The Bulgarian city of Stara Zagora, like many towns in Europe, the Mediterranean and the Middle East, was built atop the debris from thousands of years of continuous human settlement. Most famously, the modern city hides the remnants of the major walled Roman town of Avgusta Traiana, originally founded by the emperor Trajan in 107 A.D. Avgusta Traiana expanded under subsequent emperors and became the second largest city of the Thracian province. Although the Roman town was ultimately destroyed by successive attacks from Goths, Huns, Avars and Slavs, the sixth century saw the establishment of the new town of Beroe on the earlier ruins. During the Medieval period, Beroe became an important and often contested political and administrative center of the Byzantine and Bulgarian empires.

Because so much history is buried beneath Stara Zagora, all new construction projects begin with an archaeological study of the proposed building site. For over 50 years, archaeologists from the city’s museum have worked diligently to rescue, record and preserve as many of the area’s archaeological treasures as possible. In the process, they have helped locate the walls and gates of the Roman city, discovered one of its major forums, and uncovered fragments of public baths, streets and private buildings. In 2009, the excavators anticipate they will be conducting rescue excavations in at least six different areas of the city, presumably uncovering Roman and Byzantine levels.

Volunteers will be housed two to three to a room in a comfortable hotel. Rooms are equipped with air-conditioning, televisions and full bathrooms. The hotel is located next to a sports complex with tennis courts, jogging tracks and swimming pools.

Georgi Iliev is the director of the Avgusta Traiana excavation and heads the Department of Classical and Late Antique Archaeology at the Stara Zagora Regional History Museum.