070359 EX Field Trip (2026S)
International Summer Field School in Archaeology, History and Cultural Heritage (Pliska, Bulgaria)
Continuous assessment of course work
Labels
Registration/Deregistration
Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).
- Registration is open from Mo 16.02.2026 09:00 to Fr 27.02.2026 14:00
- Registration is open from Mo 02.03.2026 09:00 to We 04.03.2026 14:00
- Deregistration possible until Tu 31.03.2026 23:59
Details
max. 18 participants
Language: English
Lecturers
Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N
Interviews: 10.03.2026. 8:20 - 17:20, via Zoom.
Please note that participation in the interviews (termino and Zoom links sent by email) and completion of the online questionnaire form (see description) prior to the interview are compulsory prerequisites for participation. Those who do not fulfil either will be deregistered.Session 1 (21.04.2026):Introduction
An introductory lecture prior to the start of the field school, where we discuss basic methodologies, and the historical, archaeological and cultural context of Pliska. Students will choose their topics for the essays.Session 2:
Field school (03.08.2026-23.08.2026)Session 3:
Oral presentation of the essays (17-21.08.2026)
- Tuesday 21.04. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 7 Hauptgebäude, Tiefparterre Stiege 9 Hof 5
Information
Aims, contents and method of the course
Assessment and permitted materials
By the end of the field school, students will be equipped with practical archaeological and digital Heritage skills, and will be able to reflect on the critical engagement with the use and abuse of medieval history and heritage. Students will be able to promote cross-cultural and interdisciplinary learning in a field-based setting, and have an interdisciplinary understanding of medieval history, archaeology and heritage.Content and Methods:
Archaeological fieldwork: Excavation of a monumental church and early medieval cemetery in the Outer City of Pliska. Beyond that, students will receive training in documentation, GIS, photogrammetry, and stratigraphic interpretation. Finally, students will participate in thematic lectures (2 per week) on early medieval history, Christianisation, urbanisation, and heritage politics. Besides the thematic lectures, Seminars and site tours will be organised to give a reflection on the civic and political roles of cultural memory.Assessment and Recognition:
Participation in the field school requires full attendance and active contribution to both practical and academic activities. Students will also submit a reflective essay (ca. 3000 words) on one of the core themes of the field school (Christianisation, early medieval urbanism, nomadic cultures, or heritage politics).
Archaeological fieldwork: Excavation of a monumental church and early medieval cemetery in the Outer City of Pliska. Beyond that, students will receive training in documentation, GIS, photogrammetry, and stratigraphic interpretation. Finally, students will participate in thematic lectures (2 per week) on early medieval history, Christianisation, urbanisation, and heritage politics. Besides the thematic lectures, Seminars and site tours will be organised to give a reflection on the civic and political roles of cultural memory.Assessment and Recognition:
Participation in the field school requires full attendance and active contribution to both practical and academic activities. Students will also submit a reflective essay (ca. 3000 words) on one of the core themes of the field school (Christianisation, early medieval urbanism, nomadic cultures, or heritage politics).
Minimum requirements and assessment criteria
Based on active attendance in the field school (60%), the oral presentation (20%) and the written submission of the essay (20%).
Participants are required to be present at the interviews (10.03.2026), and preferably also the online info session (24.02.2026). Those that do not fill out the requested questionnaire form (see description) and take part in the interviews will be deregistered.
Participants are required to be present at the interviews (10.03.2026), and preferably also the online info session (24.02.2026). Those that do not fill out the requested questionnaire form (see description) and take part in the interviews will be deregistered.
Examination topics
Continuous assessment.
Reading list
Association in the course directory
MEd UF GP (Version 2015): UF MA GP 02 Räume der Geschichts- und Politikkultur, EX Räume der historisch-politischen Auseinandersetzung (4 ECTS);
MA Geschichte (Version 2019): PM4 Individuelle Schwerpunktsetzung;
MA Globalgeschichte und Global Studies (Version 2019): PM3/3 Vertiefungen.
MA Geschichte (Version 2019): PM4 Individuelle Schwerpunktsetzung;
MA Globalgeschichte und Global Studies (Version 2019): PM3/3 Vertiefungen.
Last modified: Fr 27.02.2026 14:06
Total hours of on-site activity: 120 hours
(8 contact hours per weekday over 15 weekdays)This summer school, jointly organised by the University of Vienna (Faculty of Historical and CulturalStudies) and the National Institute of Archaeology with Museum - Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (NAIM-BAS), offers students an intensive, practice-based and interdisciplinary introduction to archaeological fieldwork, digital heritage methods, historical lectures and the role of cultural heritage in shaping historicalnarratives and civic identity. Pliska is a unique site in European history; the first early medieval capital ofBulgaria, founded in the eighth century, witnessed the conversion of the society to the Christian faith, resulting in a one-of-a-kind location that encompasses the transformation of a nomadic centre to a vastChristian, early urban centre. In the ninth century, Pliska was larger than Constantinople in size and featured over forty churches combining Western and Eastern influences. As the capital was moved to Preslav at the end of the ninth century, Pliska preserved a rare opportunity to observe the effect of Christianisation on urban planning and transformation. The site has been extensively researched, but due to its sheer size and complexity, it has many more opportunities for future research. The current archaeological investigation of the site features cutting-edge technologies and offers an exciting learning environment. Furthermore, beyond archaeology, Pliska provides the perfect location for immersive, on-site historical learning, both about the historical particularities of the site, the region and the period, and its display and role in cultural heritage and the political use of heritage.
The programme combines excavation work, digital documentation (including drone photogrammetry and GIS), and heritage and history-focused seminarsInformation about the participation conditions:
Open to any student currently enrolled at the Faculty of Historical and Cultural Studies, University of Vienna, but 18 places are limited to students of History. For six students across the Faculty, travel, accommodation, and main meals will be covered. An online info session will be held in the last week of February. Interested students will need to initially register for the class and fill out the questionnaire at:
https://forms.gle/Mx2jTHCqQBH11DwTASubsequently, students will be selected for an interview taking place in the first week of March, followed by a final selection to ensure balanced representation of study progress, fields within the faculty, and gender and the consideration of the financial aid.
The regular cost of the excursion is 75 Euros per day, so altogether 1575 Euros, which covers accommodation, main meals, participation in the summer school and its included field trips, and travel between the summer school site and accommodation, as well as between Varna and Pliska. Students without funding are responsible for arranging their own travel between Vienna and Varna. Students not receiving the funded places will be eligible for the standard partial reimbursement of excursions via the Faculty.