The Tundzha Regional Archaeological Project (TRAP) is looking for a committed group of people to continue a regional archaeological survey of the Tundzha River valley. Team members participate in a variety of tasks including field walking, paper and digital documentation, artifact collection and processing, remote sensing and ground truthing, environmental sampling, and trial excavation. Our team at any given time in the field comprises 10-25 researchers, students and volunteers of different backgrounds.
We are currently taking volunteers and staff members for 2022. Contact Adela Sobotkova if you are interested in joining us. Please include this application in your e-mail.
Volunteers: each field season we look for 5-10 independent individuals with good health, strong walking ability, and a sense of humour, who enjoy working in a culturally and linguistically challenging environment! We provide extensive training on-site.
Staff members: we have a limited number of openings. Please apply only if you have expertise in one or more of the following areas:
We have two study areas: (1) The environs of the ancient city of Seuthopolis, near Kazanlak, Bulgaria. We will be surveying in the "Valley of the Thracian Kings". (2) The Yambol region of SE Bulgaria. Yambol is the 2017 fieldwork area.
We normally live in a kushta (guesthouse) or archaeological base in a village in our study area. Both the kushti and the archaeological bases have shared rooms and shared bathrooms (with hot water). An office workspace will be provided. Capacity is limited; space will be allocated on first come first serve basis. For those desiring more fully equipped (and expensive) accomodation, modern hotels are available in both regions.
Team-members will communally prepare their own breakfasts and lunch bags, and enjoy dinner at a kushta. We eat local food and cannot guarantee the ability to cater to special diets.
The official languages of the project are English and Bulgarian. Knowledge of French, German, Russian, Czech, Latin, or modern or ancient Greek may also be useful.
In order to apply for the project, please submit a completed application, updated CV, and two academic or professional references.
Staff members will have their living expenses during the project paid for and, depending on the degree of their expertise, receive a small stipend partly offsetting travel and other costs.
Volunteers are responsible for their travel to site and for their living costs while at the project. We can arrange shared room and full board for approximately USD $500 per week (enquire for current rate). Volunteers staying longer than 3 weeks and returning volunteers are eligible for a discount!
Based on our experiences and those of previous volunteers, we have compiled some travel information, including advice, annoyances and links.
We have also made a list of things to bring, and you may also want to look at "Preparing for a Dig" on the Archaeological Institute of America webpage.
What to bring list can be found here.