Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East Tours Led by Harvard Students
2024-11-03 13:00 - 14:00, 2024-11-10 13:00 - 14:00, 2024-11-17 13:00 - 14:00, 2024-11-24 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-02-02 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-02-09 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-02-16 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-02-23 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) and 7 more dates | Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East, 6 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02138, United States
Available during the Harvard academic year Sundays at 1:00 pm, October 6, 2024–April 27, 2025. See blackout dates.*
*Blackout dates: December 1, 2024–January 26, 2025; and March 16–23, 2025.
This free tour, led by Harvard students, explores the Mediterranean Marketplaces: Connecting the Ancient World exhibition and how the movement of goods, peoples, and ideas around the ancient Mediterranean transformed the lives and livelihoods of people at all levels of society. Touch replicas and smell “ancient” scents as the students bring the past alive.
Visitors may drop in at the scheduled times. No reservation is required. Tours meet in the lobby and last approximately 45 minutes.
Tours for groups of ten or more may be scheduled at other times. Tours may be available by advance request in these languages: Hindi, Bengali, and Mandarin.

Kenya & Tanzania: Wildlife & Human Origins in East Africa
2025-01-07 - 2025-01-21
Join us on this East African adventure as we drive among the wildlife and landscapes of Kenya and Tanzania. We will make special stops along the way, such as to visit Tanzania’s Olduvai Gorge, the site of Louis and Mary Leakey’s famous, mid-20th-century paleoanthropological discoveries that indicated that hominins had evolved in Africa. Journeying through the impressive wildlife, beauty, and diversity of this African terrain highlights the privilege of exploring and learning from the world around us. Throughout our adventure you will enjoy generous comfort and exceptional service at charming resorts and lodges, plus two nights at a memorable safari camp. All of our game drives, led by expert driver-guides, will use 4×4 Land Cruisers with pop-up roofs and have no more than six guests per vehicle. Your tour leader is William Harcourt-Smith a paleoanthropologist based at the American Museum of Natural History and the City University of New York.
Highlights:
1. Explore four national parks: Kenya’s Nairobi National Park, Hells Gate National Park, and Amboseli National Park; and Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
2. Enjoy a combined eight days of safari drives in Kenya and Tanzania, searching for Africa’s big five mammals—lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and buffalo—as well as a variety of other mammals and hundreds of species of birds.
3. Take a scenic boat ride on Lake Naivasha, spotting birds, hippo, and thousands of flamingo.
4. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ngorongoro Crater, home to 26,000 big mammals and 500 species of birds.

Archaeology In The Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia
2025-01-07 - 2025-01-23
Join archaeologist Barbara A. Porter and a small group of fellow travelers for this in-depth travel experience in Saudi Arabia. This will be Dr. Porter’s fourth tour of the country, and you will also be accompanied by local guides and a tour manager.
This tour opportunity allows us to see, experience, and learn about Saudi Arabia’s long history and rich culture, and how both were influenced by its dramatic geography; and to become familiar with some of the archaeological research and sites that are being uncovered and shared with the world. Following historic trade and pilgrimage routes, we will cross vast deserts, see irrigated lands teeming with agriculture, and enjoy scenic views with striking mountains and landscapes along the way.
Highlights:
1. Visit four of the country’s six UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the spectacular petroglyphs at Jubbah; the stunning, carved stone, Nabataean tombs at Hegra (Madain Saleh); Al Balad, the historic center of the city of Jeddah; and the Al Turaif
District of Diriyah, whose restored citadel and palaces are now an open-air museum.
2. Marvel at the 6,000-year-old Rajajil Standing Stones; the Sakaka Rock Carvings, which were just discovered in 2018; and the necropolis of Mughair Shuwayb at Madyan, which was built into the hillside by the ancient Nabataeans.
3. Wander the alleys and streets of Ushaiger Heritage Village, with Ushaiger itself being one of the oldest settlements in the region and often considered Saudi Arabia’s most beautiful village.
4. Stroll through Al Ula’s Old Town, whose town walls encircle some 900 mudbrick homes, 400 shops, a restored Friday Mosque, and the 10th-century Musa bin Nusayr Castle.
5. Experience the holy city of Medina, a major Islamic pilgrimage site; and marvel at the capital city of Riyadh, which transformed from a mud-walled town to a metropolis of 7+ million people in the span of a century.
6. Explore bustling markets such as the Unayzah Market; Buraydah’s camel market, perhaps the largest camel market in the world; and Riyadh’s Dira Souq, where we learn about traditional Saudi clothing.

