Birth of Europe – Excavations at the Neolithic site of Amzabegovo, North Macedonia 2026 (Balkan Heritage Field School)

Location: Amzabegovo, North Macedonia

Season: July 4, 2026 to August 1, 2026

Session Dates: July 04 - August 01, 2026

Application Deadline: May 1, 2026

Deadline Type: Rolling

Website: https://www.bhfieldschool.org/program/birth-of-europe-excavations-at-the-neolithic-site-of-amzabegovo

Discount for AIA members: 5% discount off the regular admission fee

Program Type:
Field School

RPA Certified:
No

Affiliation:
Municipality Institution People’s Museum, Sveti Nikole (North Macedonia), Austrian Archaeological Institute, and New Bulgarian University (Bulgaria)

Project Director:
Dig director: Dr. Darko Stojanovski, researcher at the Austrian Archaeological Institute focused on the neolithization process of the Balkans; Assistant Professor at the Goce Delchev University in Shtip; Director of several field research projects, including the long-term Amzabegovo project and the “Birth of Europe” field school program; Director of the “Neanderthal Crossroads” field school project of the Balkan Heritage portfolio between 2022 and 2023. Research and Field School Team: Aleksandar Danev, Dr. Andrej Machkovski, Saskia Pail, Max Luger, Dejan Georgiev and Ivan Sarashov Field School Coordinator: Dr. Darko Stojanovski

Project Description:

Amzabegovo is one of the most significant Neolithic sites in the Balkans, centrally located along the dispersal route from the Aegean to the Danube. It is not only an important archaeological site but also a key to understanding the broader patterns of human development and cultural evolution during the Neolithic era in Europe. The site features a sequence of over twenty construction phases, including residential structures, pits, economic buildings, and burial sites. In addition to Neolithic remains, the site also contains the remnants of a Roman villa.

The site first attracted scientific interest in the late 1960s when it was excavated by a joint team from UCLA (USA) and the University of Belgrade (then part of former Yugoslavia). It was established that the site is spread over more than 10 ha and represents the full duration and development of the Neolithic in the Balkan Peninsula. The emblematic white-painted pottery, widely represented here, was seen as a cultural mark of the Neolithic population of the Central Balkans, but at the same time, some Near Eastern elements were noted (especially in the architecture and the use of marble for the production of personal ornaments). This research positioned Amzabegovo as a reference point for Balkan Neolithic studies. After a 50-year hiatus, field research was reinitiated in 2019 through a collaboration between Dr. Darko Stojanovski, serving as Director, and the Municipal Museum of Sveti Nikole, the host institution for the project. Since 2022, partnerships have expanded to include the Austrian Archaeological Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna, as well as several other European specialists. The ongoing project, titled “The First Farming and Urban Centers of Macedonia: Excavations at the Amzabegovo Neolithic Settlement,” represents an international multidisciplinary scientific collaboration. Starting in 2025, the Balkan Heritage Foundation joined the team, and the project is now hosting the “Birth of Europe” Field School Program.

The research questions stemming from the site, with a focus on the Neolithic period, encompass a range of topics such as settlement organization, architecture, demography, economy, diet, human-animal interactions, household organization, and material culture. A key question is understanding the regional dynamics and the role of Amzabegovo as the largest settlement in the cluster of sites within the Bregalnica River basin, as well as its communication and trade routes.

This field school is an amazing opportunity to:

• dig at a Neolithic site in the Republic of North Macedonia
• learn about early farming societies in Europe and their technology, as well as prehistoric archaeology approaches and methods for studying material remains
• Practice all basic excavation and recording techniques in the field
• develop skills in finds retrieval and processing with a focus on Neolithic material culture
• expand knowledge on the European Neolithic and the use of interdisciplinary approaches (geology, biology, physics)
• Visit significant archaeological and historic sites, including the Roman town of Stobi, the Byzantine town of Bargala, the picturesque historic town of Kratovo, the medieval monastery of Lesnovo and the historic center of the capital city of Skopje.

The field school will continue in 2026, in conjunction with the ongoing excavations at the Amzabegovo site. This four-week field school offers a valuable opportunity for both beginners and advanced students, who will be introduced to the methodologies and theoretical knowledge necessary for participating in archaeological excavations of prehistoric sites, and for students with a deeper interest in the Neolithic studies of Europe and the Near East.

Students who are required to prepare field reports and presentations for their universities will receive additional instruction and assistance.

 

Period(s) of Occupation: Neolithic (6300-5000 BCE)

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: Four weeks

Minimum Age: 18 (16 if accompanied by an adult family member)

Experience Required: None

Room and Board Arrangements:
Accommodation: Participants will stay at Hiljadnikov complex, located in the center of Shtip. The venue offers air-conditioned double rooms (twin beds) with a toilet and shower in each room. Guests have free access to Wi-Fi, a washing machine, and basic leisure and sports/training equipment. Bed linens and towels are provided. Single room accommodation is available upon request for an additional charge. The guest house is conveniently situated within walking distance of local amenities. Meals: Three meals per day, featuring organic Macedonian homemade food, are included in the reimbursement fee. During workdays, all meals are typically served at a nearby restaurant. Meals on weekends are also held at the same restaurant, except for lunches provided during excursions. The field school can accommodate vegetarians, vegans, and individuals with lactose intolerance; however, it cannot cater to kosher or gluten-free diets. Participants are responsible for covering any additional days of stay, single room accommodation, as well as extra meals, beverages, services, and products.

Academic Credit:
*IMPORTANT NOTE* Enrollment in the Balkan Heritage Field School (BHFS) through the Balkan Heritage Foundation (BHF) does not include academic credits. Аs part of the BHF–CFS collaboration, US credit units are available to all students. To obtain US credits and certification, apply and enroll directly through the CFS portal; the tuition fee is included in the CFS admission fee: https://www.fieldsciences.org/programs/ For students attending European universities, ECTS credits are also available for an additional fee. To receive ECTS credits, enroll directly through the BHFS and declare your request for credits during the enrollment process.