Macedonian Archaeological Field Program

The US Macedonian Archaeological Collaborative Field Program is a collaboration between Macedonian archaeologists from NI Institute and Museum Bitola, PSI Institute of Old Slavic Culture - Prilep, Goce Delcev University - Stip,  and archaeologists from Cal Poly Humboldt, along with visiting archaeologists from around the globe. Our research is serving to help illuminate the impacts of socioeconomic and environmental change associated with governance by the wealthy Macedonian kingdom and subjugation under Roman conquest. We ask how these socioeconomic realities impact the use of the environment and how they are reflected in the archaeological record. 

The field program focuses on North Macedonia, at archaeological sites dating to and just before the Hellenistic, or Macedonian, Era (323 BCE - 30 BCE), and leading into the Roman conquest and formation of the early days of the Roman Empire (to about 100 CE).  

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Alexander the Great was king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon from 336 BCE - 323 BCE  He is one of the most infamous warriors in history, having overseen conquering much of the world known to him and beyond. He spread Hellenistic culture throughout eastern Europe and Asia, while adopting many aspects of Middle Eastern and Asian cultural attributes, bringing those traditions back to Europe.  

Before Alexander the Great conquered Persia in 336-323 BCE, his father Phillip II, King of Macedon conquered the Greek City-states in 359-336 BCE. Before Phillip II became King, Macedon was essentially ruled by his mother Eurydice I, Queen of Macedon from 393-369 BCE. Eurydice is the first Macedonian woman known to hold public power in eastern Europe as her husband, the King, was a relatively weak figure with little appetite or skill in ruling the kingdom. 

The program currently focuses on two sites, Crnobuki and Demir Kapija. Crnobuki is a village located within ancient Upper Macedonia in the region known as Lynkestia, the birthplace of Eurydice, Alexander the Great’s grandmother. The site at Crnobuki may, in fact, be where she was born and raised.  

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After the death of Eurydice’s grandson, Alexander the Great, Macedonia settled into a period of extreme wealth and experienced significant infrastructure improvements, a flourishing of the arts, and nearly a century of stability, 307-214 BCE. Under the rule of Phillip V, Macedonia became embroiled in their first wars with the expanding Roman Republic, 214-148 BCE. The first battle between Macedonia and Rome was fought by the Macedonians from the location at Crnobuki. Phillip V observed the Roman army from the location we are excavating!  

Our research is serving to help understand the impacts of socioeconomic and environmental change associated with governance by the wealthy Macedonian kingdom and subjugation under Roman conquest. We are investigating the thriving economy and major infrastructure improvements under a Macedonian Kingdom contrasted with a highly restricted economy under Roman subjugation. We ask how these socioeconomic realities impact the use of the environment and how they are reflected in the archaeological record.

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Crnobuki is a village located within ancient Upper Macedonia in the region known as Lynkestia, the birthplace of Eurydice, Alexander the Great’s grandmother. At Crnobuki, we are focusing on exploring an acropolis.

Demir Kapija, or Iron Gates, is located in a militarily strategic geography along a major river, the Vardar, it has been defended by a series of seven fortresses spanning at least 1500 years. Classical, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman eras are all represented.

*You do not need to be a student at Cal Poly Humboldt to attend the field school*

This program will be unlike any other course you have had before. Most of the learning will take place by doing real, hands-on archaeological excavations and analysis at active international research sites! This program is an opportunity to learn archaeological methods hands-on while working on actual sites in Macedonia and learning about Macedonian history and culture! We will work near the cities of Bitola and Negotino, in the Pelagonian and Paeonian regions of North Macedonia, in Southeastern Europe.

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The field program involves hands-on archaeological activities at one or both of the field sites. You will spend many hours in the field taking part in excavations and analyzing artifacts in the on-site lab. There will also be field/lab lectures. Students will be immersed in Macedonian culture, living and working side by side with the people of the host country. In addition to learning and doing archaeology, you will learn about North Macedonia cultures and cultural sensitivity, among other things. You will experience Macedonian culture and history firsthand by touring historical sites in North Macedonia and Greece, and your work will contribute to the body of knowledge associated with how the peoples of the Balkan region lived throughout time and space. In these studies your contribution will reveal the relationships of living Balkan culture to those of the past, contributing to regional historical context at a global scale.  