Egypt Revisited
2025-01-09 - 2025-01-25
You are invited to return to Egypt to experience this 17-day, custom-designed itinerary in the engaging company of Egyptologist Stephen Harvey plus an expert local Egyptology guide and a professional tour manager. This trio has been receiving accolades for many years.
Highlights are many and varied:
1. Spend two full days visiting museums in Cairo (the new National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and the historic Egyptian Museum) OR two full days exploring Giza’s Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) if it is open.
2. Gain inside access to the Red Pyramid at Dahshur, enter the burial chamber of the collapsed pyramid at Meidum, and visit two mud-brick pyramids at the Fayoum Oasis.
3. Go behind-the-scenes at the ancient necropolis of Saqqara to see some of the new and remarkable excavations that are not open to the public.
4. Explore the necropoli of Beni Hasan, known for its 39 rock-cut tombs with well-preserved paintings of dancing, acrobatics, juggling, fishing, hunting, and weaving; and Tuna el-Gebel, with huge catacombs for thousands of mummified ibises and baboons, and much more.
5. Visit Tell el-Amarna, which replaced Thebes (modern Luxor) as capital of Egypt under the heretic, 18th-dynasty Pharaoh Akhenaton and was significant for its monotheism and distinctive artistic style.
6. Enjoy two in-depth visits to Abydos, where Stephen Harvey has worked since 1993, including visits to the spectacular Temple of Seti I, with its invaluable “Abydos King List” and chapels with exquisite reliefs; and special access to the subterranean Osireion (symbolic tomb of Osiris), centered around a burial chamber that was once surrounded by water.
7. Enjoy luxurious or best-available accommodations throughout, with two or three nights at each property.

Maya Pyramids & Temples Of Yucatan
2025-01-18 - 2025-01-26
This exciting, nine-day holiday provides the best-paced itinerary available to see the sun-drenched Yucatan peninsula’s ancient sites, traditional Maya villages, and colonial architecture. Maya art and architecture abound, with visits to Chichén Itzá, Ek Balam, Uxmal, Dzibilchaltun, and more: iconic as well as off-the-beaten-path sites with soaring pyramids, distinctive temple complexes, and wonderful sculpture. There is free time to bird watch, shop for crafts, or relax, reflect, and enjoy our excellent accommodations. Enjoy two luxurious nights at the Mayaland Hotel (next to Chichén Itzá) and three at the Hacienda Uxmal (next to Uxmal). Maximum of just 12 guests.

Absolute Egypt
2025-01-28 - 2025-02-14
This itinerary is carefully crafted to provide discerning travelers with the finest Egypt tour available. Our 18-day program is the most in-depth exploration of ancient Egypt’s greatest sites, combining all the best attributes of a small-group, all-inclusive, well-paced, luxury trip.
Highlights:
1. Learn with a distinguished and engaging American scholar plus a wonderful local Egyptologist and an excellent tour manager. This trio has been receiving accolades for many years. Travel with a maximum of just 16 guests plus your trio of leaders.
2. Enjoy the best accommodations, including 13 nights at luxurious, 5-star hotels in Giza, Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan; and a three-night Nile cruise aboard a comfortable, eight-cabin dahabiya (traditional Nile sail boat).
3. Meet with excavators and conservators, including behind-the-scenes visits, when possible.
4. Discover the preeminent sites of the pharaohs from Cairo to Luxor, Aswan, and Abu Simbel:
-If it is open, spend two full days exploring the Grand Egyptian Museum that is scheduled to open in 2024.
-See the amazing Giza pyramids and Sphinx as well as Saqqara’s Step Pyramid of Djoser and recently discovered, closed-to-the-public, Tomb of Wah Ti.
-Explore the astounding temple complex of Karnak as well as Luxor Temple, plus spectacular royal mortuary temples and tombs in the Valleys of the Kings and Queens, such as those of Seti I and Nefertari.
-Visit the remarkable Temple of Hathor at Dendara as well as Abydos, one of the oldest and most important cities in ancient Egypt, where Steve Harvey, your AIA lecturer, has been working since 1993.
-Cruise the Nile from Esna to Aswan aboard an eight-cabin sail boat, away from the convoys of large riverboats, so that we visit remarkable temples without the typical crowds. From the spacious top deck, observe timeless pastoral scenes of feluccas, farmers, herders, and village life.
-Fly to Abu Simbel to visit the stunning and enormous rock-cut temples of Ramesses II and Nefertari.
In short, this is the most exclusive, enjoyable, and fascinating introduction to Egypt available. It is limited to just 16 guests

