AIA News

September 1, 2026

Announcing the #DigThis Photo Challenge Winners


The #DigThis Photo Challenge put participants’ creativity and photography skills to the test! From June 1 through August 31, archaeology enthusiasts captured images inspired by a variety of fun photo prompts on the #DigThis bingo card.

Participants could complete bingo rows vertically, horizontally, or diagonally, with each completed row counting as an entry into the prize drawing. The more rows completed, the more chances participants had to win!

Congratulations to our randomly selected winners John Turek and Nichole Reed!

Photographer: John Turek

1. Your Most Sunburned, Dusty, or Rain-Soaked Moment
Location: Malta
Caption: Standing in front of a stone dwelling near Roman-era apiaries.

2. Water Features
Location: Bath, England
Caption: The ancient Aqua Sulis baths in Bath, England.

3. A Place That Feels Frozen in Time
Location: Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, England
Caption: Stonehenge, a prehistoric monument that has stood on Salisbury Plain for thousands of years.

4. Local Landmark
Location: Malta
Caption: The remains of a Roman villa in Malta.

Photographer: Nichole Reed

1. Your Most Sunburned, Dusty, or Rain-Soaked Moment
Location: Ireland
Caption: The first named storm of Ireland’s rainy season also happened to be my first archaeology class trip to the Emerald Isle!

2. Water Features
Location: Hadrian’s Villa, Tivoli, Italy
Caption: One of the many, many water features at Hadrian’s Villa. I felt like I belonged there just as much as the statues.

3. A Place That Feels Frozen in Time
Location: Pompeii, Italy
Caption: Would it really be a “frozen in time” photo if it wasn’t Pompeii’s frescoes?

4. Local Landmark
Location: Rome, Italy
Caption: When you go to school for archaeology in Rome, there’s one COLOSSAL local landmark you simply can’t ignore.

Thank you to everyone who participated and shared their archaeological adventures with us!

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