• Artefact retrieval, identification and recording procedures.
• Finds processing and cataloguing
• Analysis of finds
• Draughtsmanship ('Inking - in')
4. Field Survey
This program involve all aspects of work, from planning, measuring, and taking field notes. Students learn field survey techniques, calculation, and office skills through extensive hands-on training.
During the course the following topics will be covered:
• Research and planning. Artifacts found, Aerial photography.
• Geophysical survey
• Analysis
5. Lectures
Several lectures are given as part of the field school. Informal on-site lectures will include an introduction to site reconnaissance, survey, excavation unit set-up, and the mapping of archaeological features in section and in plan. Formal lectures given at the beginning of the session will include an overview and introduction to Bulgarian archaeology. Specific thematic lectures will focus on architecture, ceramic remains and artifact illustration. Lab sessions will cover basic finds processing and inventory as well as preliminary artifact analyses. An addition every session the Project Director gives the team a lecture focused on Roman defence system.
6. Illustration
This course offers the opportunity to concentrate on the artistic elements of the archaeological documentation. All these courses encourage you to work in pencil, charcoal and a variety of other drawing and sketching media.
Timetable of the additional courses for groups starting afternoon at 5 pm. Approximately duration of a lesson per day is 2 hours.
During the course the following topics will be covered:
• Classical type drawing. This is a course for anyone who wants practice with basic techniques. There will be plenty of demonstrations, structured exercises and individual tuition to help you improve your understanding of brushwork and tone.
• Drawing with the help of a model. This section gives opportunity for students to practice how to use materials and techniques and how to approach a complete picture.
• Nature drawing - excursions to a different locations. This section offers for each student to gain a feeling of accomplishment through increased perception and skills, while enjoying the atmosphere of this historic and inspirational setting.
• Topography and area.
• Layout and architecture of the military forts during the Principate and the Late Antique Period.
7. Ceramic and Metal restoration
This is an training course for restoration of pottery and metal finds and production of replicas of antiquities. The course gives basic knowledge on manufacturing techniques of the ancient artefacts.
During the course the following topics will be covered:
• Theory. How to work with clay - kneading, types of clay, paints.
• Practical work. How to work with special chemicals for restoration.
•How to clean metal finds. Establish level of preservation. Partial restoration.
8. Ceramic analysis
One of the primary objectives is to produce a secure pottery chronology for the site from its first occupation down to and including the post-medieval period. The aim of this survey is to publish the material collected during the excavations, to date that material, and to include sufficient primary data to substantiate the conclusions drawn from the analysis of the assemblages.
All pottery from all contexts will be collected, bagged and sent for washing. After cleaning, the pottery from each context will be sorted by ware, counted and weighed. This information will be entered on a Pottery Context Record Sheet. Diagnostic sherds will be subject to further study and a type series will be created. Traditional methods of type classification will be used to determine what is and what not a new type is.