Vietnam & Cambodia: Cruising the Mekong River
2025-02-03 - 2025-02-16
I invite you to join Archaeological Institute of America lecturer and host Joyce C. White on a captivating journey through the rich history and vibrant culture of tropical Indochina with our luxurious tour of Vietnam and Cambodia along the majestic Mekong River. Spend two nights in the bustling metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City (still known as Saigon), a dynamic hub that exudes energy, before embarking the exquisite Mekong Princess, an exclusive riverboat with only 14 suites, elegant French colonial appointments, and all modern comforts. Her ultra-shallow draft allows access to the remote corners of the river, offering a unique perspective. Cruise for seven nights from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap, immersing yourself in the beauty of Buddhist and Hindu temples, vibrant floating markets, and everyday life along the Mekong River. AIA lecturer Joyce White, who has decades of experience in Southeast Asian archaeology, will be joined onboard by Grace Gary, an architectural historian aboard with National Trust, and together they will provide a series of enriching presentations and discussions. Concluding the cruise, spend three nights in Siem Reap, where you can immerse yourself in the world-famous Khmer temples of Angkor, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Marvel at the remains of different capitals of the Khmer Empire, including the iconic Angkor Wat and the Bayon Temple at Angkor Thom. For those seeking an extended experience, an optional pre-tour extension to Hanoi and exquisite Ha Long Bay is available. This exclusive adventure is shared with another organization, and with a limited guest capacity of only 24 I encourage you to secure your preferred suite today by contacting AIA Tours at (800) 748-6262 or aia@studytours.org. Don’t miss this opportunity to cruise aboard a modern, elegant riverboat and experience the wonders of two remarkable Southeast Asian countries connected by the mighty Mekong River.

Oman & the UAE: Crossroads of the Indian Ocean & Arabian Gulf
2025-02-06 - 2025-02-24
Delve into the cultural and geographical diversity of Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the company of seasoned study leader Trevor Marchand. Our custom-designed itinerary highlights ancient sites and historical monuments, and helps illustrate how influential geography has been on the region’s history and how the region’s maritime history has linked it to elsewhere in Arabia and as far as Africa and southern Asia. Begin with three full days in the UAE. Still a little fishing village as of the 18th century, Dubai was a center of pearl exports until the 1930s. Similarly, Abu Dhabi was founded as a simple pearl and fishing village. After the discovery of oil in the Arabian Gulf, Dubai became one of the wealthiest cities in the world, and Abu
Dhabi was transformed into a luxurious modern metropolis and the capital of the UAE. But this region was settled many centuries earlier, and we will observe how the old and the new co-exist in intriguing ways. Spend the balance of our time exploring Oman, which dominated for centuries the maritime trade routes from Moorish Spain to Canton (modern-day Guangzhou, China). Here seafaring merchants traded in such commodities of civilization as frankincense, myrrh, silk, gold, spices, and coffee. Today, Oman takes pride in sharing its rich history with visitors, as demonstrated in its world-class museums. Altogether we will learn about these countries’ histories, cultures, art, and architecture while witnessing their great geographical diversity, from spectacular deserts and wadis to pristine coastlines, including a reserve for the endangered green sea turtle.
Highlights:
• Six UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Oman’s aflaj irrigation systems, the protohistoric archaeological complex of Bat and Al-Ayn, the immense fort at the oasis of Bahla, the medieval trade city of Qalhat (pending re-opening), and the Land of Frankincense;
plus the UAE’s Hili Archaeological Park, part of the “Cultural Sites of Al Ain” listing
• Two full days exploring archaeological sites around Dubai, including the 4,000-year-old site of Al Sufouh; and Abu Dhabi, including the incredible new Louvre Abu Dhabi and the 18th-century Qasr Al Hosn, the city’s oldest fort
• Hasat bin Sult (a.k.a. Coleman’s Rock), site of Oman’s most significant rock art
• Nizwa’s lively Friday Market, whose animal souk is an opportunity to witness the country’s traditional manner of selling livestock
• A visit with a Bedouin family and a night at a lovely desert camp in Wahiba Sands, a 6,000-square-mile desert
• Sur, where many of the trading fleets of Omani ships were built
• Muscat, with its recently-opened National Museum of Oman

Jungle Kingdoms Of The Ancient Maya
2025-02-14 - 2025-02-27
This tropical adventure provides the best-paced itinerary available to thoroughly explore ancient Maya sites in the lush jungles of Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras. Maya art and architecture will “come alive” as you encounter enormous stelae (carved monoliths), painted frescoes, stucco friezes, carved lintels, and huge temple-pyramids that soar above the rainforest. Explore, in-depth, the sites of Palenque, Bonampak, Yaxchilán, Tikal, Yaxhá, Copán, and Quiriguá (four are UNESCO World Heritage Sites); with free time to go bird watching or simply relax, reflect, and enjoy our comfortable hotels and remote jungle lodges. Maximum of just 12 guests.

