The archaeological site of Stobi (North Macedonia) came alive through a series of interpretive workshops that re-imagined Roman daily life.
Rooted in hands-on engagement and value-based storytelling, the programme that brought this site to life during the summer months invited participants not just to learn about history, but to step into it.
Over several days, participants engaged in the reconstruction and playing of Roman board games, handled replicas of ancient arms, and embodied citizens of Stobi by dressing in Roman clothing. These activities transformed archaeology from abstract knowledge into a lived, emotional experience.
The workshops were designed by archaeologist and IE Certified Interpretive Trainer Vasilka Dimitrovska, and coordinated by HAEMUS – Centre for Scientific Research and Promotion of Culture, in collaboration with Ivan Ilić, archaeologist and historical reenactor from Serbia, and Damjan Serafimovski, interpreter and ethnologist at the Museum of the City of Skopje. Together they brought academic research into dialogue with public engagement, bridging the gap between science, education, and community.
A special focus was placed on mentoring young interpreters. By guiding them to take on the roles of Roman citizens, the project not only deepened authenticity but also gave a new generation the confidence to embody heritage and connect it with contemporary audiences.
The interpretive framework combined experiential learning with live interpretation and historical reenactment. Rather than presenting archaeology as distant, the approach encouraged participants to touch, play, and interact, turning passive observation into active meaning-making.
Elements of the programme are already being woven into the wider Storytelling Macedonia platform, which promotes narrative-based, site-specific interpretation across North Macedonia. The long-term vision is to continue developing activities that reinforce the bond between archaeology, education, and the public, while highlighting heritage as a shared value.
This initiative at Stobi demonstrates how live interpretation can transform archaeological sites into participatory spaces, where the past is not only studied, but felt, embodied, and re-imagined in ways that matter today.
Vasilka Dimitrovska is an IE certified interpretive trainer. She is director of HAEMUS – Center for Scientific Research and Promotion of Culture, and founder of Storytelling Skopje and Storytelling Macedonia. She can be contacted at: dimitrovska@haemus.org.mk.
