APOLLONIA PONTICA EXCAVATION PROJECT 2012

Location: Sozopol, Bulgaria

Season Dates: August 1, 2012 - August 30, 2012
Session Dates: Session 1: August 1-15, 2012; Session 2: August 16 - 30, 2012
Application Deadline: July 1, 2012

Website: http://www.bhfieldschool.org/bh2011apexc.html

Affiliation: Balkan Heritage Field School / Foundation (BH) - Bulgaria, Apollonia Pontica Excavation Team - Bulgaria, Archaeological Museum of Sozopol - Bulgaria and New Bulgarian University (NBU) - Bulgaria

Project Director: Dr. Krastina Panayotova, National Institute of Archaeology and Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and Teodora Bogdanova, Balkan Heritage archaeologist

Project Description

Despite being one of the largest and richest Ancient Greek colonies in the Black sea region, Apollonia Pontica (present-day Sozopol, Bulgaria) was famous in Antiquity because of the colossal statue of Apollo by Calamis. According to Pliny the Elder (Pliny 34.29) and Strabo (Strabo, 7.319) the 13-meter high bronze sculpture cost 500 Talents. It was raised in the fifth  century BC in/in front of the temple dedicated to Apollo Ietros (the Healer) - patron deity of Apollonia Pontica. In 72 BC the Romans  under Marcus Lucullus sacked the city and the colossal sculpture was transported to Rome as a trophy. It was exhibited for several centuries on the Capitoline Hill. During the Early Christian period it was lost - probably destroyed as many other pagan artefacts.
Epigraphic sources mention that the temple of Apollo was situated on an island, identified by most of the scholars with St. Kirik Island - the closest one to the ancient city. However, until recently there was no archaeological evidence where the temple was situated.
The tiny island of St. Kirik is connected with the mainland  and the Old Town Quarter of Sozopol by a short and narrow breakwater (built in 1927). Its name originates  from the medieval monastery dedicated to St. Kirik and St.Yulita (St. Cyricus and his mother St. Julitta) that once existed there. The first archaeological survey on the island was conducted in 1904 by the French consul and scholar L. Degrand. The results from the excavations were never published and many precious artefacts from Archaic and Classical Greek period found there were transported to France and exhibited in the Louvre. For app. 100 years after that the territory of St. Kirik Island was used as a military zone by the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence. In 2005 the island was demilitarized and in 2009 the Apollonia Pontica Excavation Team lead by Dr. Krastina Panayotova restarted the excavations.  For the last two years the team unearthed there:

• Archaic Greek settlement that existed here prior to the temenos (seventh-sixth century BC)
• A Late Archaic temple complex: a temple and an altar (late sixth - early fifth century BC) - presumably belonging to the famous temple of Apollo; 
• An oval altar and a temple from the Hellenistic period (fourth century BC);
• An Ancient Greek tholos;
• Three Ancient Greek bothroi (pit altars);
• An Ancient Greek Copper Foundry; 
• Early Byzantine basilica and necropolis (fifth - seventh century AD).

The great discovery convinced Bulgarian Government to declare the island  as a cultural heritage sight and to designate some of the abandoned military buildings  to be turned into a museum. Of course, after the surrounding area is excavated.

Season 2012 envisions excavations on the island top in the area western from the Archaic temple and northern from the Ancient Greek Copper Foundry where presumably structures and features of the Ancient Greek sacred precinct (temenos) and the Early Byzantine necropolis are expected to be found.

Come and help the project team reveal the secrets of the forgotten temple of Apollo! Two field school sessions of the project are available in 2012 - each includes the following three modules: fieldwork, educational course (lectures, workshops and field trainings in Classic and Field Archaeology), and excursions to archaeological and cultural sights in Sozopol and Nesebar (UNESCO World Heritage Site) as well as to some beautiful Black sea beaches and popular resorts.

Participants, who join all the two project sessions are going to have different schedule during the second session, including:

1. An excursion to the megalithic complex of Begliktash and one of beaches in the area (it will take place during the second session exclusively for participants in both project sessions);
2. (In the afternoons) Lab work related to the finds' processing, archaeological record and illustration of artifacts as well as conservation and restoration of pottery (esp. Ancient Greek pottery).

All participants will receive:

• Project Handbook (in PDF version by e-mail and a hard copy on arrival);
• Balkan Heritage Field School Certificate specifying the fieldwork hours, educational modules, and sites visited.

Participants will use the tools and equipment available at the site and are not expected to bring any additional equipment.

Minimum Age: 18

Academic Credit: The New Bulgarian University grants six credits to students for participation in one project session and nine credits for participation in two sessions. Transcript is available upon request for an additional tuition fee.
Tuition: €330/495 for 6/9 credits (for students outside EU). Participants who don't need academic credits, won't be expected to pay for the tuition fee.

Room and Board Arrangements

In a brand new uptown hotel rooms (with two to three beds, bathrooms with WC and shower), equipped with air-conditioning and TV. Wi-Fi on the first floor and in the garden. The hotel offers free sauna,  jacuzzi and a magnificent sunbathing area on the top-terrace.  Single rooms are available upon request for an additional fee of €350. The hotel is located very close to the beaches (5 min by walking), Old Town Quarter (10 min by walking) and not far from the site (15-20 min by walking). Three meals per day are covered by the admission fee. Requests for vegetarian food are also accepted!

EARLY REGISTRATION ADMISSION FEE (BY JANUARY 1st 2012) :  €1,259 (app. $1,650)

REGULAR ADMISSION FEE: €1,399 (app. $1,800)

The admission fee includes all educational and practical activities, tools and materials, full-board accommodation (incl. meals), excursions/sightseeing tours/entrance fees, Project Handbook, issue of Certificate of Attendance and administrative costs. 

*5% discount off the regular admission fee available in case of:
   1. Participation in more than 1 BH project or project session in 2012.(5% discount is valid for all the projects/sessions to be attended).
   2. Membership in the Archaeological Institute of America.
 
*10% discount off the regular admission fee available in case of:

1. Early registration (before 1 January 2012).
2. Participation in any BH project/s in the past.

FOR CONTACTS: +359 42 235 402; + 359 888 165 402; balkanheritage@gmail.com ; www.bhfieldschool.org