Absolute Egypt February 18 – March 7, 2025
2025-02-18 - 2025-03-07
This itinerary is carefully crafted to provide discerning travelers with the finest Egypt tour available. Our 18-day program is the most in-depth exploration of ancient Egypt’s greatest sites, combining all the best attributes of a small-group, all-inclusive, well-paced, luxury trip.
Highlights:
1. Learn with a distinguished and engaging American scholar plus a wonderful local Egyptologist and an excellent tour manager. This trio has been receiving accolades for many years.
2. Travel with a maximum of just 16 guests plus your trio of leaders.
3. Enjoy the best accommodations, including 13 nights at luxurious, 5-star hotels in Giza, Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan; and a three-night Nile cruise aboard a comfortable, eight-cabin dahabiya (traditional Nile sail boat).
4. Meet with excavators and conservators, including behind-the-scenes visits, when possible.
5. Discover the preeminent sites of the pharaohs from Cairo to Luxor, Aswan, and Abu Simbel:
-If it is open, spend two full days exploring the Grand Egyptian Museum that is scheduled to open in 2024.
-See the amazing Giza pyramids and Sphinx as well as Saqqara’s Step Pyramid of Djoser and recently discovered, closed-to-the-public, Tomb of Wah Ti.
-Explore the astounding temple complex of Karnak as well as Luxor Temple, plus spectacular royal mortuary temples and tombs in the Valleys of the Kings and Queens, such as those of Seti I and Nefertari.
-Visit the remarkable Temple of Hathor at Dendara as well as Abydos, one of the oldest and most important cities in ancient Egypt, where Steve Harvey, your AIA lecturer, has been working since 1993.
-Cruise the Nile from Esna to Aswan aboard an eight-cabin sail boat, away from the convoys of large riverboats, so that we visit remarkable temples without the typical crowds. From the spacious top deck, observe timeless pastoral scenes of feluccas, farmers, herders, and village life.
-Fly to Abu Simbel to visit the stunning and enormous rock-cut temples of Ramesses II and Nefertari.
In short, this is the most exclusive, enjoyable, and fascinating introduction to Egypt available.

Aegean Sea Odyssey: Cruise the Greek Isles & Historic Türkiye
2025-04-07 - 2025-04-15
Join Archaeological Institute of America lecturer and host Joanne Murphy, a classical archaeologist and an engaging professor, on a captivating journey cruising the Aegean Sea among the cultural coastal gems of Greece and Türkiye. Set out from Athens’ port of Piraeus for the sacred, uninhabited island of Delos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cruise into the iconic caldera of Santorini and visit the island’s haunting site of Akrotiri, which was buried yet preserved by a volcanic eruption around 1600 B.C. Wander through the medieval town of Rhodes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and perhaps take an optional excursion to the Acropolis at Lindos with its 4th-century B.C. temple; and then hop over to nearby Kuşadasi, Türkiye, for a visit to the vast Greco-Roman city of Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our last port of call is Çanakkale, for an excursion to legendary Troy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before we disembark in deeply historical Istanbul. Optional pre- and post- cruise extensions in Athens and Istanbul are available. Aboard ship a team of experts, including AIA lecturer/host Joanne Murphy, will share their knowledge through a series of enriching lectures and informal discussions. Our luxury vessel, Le Dumont-d’Urville, which has only 92 staterooms and suites, will be a floating sanctuary of sophistication and comfort, where you will indulge in gourmet dining, unwind in spacious staterooms, and savor panoramic views throughout the vessel.

