Period(s) of Occupation: Late Hellenistic, Roman, Early Byzantine (Second century BC - Sixth century AD) 

The historical references and archaeological excavations show a picture of the continuity of occupation in Stobi. The remains of the Archaic (sixth century BC) and Classical period (fifth-fourth century BC), discovered by the excavations, point to the earliest periods of Stobi's history. However, the small quantity of finds from that time and the lack of historical records do not yet indicate  much about the earliest settlement. The first historiography records that mention Stobi are provided by the Roman historian Titus Livy, and concern the period of the second century BC, when (in 197 BC) the Macedonian king Philip V defeated the Dardanians in the vicinity of Stobi. According to Livy, during the Roman conquests in Macedonia, Stobi became an important center for salt trading. In AD 69 Empreror Vespasian granted Stobi the rank of municipium and the right to mint its own coins. Salt trading and the  strategic position between two rivers, on the cross-road of the ancient road along the Vardar valley and branches of Via Diagonalis and Via Egnatia, brought long-term prosperity from first to third centuries AD. Several buildings are dated to this period: the Theater, the first City Wall, Porta Heraclea, part of the Forum Romanorum, Casa Romana, the Synagogue and the water supply system. In 267/69 the city suffered from raids by Goths and Herules. After their devastating attacks, Stobi was rebuilt, but following a different urban model. Most of the building ruins visible today are dated to this period. In the fourth century AD Stobi became an important Christian center and seat of mighty bishops. In the fifth and sixth century, Stobi was the capital city of the Roman province Macedonia Secunda, but suffered from the raids of Huns, Ostrogoths, Avars and Slavs. An earthquake in 518 AD marked the end of urban living in Stobi. In later centuries there are some records for a small Slav community that settled here. The last historical reference regarding Stobi is about the victory of the Byzantine troops over the military crew of Stobi in the eleventh century AD.

For more than a century the ancient city of Stobi has been attracting scientists from all over the World to reveal its secrets. To date only 15% of the territory of Stobi, that is surrounded by  the city wall has been excavated.
In 2010 the field school participants worked at: the Western Necropolis of Stobi (in use from the first century BC to the fifth century AD) and an ancient temple (templum in antis type) dated to the second and the third century  AD.

The excavations in 2011 were focused on the Northern Residential Area of the Ancient Stobi, inhabited from the Late Hellenistic till the Late Roman period. The layers studied in 2011 concern mainly the Roman and  Late Roman periods of existence of that ancient neighborhood.

Next season envisions further excavations at the Northern Residential Area of the Ancient Stobi in correspondence to the efforts of NI Stobi to preserve and display this part of the site. The layers to be studied in 2012 concern mainly the Roman and  Late Roman periods of existence of that ancient neighborhood. They offer an amazing opportunity to all field school participants to study textbook clear stratigraphy, to practice all basic excavation techniques on field and to look through the centuries at the every-day life of Roman citizens of Stobi.

Two field school sessions of the project are available in 2012, each including the following three modules: fieldwork; educational course (lectures, workshops and field trainings in Roman Archaeology), and excursions to the St.Archangel Michael Monastery (10th century), the old towns of Prilep and Bitola, the archaeological site of Heraclea Lyncestis as well as to Ohrid and Ohrid lake (UNESCO World Heritage Site).

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

•     (at the weekends) Guided visit to Skopje;
•     (In the afternoons) Field walking and site recording in the vicinity of Stobi; Extra lab work related to the finds' processing and documentation as well as Workshops for:

1.     Roman pottery and terracotta;
2.     Conservation and Preservation of Roman mosaics;
3.     Roman and Late Roman coins.

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.