The Texas Foundation for Archaeological & Historical Research
On-Going Projects
TFAHR Archaeology Projects
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
An on-going project of the Foundation is the Tell Ubivis Project. With teachers
who have been on Foundation excavations, Foundation members recreate back
in Texas the excavation experience for the teachers’ students. This involves
recreating an actual archaeological dig. Foundation members and volunteers
build a set of ruins, seed the ruins with artifacts, and cover it all up.
The students are then directed by the teachers in the art of uncovering and
interpreting the past. As on a real dig, the students excavate, clean and restore
pottery, and write about their interpretation of what they found. The Foundation
started this Tell Ubivis Project with teachers from Annunciation Greek Orthodox
School in Houston who had been on Foundation digs overseas. The Tell Ubivis
project was constructed at Mountain Valley School in Sattler, and excavated by
fifth-grade students in the Spring of 2006. TFAHR is currently organizing the
project for the 2008-2009 school year at Startzville Elementary School.
who have been on Foundation excavations, Foundation members recreate back
in Texas the excavation experience for the teachers’ students. This involves
recreating an actual archaeological dig. Foundation members and volunteers
build a set of ruins, seed the ruins with artifacts, and cover it all up.
The students are then directed by the teachers in the art of uncovering and
interpreting the past. As on a real dig, the students excavate, clean and restore
pottery, and write about their interpretation of what they found. The Foundation
started this Tell Ubivis Project with teachers from Annunciation Greek Orthodox
School in Houston who had been on Foundation digs overseas. The Tell Ubivis
project was constructed at Mountain Valley School in Sattler, and excavated by
fifth-grade students in the Spring of 2006. TFAHR is currently organizing the
project for the 2008-2009 school year at Startzville Elementary School.
Mountain Valley School, Canyon Lake, Texas.
Startzville Elementary School, Canyon Lake, Texas.
Startzville Elementary School, Canyon Lake, Texas.
June - July 2006. Gloska Čuka (Grciste), Republic of Macedonia.
Gloska Čuka is a site some ten kilometers north of the Greek-Macedonian
border on the shores of the Vardar River. TFAHR archaeologists visited this
remote site in 1994, but decided at that time that the logistics involved in
excavating the site were too daunting. Since that time, a road has been laid to
the nearby village of Grciste, making the site more accessible to archaeologists -
and to grave robbers. Our colleagues from the University of Saints Cyril and
Methodius (Skopje) informed us in 2005 that there had been considerable
clandestine activity at the site and that it would be important to properly excavate
the site before it was thoroughly destroyed.
Gloska Čuka, a hill whose summit rises some 120 meters above sea level,
consists of a high plateau (the acropolis), some lower terraces, and surrounding
burial fields in the plains. TFAHR and our Macedonian colleagues decided to
begin excavating on both the acropolis and on one of the lower terraces.
On the lower terrace the remains of an Iron Age house with an infant burial in the
center were uncovered.
On the acropolis eight 5 x 5 meter trenches were opened at various locations to
ascertain the nature of the settlement there. A wealth of ceramics, terracotta
figurines, metal objects, and coins was discovered, the dating of which led us to
surmise that the acropolis was inhabited from at least the fifth century BC to,
perhaps, the first century BC or AD. It must be stressed, however, that bedrock
or virgin soil was not reached in all trenches. The evidence from two of the
trenches suggests that there were at least four distinct building phases on the
acropolis. Click here for photos of the site
border on the shores of the Vardar River. TFAHR archaeologists visited this
remote site in 1994, but decided at that time that the logistics involved in
excavating the site were too daunting. Since that time, a road has been laid to
the nearby village of Grciste, making the site more accessible to archaeologists -
and to grave robbers. Our colleagues from the University of Saints Cyril and
Methodius (Skopje) informed us in 2005 that there had been considerable
clandestine activity at the site and that it would be important to properly excavate
the site before it was thoroughly destroyed.