Türkiye: Ancient Splendors of the Aegean & Mediterranean
2025-04-13 - 2025-04-26
Many of the most magnificent and best-preserved ancient Greek and Roman sites are found along Türkiye’s beautiful Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. Visit world-famous, plus little-visited yet spectacular, Greco-Roman sites, Byzantine churches, Crusader castles, and Ottoman palaces. Your engaging AIA lecturer/host, Yaşar Ersoy, teaches classical art and archaeology and has been doing fieldwork in Türkiye since 1980. Throughout the program he will offer illustrated talks and informal discussions about the sites you are visiting and their places within the larger ancient Mediterranean world. Along the way, you will enjoy delicious cuisine, comfortable accommodations, and the company of a small group of like-minded fellow travelers. An expert tour manager/local guide will handle logistics and smooth the way.
Highlights:
• Visit four UNESCO World Heritage Sites:
1. Historic Areas of Istanbul, including the 6th-century Byzantine church-turned-mosque of Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace, the imperial residence of the Ottoman sultans.
2. Ephesus, the best-preserved classical city in the eastern Mediterranean, whose treasures include ancient villas with splendid frescoes and mosaics, and the 2nd-century A.D. Library of Celsus.
3. Aphrodisias, whose Temple of Aphrodite, tetrapylon, large stadium, and baths of Hadrian are unforgettable.
4. Hierapolis-Pamukkale, where we see the ruins of the baths and temples of a famous 2nd-century B.C. thermal spa.
• Marvel at a variety of Greco-Roman sites, including:
1. Sardis, former capital of the Lydian Empire and King Croesus, who was defeated by Persian king Cyrus the Great in 546 B.C.
2. Didyma’s 7th-century B.C. Temple of Apollo, one of the leading oracles in the ancient world; and the 4th-century B.C. Temple of Athena at Priene, which became the classical model of Greek city planning.
3. Magnesia on the Meander, renowned for its Artemis cult, which has the ruins of a well-preserved theater and a stadium that could seat 30,000 spectators.
4. Kibyra, with its magnificent stadium, odeon covered with a Medusa mosaic, late Roman bath, and underground tombs.
5. Sagalassos, a rarely visited and recently excavated site at an elevation of 5,000 feet, with breathtaking views.
6. Aspendos, with one of the best-preserved ancient theaters in the world, renowned for its acoustics; and Perge, with its splendid theater, stadium, and enormous Hellenistic and Roman gates.
• Explore several fine museum collections, including Istanbul’s Archaeological Museum, Denizli Atatürk House and Ethnographic Museum, Burdur’s Archaeological Museum, and the Antalya Archaeological Museum.
•An optional extension to central Türkiye is also available, including three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia, Hattusha: the Hittite Capital, and the Neolithic Site of Çatalhöyük; Ankara, with its superb Museum of Anatolian Civilizations; and Konya, the famous center of Sufi mystic Rumi and his followers.

Hiking Southern Italy: Archaeology, Volcanoes & Cuisine
2025-05-11 - 2025-05-22
Welcome to an extraordinary springtime journey through the rich ancient history, breathtaking volcanic landscapes, and legendary food and wine culture of southern Italy and Sicily. Travel and hike with archaeologist Cris Corrado and local guides among active and dormant volcanoes, delight in picturesque landscapes and sea views, and explore fascinating archaeological sites. Italy is home to mainland Europe’s only active volcanoes—Mount Vesuvius, Stromboli, and Mount Etna—and on this tour you will hike on all three of them. On this well-paced tour you will rest at distinctive, four-star hotels, spending four nights in Naples, one on a comfortable ferry from Naples to Lipari, three on the Aeolian island of Panarea, and two in the heart of Mount Etna Park, Sicily. An expert tour manager handles all of the logistics, so you can relax, enjoy, and learn. On all but one of the seven hikes, an extra guide will allow us to split into two groups, so that you may choose either a longer or shorter excursion.
Highlights include:
1. Pompeii, one of the world’s most extraordinary archaeological sites, destroyed (but also preserved!) by the catastrophic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79
2. Hiking the trail of Vesuvius National Park to the crater, with amazing views over the whole Gulf of Naples
3. A breathtaking hike along the “Path of the Gods,” on the Sorrento Peninsula, with views of the Tyrrhenian Sea
4. A ferry ride to the fabled island of Capri to hike along fragrant trails to Roman Emperor Tiberius’ Villa Jovis
5. A visit to the Naples Archaeological Museum, which houses one of the world’s finest collections of Greco-Roman art and artifacts
6. A private boat ride to Stromboli, the most active volcano in Europe, erupting at intervals of approximately 15 minutes
7. A hike up Mt. Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano, with panoramic views of Sicily’s eastern coast
8. Wine tastings at vineyards on Mt. Vesuvius, Salina, and Mt. Etna
This tour requires an elevated level of fitness.

