Gods, Warriors, and Stars: A Close Relationship in Chichén Itzá
2024-10-28 18:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Geological Lecture Hall, 24 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, United States
María Teresa Uriarte Castañeda, Researcher, Instituto de Investigaciones Estéticas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)
Chichén Itzá—a World Heritage Site—is the most important archaeological record of the fusion between Maya and the so-called Toltec civilizations in the Yucatan Peninsula. The site’s monuments, dating to the 10th–15th centuries, showcase both Maya and foreign architectural elements, and have been the subject of multiple investigations and interpretations. In this lecture, María Teresa Uriarte Castañeda will discuss the columns and bas-relief sculptures from the Temple of Warriors, depicting deities, warriors, feathered serpents and other serpents, interacting with celestial bodies, such as the Sun, the Moon, and Venus. Uriarte’s analysis will highlight how this iconography reflects the political, social, and religious unrest of the Late Classic period in Mesoamerica (600–900 AD), and the new worldviews that developed during this period.
Free admission. Free event parking at the 52 Oxford Street Garage. Presented by the Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology and the Harvard Museums of Science & Culture in collaboration with the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies and the Moses Mesoamerican Archive, Harvard University.

“When Informants Become Knowledge Producers: Rethinking Great Zimbabwe”
2024-10-30 12:30 - 13:30 (America/New_York)
Lecture by Prof. Shadreck Chirikure, School of Archaeology, University of Oxford: Using the lenses of insurgent scholarship, this paper addresses itself to a contradiction that characterised southern African archaeology from the 1980s and has residuals in the present. Archaeology in Africa’ southern third, like elsewhere, was introduced as a tool of empire. The first westerners (antiquarians) to encounter Great Zimbabwe speculated that it was exotic in origin because Africans lacked capacity to make such a unique achievement. Professional archaeologists such as Gertrude Caton-Thompson overturned this exotic origins speculation. Interestingly, both antiquarians and professional archaeologists relied on local informants to explain features and identify material culture at Great Zimbabwe and related sites. Both groups collected ethnographies and oral traditions from African informants who were never mentioned by name in publications. The first cohort of homegrown archaeologists emerged in the 1980s when Zimbabwe achieved independence. Inevitably, some of the interpretations by established western archaeologists came under challenge. In defence, some professional archaeologists insinuated that indigenous archaeologists did not know features they were excavating. Ironically, they provided information used by western archaeologists to interpret the same features! What new meanings emerge when experiential knowledge is combined with scientific approaches to reignite a homegrown understanding of Great Zimbabwe? We use the results of new excavations and scientific work performed at Great Zimbabwe over the past ten years, to develop new interpretations of everyday life, urbanism and economic connections at various scales.

The Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks and World Heritage
2024-10-30 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Siegal Lifelong Learning Auditorium, Landmark Centre, 25700 Science Park Dr #100, Beachwood, 44122, United States
Ohio’s Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks are enormous earthen enclosures, many in precise geometric shapes, that were built 2,000 years ago by Native Americans known today as the Hopewell. Their creators designed the earthworks as places of ceremony, connecting them to the cosmos by aligning them with carefully observed movements of the moon and sun, including those of an 18.6-year lunar cycle. Dr. Brad Lepper (Ohio History Connection) and Chief Glenna Wallace (Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma) will discuss the history, function, astonishing complexity, and contemporary Indigenous views of the earthworks on the occasion of their recent designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site—the first in Ohio and 25th in the United States. Wallace and Lepper both participated in preparing the UNESCO nomination, the result of a multi-year effort by a broad group of partners.
THIS PROGRAM IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY OHIO HUMANITIES, A STATE AFFILIATE OF THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES

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.

Archaeology Day Fair
2024-11-10 11:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | MA
Come learn about archaeology with faculty and graduate students in the Classics, Archaeology and Religion and Anthropology Departments! Join us on Lowry Mall and the Museum of Art and Archaeology at the University of Missouri for some fun all-ages educational activities and demonstrations, fieldwork presentations by local archaeologists, tours of the university collections, and a bake sale!

International Archaeology Day with His Excellancy Ambassador Jonathan Miller
2024-11-20 18:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York)
We are privileged that the Deputy Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations addresses the National Arts Club on the occasion of International Archaeology Day, the committee’s most significant annual lecture. Ambassador Miller discusses The Reuben and Edith Hecht Museum, established in 1984 and located at the University of Haifa, whose installations display the archaeological history of this cradle of ancient civilizations. On view is the rich heritage of the Land of Israel, uncovered through excavations deep into many layers of the past which reveal Biblical-era cities, Roman and Byzantine ruins, Crusader fortresses — all replete with Jewish as well as Cypriot, Egyptian, Hellenic, and Islamic artifacts.
Watch the lecture live here.

IEREK
2025-09-09 08:00 - 2025-09-15 17:00 (America/New_York) | The American University in Emirates, Dubai, UAE, Academic City - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Dubai, --Choose One--, 503000, United Arab Emirates
Cultural theory, humanities, and social studies illuminate identity, representation, and human interaction. By dissecting power dynamics, globalization, and ethical dilemmas, these fields drive critical thinking and foster empathy. This conference focuses on media’s role in societal trends, evolving cultural practices, and preserving heritage while embracing technological advancements. It bridges humanities, technology, and environmental studies, addressing global challenges and inequalities to inspire interdisciplinary innovation and dialogue.
This conference will take place from September 9 to September 15, 2025, at the American University in the Emirates, Dubai. For inquiries, please contact us via email at cicrw@ierek-scholar.org.