Gloska Čuka, a hill whose summit rises some 120 meters above sea level,
consists of a high plateau (the acropolis), some lower terraces, and surrounding
burial fields in the plains. TFAHR and our Macedonian colleagues decided to
begin excavating on both the acropolis and on one of the lower terraces.
On the lower terrace the remains of an Iron Age house with an infant burial in the
center were uncovered.
On the acropolis eight 5 x 5 meter trenches were opened at various locations to
ascertain the nature of the settlement there. A wealth of ceramics, terracotta
figurines, metal objects, and coins was discovered, the dating of which led us to
surmise that the acropolis was inhabited from at least the fifth century BC to,
perhaps, the first century BC or AD. It must be stressed, however, that bedrock
or virgin soil was not reached in all trenches. The evidence from two of the
trenches suggests that there were at least four distinct building phases on the
acropolis. Click here for photos of the site
TFAHR Current Projects
| "Ruins" constructed by the TFAHR team at Mountain Valley School. Click on photo to enlarge. |
| The House of the Pithoi at Vardarski Rid. Click on photo to enlarge. |
Recent Projects
July 2006. Morodvis, Republic of Macedonia.
| Early Christian and Medieval churches at Morodvis. Click on photo to enlarge. |
For further information,
please e-mail us at
info@tfahr.org
please e-mail us at
info@tfahr.org
The village of Morodvis is what remains of the medieval town of Morobisdon, an
important episcopal center of the Byzantine era. Excavation of the site began
twenty years ago under the direction of Macedonian archaeologists, uncovering
at that time three churches, one built atop the other, dating from the fifth to the
thirteenth century, and an extensive cemetery of over 250 graves that was dug
into the area after the last church fell into ruin. In 2006 TFAHR was invited to
help resume work on the site, after excavations had been interrupted for eight
years.
We decided to concentrate our excavations north of the narthex of the last
church, where a number of graves had already been unearthed. Not only did
we excavate another four graves, but we discovered unexpected remains from
the last church and from earlier periods. Click here for photos of the site
important episcopal center of the Byzantine era. Excavation of the site began
twenty years ago under the direction of Macedonian archaeologists, uncovering
at that time three churches, one built atop the other, dating from the fifth to the
thirteenth century, and an extensive cemetery of over 250 graves that was dug
into the area after the last church fell into ruin. In 2006 TFAHR was invited to
help resume work on the site, after excavations had been interrupted for eight
years.
We decided to concentrate our excavations north of the narthex of the last
church, where a number of graves had already been unearthed. Not only did
we excavate another four graves, but we discovered unexpected remains from
the last church and from earlier periods. Click here for photos of the site
June - July 2007. Vardarski Rid (Gevgelija), Republic of Macedonia.
Click here to for a summary report about the summer 2007 TFAHR International
Field School excavations at Vardarski Rid, and to view a photo album of the
excavation and finds. Reports on the 2006 and 2007 excavations in
Macedonia can be found in the new TFAHR publication, available here.
Field School excavations at Vardarski Rid, and to view a photo album of the
excavation and finds. Reports on the 2006 and 2007 excavations in
Macedonia can be found in the new TFAHR publication, available here.
| Plan of the Acropolis at Gloska Cuka. Click on photo to enlarge. |
| More History and Archaeology Lectures by Dr. Neidinger are available on DVD and CD at Stylus Productions |
| 2007 PUBLICATION FROM TFAHR Featuring reports on: TFAHR Macedonia Excavations TFAHR Photo Archive Tell Ubivis Project |
| 2008 Excavations in Macedonia CLICK HERE for information |
TFAHR is currently organizing our 2008 excavations and International
Field School in Macedonia. Approximately 38 teachers, students and
volunteers will participate. CLICK HERE for information.
Field School in Macedonia. Approximately 38 teachers, students and
volunteers will participate. CLICK HERE for information.
2008 Excavations