You will reflect upon and write about your experiences. Attending an archaeology field program requires physical labor, a great sense of humor, mutual respect and support of your peers, and a great attitude. The instructors and course assistant will teach you how to carry out survey, excavation, and laboratory techniques.  You will be asked to put into practice everything you are learning. 

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COURSES/UNITS

• ANTH 359, US Macedonian Archaeological Collaborative Field Program (4 units). This is the required course associated with the field school. All field school participants are enrolled in this course when they join the program. There will be orientation meetings (attend in person or via Zoom) in May. The course then takes place in Macedonia from May 22 - June 19, 2027.
• ANTH 485 International Archaeology Research (2 units). This is an optional course. Students taking this course will complete a research paper related to the program along with a combination of responses to readings and/or additional lab/field hours in Macedonia.
• There are no prerequisites for these courses, and students are enrolled in them through Cal Poly Humboldt after they are accepted into the program.
• Students should contact their academic advisors to discuss how this program may count towards fulfillment of their program requirements. 

LOGISTICS

• Students in the program will be provided lodging, restroom, and shower facilities. Cell phone reception is generally good, and Internet/Wi-Fi will be intermittent.
• Meals will be provided from the first day of the program (upon arrival at the field site) through the last day of the program (prior to departing the field site).  
• The field school schedule typically involves working during the day Mon-Fri on site, in the field and/or lab. Weekends include some group trips and free time.

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DATES FOR SUMMER 2027: May 22- June 19, 2027 in Macedonia

• Prior to attending: All students are required to complete pre-departure advising through Cal Poly Humboldt. In person and online options will be available. Information will be provided to participants.
• Prior to departure: There will be informational and orientation meetings in the months and weeks leading up to the program. If you are an Anthropology major or grad student at Cal Poly Humboldt, or if you apply to the program, you will receive an announcement about these. Other interested individuals should contact the program director, Nick Angeloff. Also, ahead of the program, participants will be provided materials to help prepare (syllabi, recommended items to bring, travel information, historical context of the site, etc.).
• Arrival: It is recommended that students arrive at/near Macedonia at least one or two full days ahead of the May 22 start date. Many students enjoy arriving ahead and touring the region. The field school bus picks students up in Skopje, Macedonia at 8:00 am on the first day of the program. Skopje is the capital, which is about a 2.5 hour drive from the field sites. Students are advised to plan their flight to and from the Skopje International Airport (SKP / LWSK). Students attending the program will be provided additional pickup information.
• After the program: Bus returns students to Skopje, anticipated arrival in Skopje by 12:00 noon on the last day of the program. From this point, students may continue travel independently or depart via the airport. If leaving directly after the program, students are advised to plan their flight no sooner than 2:00 pm. We recommend planning the departing flight at least a day after the program to give yourself time to sight-see.
• Any travel/activities prior to pickup on the first day of the program or after the drop-off on the last day of the program is optional and not covered by program fees.

There are three main associated costs: program fee, tuition, and travel to and from Macedonia. All costs are given in US dollars.

• Program fee: $3120 (preliminary but unlikely to change). The program fee covers in-Macedonia costs between pick-up and drop-off at Skopje, Macedonia. This includes travel from Skopje to the sites and back, lodging, meals during the program, and health insurance. Students are responsible for additional costs for any choice travel, outings, and snacks, etc, before/during/after the program.
• Tuition: $330 per unit for 2-6 units (total of $660-$1980). The main course for the program is ANTH 359, which is 4 units ($1320). The optional additional course is ANTH 485, which is 2 units ($660). For students that prefer fewer units and do not need 6 for financial aid eligibility, with permission from faculty, it may be possible to enroll in just the 2 units ANTH 485. With permission from the program director, it is also possible to attend for 0 units. *There is no additional cost for out-of-state students (out-of-state students pay the same as in-state students).
• Travel to and from Macedonia: Cost varies. Students are responsible for their own travel to and from Skopje, Macedonia. Cost varies depending on time of purchase and travel choices. Flights are generally least expensive if purchased well in advance and if flying from a major airport (e.g., SFO). Flying from the East Coast is generally less expensive. There is usually an increase in price a few months beforehand, and sometimes (not always) a fall in price about 2 months ahead (use caution if waiting to see if this happens - sometimes it just keeps increasing). Specific information will be provided to attendees. Students are advised to not purchase airfare until their acceptance to the program is verified; however, keep in mind that fares may be lower with early purchase. Students are advised to purchase flight insurance; the program shall not reimburse students for airfare if for any reason the student does not attend the program or if incorrect flights are purchased prior to confirming arrival information with faculty.