Roman Britain: Romans at the Edge of Empire
2025-06-20 - 2025-07-02
Follow in the footsteps of the ancient Romans in Britain as you venture north from Chester, England, to Edinburgh, Scotland, with a foray along Hadrian’s Wall, which was famously constructed ca. A.D. 122 along the northwest frontier of the Roman Empire. Experience a world at the edge of the Empire and amidst the natural beauty of old medieval towns, verdant countryside, and the scenic Lake District, discovering for yourself the remains of formerly vibrant Roman forts and towns, museum collections of fascinating Roman artifacts, and Rome’s influence on the Britain of today.
Highlights:
•Visit two sites that comprise the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Frontiers of the Roman Empire”: Vindolanda, not only one of Europe’s most important Roman sites but also where your AIA lecturer/host has been doing fieldwork since 2002; and Arbeia Roman Fort, which was a key supply base to Hadrian’s Wall.
•Take a walking tour of the 1st-century A.D. Roman fortress-town of Chester, home to the most complete ancient city walls in Britain as well as Britain’s largest Roman amphitheater.
•Explore the bustling lanes of York, which was established as a Roman garrison town in A.D. 71 and went on to be a Viking stronghold and prosperous medieval city.
•Drive though the breathtaking English Lake District, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, including a cruise excursion on Lake Windermere, England’s largest lake; and a stop at Castlerigg Stone Circle, which is one of the earliest Neolithic stone circles in Britain.
•Walk the streets of the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh, including the historic Royal Mile and Calton Hill, which was considered Edinburgh’s version of Athens’ Acropolis in the 19th century, and are altogether a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
•Marvel at museum collections showcasing spectacular Roman finds and more, including the Yorkshire Museum and Gardens; Great North Museum: Hancock, whose collections include carved and inscribed stones from Hadrian’s Wall, among many other treasures; Vindolanda’s nearby Roman Army Museum; and Edinburgh’s National Museum of Scotland.

Hiking Scotland's Orkney & Shetland Islands
2025-06-30 - 2025-07-10
This is the perfect opportunity to explore all that Scotland’s Northern Isles have to offer: prehistoric stone circles, burial chambers, and settlements; quaint villages; huge seabird colonies; and remarkable plant life—all amidst dramatic landscapes. This will be Scotland seen slowly, with time for in-depth exploration at each site. The Orkney and Shetland islands have an amazing wealth of archaeological sites dating back 5,000 years. Together the islands have more than 18,000 known sites, with new discoveries being made every year. This archaeological saga is worth the telling, and nowhere else can the evidence be seen in more glorious a setting.
Highlights:
1. A private virtual tour of the Ness of Brodgar excavations and access to some of the finds. This ceremonial site in the “Heart of Neolithic Orkney” was in use for around 1,000 years and a 20-year excavation project was completed in 2024. The site is within the
UNESCO World Heritage Site on Orkney, which also includes the chambered tomb of Maeshowe, estimated to have been constructed around 2700 B.C.; the Stones of Stenness; the 4,000-year-old Ring of Brodgar, one of Europe’s finest Neolithic monuments;
Skara Brae settlement; and associated funerary monuments and stone settings. These are unquestionably among the most important Neolithic sites in western Europe.
2. “The Crucible of Iron Age Shetland”—including Mousa Broch, the best-preserved known broch in the world, Old Scatness, and Jarlshof—where the lack of intensive modern farming means that the preservation of these sites and their landscapes is exceptional.
3. The Isles are a birdwatcher’s paradise, and one of the major seabird breeding and feeding areas in the North Atlantic. More than a million birds breed in very large colonies.
4. All meals are included, and you will enjoy comfortable accommodations: four nights at the elegant Lynnfield Hotel, a comfortable overnight ferry from Orkney to Shetland and from Shetland to Aberdeen, and three nights at the remote and charming Busta
House Hotel.

From Berlin to Berkeley: The History of the Edward Gans Collection of Seals and Its Hidden Gems – a Ellen and Charles S. La Follette Lecture
2025-10-29 17:00 - 18:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
The Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures currently houses the Edward Gans Collection of Seals, comprising almost seven hundred seals and seal-related objects from a variety of periods, extending from the Neolithic Middle East to Post-classical Mesoamerica. Since 2023, a new team of Berkeley scholars has been working on the collection to prepare it for digital publication, and this talk arises from the provenance research undertaken as part of that project. This talk will highlight the fascinating story of how the Gans Collection came to be and the legacy of Nazi persecution that shaped the collection’s history, while also featuring several Sasanian seals in the collection of particular significance. This is one of the annual Ellen and Charles S. La Follette Lectures.
