Tell Nenova – Digging in the Time of Troy

The archaeological field school at Tell Nenova, located in southern Bulgaria, offers students a unique opportunity to work at one of Europe’s largest unexplored tell sites. This large settlement mound, which rises 10 to 12 meters above the modern landscape, preserves an exceptional sequence of human occupation. The current project focuses on the Early Bronze Age (3rd millennium BCE). Although no specific information about the Early Bronze Age settlement can be provided before the archaeological excavations begin in 2026, the site appears very promising for archaeological fieldwork due to its intact cultural layer.

Excavations of the inner part of the tell are expected to answer questions such as: Were households differentiated? How were private and public spaces used? What was the nature of the ties between households? Did inequality exist? What were the patterns of craft specialization, production, and consumption?

Due to the lack of burial data and scarce published evidence from settlements, crucial information about the nature of EBA societal organization remains elusive. Although prestige goods have been found in tumuli burials, evidence from the plans of a few excavated settlements suggests a largely egalitarian socio-political organization. This is of great importance given the current interest in studying levelling mechanisms and various strategies for social integration. One of the crucial questions at the settlement scale is the possible influence of wheeled transportation on house arrangement and village planning.

The flat surroundings of the tell are also part of the research agenda. Geophysical investigations will reveal whether they are defensive installations, such as ditches, for example. It is unclear if Early Bronze Age (EBA) tell sites in Upper Thrace represented entire villages or central citadels surrounded by lighter auxiliary buildings. While it is highly probable that EBA tells were surrounded by animal pens, workshops and other installations, this remains largely unproven.

The regional archaeological landscape is extremely important as it will provide the context in which the excavation results from Nenova Tell and the surrounding area will be incorporated and interpreted. Geomagnetic investigations at three additional tell sites in the region were recently conducted. The presence of an Early Bronze Age flat site located approximately two kilometers east of Nenova Tell creates opportunities to study the relationship between tells and flat sites. The factors that led to the choice of one type of settlement over another remain largely unclear. This variability in the Early Bronze Age is another understudied aspect of this period. Taking a broader view, DNA evidence from individuals buried in tumuli east of the Nenova tell indicates steppe ancestry. Further evidence will shed light on the patterns of cohabitation, mixture, and mobility of people with different DNA.

During the 2026 excavation season, students and researchers will explore theoretical questions about the use of space, mobility, and contact studies by combining settlement archaeology, 3D documentation, and various scientific methods.

Studying tell sites is an excellent way to learn about past societies and social thinking in general.