Fee due dates:

• If accepted into the program, a deposit of approximately $400 (part of the program fee) will be due by February, 2027. The remaining fees and tuition will be due between the middle to end of the Spring semester. Cal Poly Humboldt students expecting financial aid for summer may be eligible for deferment of the anticipated aid amount. Additional details, including exact due dates, will be provided in advance. 

Funding: 

• Financial aid for summer is a bit different than it is for Fall and Spring. Students typically need to be enrolled in at least 6 summer units in order to get financial aid. Students can discuss options with advisor/department chair and the Office of Financial Aid. Summer financial aid usually not dispersed until mid summer, well after program fees are due and plane tickets need to be purchased (early-mid spring). For all of these reasons, students are advised to consider planning their spring budget/aid to cover costs.
• Contact the Financial Aid office to discuss options.
• Contact the Study Abroad office for recommendations.
• Additional limited sources include:
  • https://www.scholarships.com/financial-aid/college-scholarships/scholarship-directory/academic-major/archaeology
  • https://www.archaeological.org/grant/waldbaum-scholarship/

Applications for Summer 2027 are now open! 

• The application deadline is Feb 1, 2027, to complete both steps. Early application is recommended - seats may be filled as applications are received. Applications received after the application deadline will be considered if spots are available.

The application process has two steps:

• STEP 1: Initial application, linked here
  • This is for applicants to indicate their interest and qualifications, and to receive an initial response about acceptance. 
  • Part of this process includes getting a recommendation from at least two faculty members familiar with your work (here is link to the form for recommenders to complete).
• STEP 2: Final application through Cal Poly Humboldt Study Abroad 
  • Final applications will open by the end of Fall 2026 and are due no later than February 1, 2027.
  • The final application is where you provide information necessary to enroll in the program, such as additional contact information, dietary preferences, passport information, etc.

Application review:

• Applications will be evaluated based on the date of application, alignment of the program to applicant goals and experience, and evaluation of preparedness, based on information provided during the application process. Any significant/relevant incidences of academic dishonesty, disruptive behavior, or convictions may preclude participation (you may discuss with program faculty if relevant).
• Initial decisions will be made based on Step 1 applications. Applicants can complete the Step 2 final application either after or while awaiting a decision from Step 1. Applicants will typically be notified of a decision within two weeks of the application deadline if not sooner. Applicants can also check with the program faculty regarding their acceptance.

Note: All individuals that would like to attend the program should start with the initial application (Step 1). 

• After the initial application is complete, if accepted, most people should follow up with the final application. This includes people that are students and not students at Cal Poly Humboldt - meaning anyone who wants to attend and participate in the full program. This includes new participants, previous participants seeking to return as student crew leads and/or crew leads in training, and graduate students seeking to attend for thesis research.
• Those that are seeking to participate in only part of the program (typically half or less) may not be required to complete the final application. Volunteers cannot earn units will be responsible for their own costs and logistics, which will typically not be a savings compared to program fees unless the participation is short term. Typically, volunteers will only be considered if capacity exists after other applicants are served. Volunteers may also have more limited access to program facilities, experiences, and resources.

Multiple faculty and staff are involved from Cal Poly Humboldt, Macedonia, and elsewhere. For additional information and to inquire about the program, please contact the US Program Director:

Nicolas Angeloff, Program Director, naa2@humboldt.edu