Community Data Collection Day at Providence’s North Burial Ground
2025-09-18 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology, Rhode Island Hall, Brown University, 60 George Street, Providence, RI, 02912, United States
Help preserve Providence history! Join the Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World and the staff of Providence’s North Burial Ground for a community data collection day within the cemetery’s old Colonial sections. Founded in 1700, North Burial Ground predates the founding of the United States and the charter of the City of Providence. Help document the oldest tombstones at NBG to aid in research about Providence’s history and future preservation decisions. You will also learn about the cemetery’s history and many of the stories within it. Free and open to the public, and all ages are welcome. Please bring a pencil and a writing, though a limited number of clipboards and pencils will be available at the event.
Location: North Burial Ground, Rochambeau Entrance. Free parking on Main Street, or take the R bus line.
Contact: jiaaw@brown.edu or (401) 863-3188.

Texas Archeology Month with the Maxey House
2025-10-01 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Sam Bell Maxey House State Historic Site, 812 S Church St, Paris, TX, 75460, United States
Join us all of October for Texas Archeology Month at the Maxey House and Evergreen Cemetery. This event is a perfect opportunity for history enthusiasts and families to learn about the local archeology.
The Maxey House will have two free outdoor exhibits that can be seen by visitors throughout the entire month:
1) The first outdoor exhibit focuses on the historic structures that once stood on the grounds but are no longer there. Visitors can read more information on each of the structures by scanning QR codes placed next to each structure’s outline. The exhibit is located on site, 812 South Church Street in Paris, and can be explored seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
2) The second exhibit is located at Evergreen Cemetery, 560 Evergreen Street in Paris, where visitors will be able to learn about the meanings behind different symbols on certain gravestones by scanning QR codes. Visitors can explore Evergreen Cemetery seven days a week from dawn until dusk.
For more information, feel free to contact Elana at 903-785-5716 or elana.barton@thc.texas.gov.

Archaeology-Hour Screening: Beer in Mesopotamia
2025-10-02 17:00 - 18:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Whitman College Maxey Hall 207, 173 Stanton St., Walla Walla, WA, 99362, United States
Please join us for an in-person screening and informal discussion of the Archaeology Hour talk by Tate Paulette (North Carolina State University).
The inhabitants of the “land between rivers” (Mesopotamia) — today known as the Tigris and Euphrates rivers — experimented with many “firsts”… from urbanism to kingship to formalized systems of cuneiform writing. They also built the world’s first great beer culture. They loved their beer: its colors, textures, tastes, and intoxicating effects. They sipped it through long reed straws and praised it in song and story. They drank beer at home, on the job, and in neighborhood taverns––also at feasts, festivals and religious ceremonies. In this talk, Tate Paulette introduces his new book, In the Land of Ninkasi: A History of Beer in Ancient Mesopotamia. This authoritative but light-hearted account explains exactly what we know about the beers, brewers, and drinkers of ancient Mesopotamia, what can be deciphered about it today, and what puzzles still remain to be solved.

Replacing Empires. The Archaeology of Political Transformation and Spatial Dynamics in 1st Millennium BCE Mesopotamia
2025-10-02 17:30 - 18:30 (America/New_York) | Foster Auditorium, Paterno Library, the Pennsylvania State University, 201 Old Main, University Park, PA, 16802, United States
Kershaw Lectures in Near East Archaeology

Mountain Archaeology and Climate Change
2025-10-03 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Thurman J. White Forum Building, 1704 Asp Ave, Norman, OK, 73072, United States
Dr. Aldenderfer will examine how past mountain peoples adapted to shifting climates, asking whether their strategies can inform those living in highland environments today. Drawing on archaeological evidence from regions such as the Alps, Andes, and Himalayas, he will discuss human resilience and vulnerability in the face of glacier retreat, variable precipitation, biodiversity loss, and climate-driven hazards.

Learn at Lunchtime virtual Lectures PHMC The PA State Museum
2025-10-03 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | The State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA, United States
Series of 4 Friday virtual lectures on archaeological subjects with four different lecturers.

Spokane Archaeology Day
2025-10-04 10:00 - 15:00 (America/Vancouver) | Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, 2316 West 1st Avenue, Spokane, WA, 99201, United States
The Spokane Society, along with other archaeological organizations, will welcome the public at booths on the grounds of the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture. Activities will be available for all ages.

2025 Archaeological investigations at Fort Brewerton.
2025-10-04 10:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Fort Brewerton & Oliver Stevens Blockhouse Museum, Box 392 9 US Route 11, Brewerton, NY, 13029, United States
Join us for a day of archaeological investigations at Fort Brewerton.
Following a successful ground penetrating radar and magnetometer survey in the spring, we can now use this new data to give us more confidence in finding the remains of the north wall of blockhouse # 4. Previous excavations in this area over the last 4 years have yielded many interesting artifacts and features, giving us clues and its layout and use. Our first excavation on the 4th will be followed up by our second excavation on the 18th on international archaeology day.
Current Fort Brewerton Historical Society members are welcome to assist in the excavation, members of the public are welcome to observe. Please message us if you plan on volunteering to assist in the excavation. The blockhouse museum will not be open for tours on the 4th.
Additionally, members of the New York State Archaeological Association are welcomed to participate with written permission from their chapter representative. Please contact us for more information.
