Home Vinica field school 2013

Vinica field school 2013

 

Coordinator Dimitrovska Vasilka, M.A. in archaeology, HAEMUS – Center for scientific
research and promotion of culture
Director of excavation Antonio Jakimovski PhD, Department of Archeology, University of Skopje
Supervisor Elizabeta Dimitrova PhD, Department of Archeology, University of Skopje
Sponsors Haemus – Center for scientific research (Macedonia)
City Museum Vinica (Macedonia)
Period Prehistory, Hellenistic, Roman, Late Antique, early Byzantine (3rd millennium BC – 7 century AD)
Periods for this campaign Late Hellenistic, Roman, Early Byzantine.
Dates 01, 16,  30 July 2013
Apply by 15 June 2013
Team size Staff: 5
Participants max 15
The project is suitable for both, beginners and advanced participants in field archaeology! Students of archaeology and similar disciplines welcome, but previous fieldwork experience is not necessary
Minimum stay One session (15 days)
Minimum age 18 years
Language English
Costs €850 – including tuition, fieldwork activities, full board accommodation, excursions/sightseeing tours/entrance fees, and administrative costs. Travel to and from Vinica is not included.
Board & lodging Provided & included in cost – for more detail click here

 

Information about archaeological field school at Vinica Fortress 2012

ABOUT VINICA AND VINICA FORTRESS
ACCOMODATION
STUFF AND AGENDA
WORKSHOPS | LECTURES
EXCURSIONS
– APPLICATION

Contact: Dimitrovska Vasilka, HAEMUS – Center for scientific research and promotion of culture, str. Nikola trimpare.8A, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia.

Tel: +389 77 524987, e-mail: contact@haemus.org.mk; webhttps://haemus.org.mk

vinica museum and fortress

As a result of knowledge regarding the existence of a larger number of archaeological sites in the area among the middle course of the river Bregalnica, especially those in close connection to the town Vinica and its immediate surroundings (knowledge gathered throughout the period of several past years documented in the Archaeological map of the Republic of Macedonia (MANU, volume 1 (1994) and volume 2, Skopje (1996)), today we are aware of intensive life occurring in this area throughout the times of the: Neolithic, Eneolithic, Bronze, Iron, Early Antique, Roman, Late Antique, Early Christian and Middle Age periods.

New archaeological investigations will be of immense importance in discovering the history of this region prior to becoming a part of the Roman Empire, since the prehistoric and early antiquity material evidence is rare and often found accidentally, while exploring the terrain.

However, under Roman rule, one of the larger settlements within the area was positioned approximately in the present location of the town Vinica. Remains of that settlement have so far been found at several locations. Its expansion throughout Roman time, is without doubt connected to the intensification of trading, mining, metal processing and pottery, of which there are serious traces.

Throughout that period, the need for protection of people and acquired riches was clearly raised, and therefore at Vinica Fortress as a convenient strategic point, a fortified city (castle) was erected. The fortified city covered an interior surface of approximately 2.5 hectares.

During the Early Christian period, life in Vinica Fortress was in full bloom. We hereby take into consideration the archaeological finding of terracotta relief, also known as the terracotta icons from Vinica, a unique of this kind in the entire world. The terracotta icons are an affirmation of the highly developed knowledge of the Christian religion and its complex symbolism even in the 5-6th centuries.

The terracotta icons from Vinica are clay plates, molded so that their front contains a relief impression with a specific iconographic content made in several identical replicas. The motifs are from the Old and the New Testament.
All the relief forms have been created in a way that indicates a profound comprehension of the religion, which one rarely encounters outside the Byzantine metropolis.

The significance of these artifacts is even greater because their purpose or exact function is still covered in mystery and lays hidden beneath the vast unexplored area around and in the fortress. Numerous archaeologists and art historians are still trying to solve the puzzle left by the former residents of the Vinica’s fortress.