Archaeological Institute of America

Unearthing A Slave Community
2022-03-13 08:00 - 2022-11-19 17:00 (America/New_York) | Lisbon, Lisbon, 1000004, Portugal
Over the next several years, we will be examining a number of different archaeological sites. What makes Montpelier a wonderful property for surveys and excavations is its relative undisturbed condition. All of the sites we excavate have never been plowed–and most were abandoned in the 1840s, leaving the archaeological features in pristine condition.
This season we will be excavating the Blacksmith Shop complex at the Madison plantation. All of our current projects are part of a larger effort to interpret and reconstruct the lives of the enslaved community so it can be accessed by visitors.
The LEARN Archaeology Expedition program has been operating at Montpelier for a decade-and-a-half, with many of the same volunteers returning year after year. We are, however, keen to add new faces to the program. All of the scheduled programs are designed to give participants actual excavation experience on an archaeological site working side-by-side with trained professional archaeologists. We have a staff of six archaeologists who work with participants both in the lab and in the field, which means you have personal interaction with archaeological staff and this allows you to work on sensitive features, artifacts, and deposits that normally one would not get to handle. You are treated as a member of the research team and we step you through the entire excavation process. While you are here at Montpelier, you will be engaged in lectures, and take tours of various archaeological sites on the property.
You can learn about all of our LEARN Archaeology Expeditions at the following link.
We also host a month-long university archaeology field school. For more information on this, please see our field school web page.
For more information contact Melissa Kerrat dig@montpelier.org

Cochineal: How Mexico Made the World See Red (Online Exhibit Spotlight) / Cochinilla: Cómo México Hizo que el Mundo Viera el Rojo (Exposición en Línea)
2022-04-20 - 2022-12-31 | Harvard Museums of Science & Culture (Virtual), 26 Oxford St., Cambridge, MA, 02138, United States
Cochineal, a tiny insect found on certain species of Oaxacan cacti, was harvested for millennia by Indigenous peoples to dye fabrics a vibrant red color. But following the European invasion of the Americas in the sixteenth century, it became a widely coveted, globally traded commodity that transformed textiles and art, and made Mexico a center for technological innovation. Cochineal: How Mexico Made the World See Red explores how this Indigenous technology changed the world, becoming an international symbol of power, while simultaneously disenfranchising its discoverers.
La cochinilla, un diminuto insecto que se encuentra en ciertas especies de cactus oaxaqueños, fue cosechada durante milenios por los pueblos indígenas para teñir las telas de un vibrante color rojo. Pero tras la invasión europea de las Américas en el siglo XVI, se convirtió en un producto ampliamente codiciado y comercializado a nivel mundial que transformó los tejidos y el arte, y convirtió a México en un centro de innovación tecnológica. Cochinilla: Cómo México Hizo que el Mundo Viera el Rojo explora cómo esta tecnología indígena cambió el mundo, convirtiéndose en un símbolo internacional de poder, al tiempo que privaba de derechos a sus descubridores.

The Odyssey: A Retelling
2022-08-16 - 2023-01-08 | The Parthenon, 2500 West End Ave, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
The Parthenon and Centennial Park Conservancy are proud to present The Odyssey: A Retelling, by Lisa Bachman Jones in the East Gallery of the Parthenon from June 23 through January 8.
Jones is a Nashville-based artist interested in entropy and interconnectivity. Working across disciplines, she investigates the everyday through a lens of care.
In preparation for A Retelling Jones read Emily Wilson’s 2017 translation of Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey. The exhibition highlights the hospitality of the overlooked identities that made Odysseus’ long journey home possible. The body of work incorporates a wide range of media and techniques, which echoes the number of communities, locations, actions and objects that paved the way for the classic homecoming.
Reflecting on the exhibit Jones notes the significance of the gallery’s location within the Parthenon, which prompted the concept for A Retelling. The Parthenon in Athens, Greece was a place for offering thanks to and soliciting help from Athena. The goddess is a constant in the poem; orchestrating events and guiding encounters. This body of work presents an opportunity to reflect upon those who we receive support from and those to whom we extend our support.
Thank you to the Sandra Schatten Foundation, Tennessee Arts Commission, National Endowment for the Humanities, Memorial Foundation, Jackson, Humanities Tennessee, Metro Parks, and Centennial Park Conservancy for underwriting the Parthenon’s exhibition and educational programming. The content of Parthenon exhibitions do not necessarily represent the views of our partners and underwriters.

Sicily: Archaeology, Art & Cuisine
2022-09-13
Travel with our engaging AIA lecturer and host, archaeologist Gerry Schaus. Discover and learn about many of the most impressive archaeological monuments found anywhere in the Mediterranean, such as Agrigento, Selinunte, Segesta, and Syracuse. Admire spectacular, sunlit landscapes of undulating vineyards and Mediterranean Sea vistas. See two of the finest examples of Norman architecture: Monreale Cathedral and the Royal Palace of Palermo (Palazzo dei Normanni). View extensive archaeological collections at several excellent museums. Savor fine cuisine, with wine included at group dinners. Feel pampered with three nights at a 5-star hotel and eight nights at four-star hotels, all chosen for their generous comfort and prime locations.

Sicily: Archaeology, Art & Cuisine with optional post-tour extension to Malta
2022-09-13 - 2022-09-25
Travel with our engaging AIA lecturer and host, archaeologist Gerry Schaus. Discover and learn about many of the most impressive archaeological monuments found anywhere in the Mediterranean, such as Agrigento, Selinunte, Segesta, and Syracuse. Admire spectacular, sunlit landscapes of undulating vineyards and the Mediterranean Sea vistas. See two of the finest examples of Norman architecture: Monreale Cathedral and the Royal Palace of Palermo (Palazzo dei Normanni). View extensive archaeological collections at several excellent museums. Savor fine cuisine, with wine included at group dinners. Feel pampered with three nights at a 5-star hotel and eight nights at four-star hotels, all chosen for their generous comfort and prime locations. Relax and enjoy traveling with a maximum of just 16 guests plus your expert lecturer, trip manager, and local guides.

Auburn Valley State Park Archaeological Excavations
2022-09-13 10:00 - 15:00, 2022-09-14 10:00 - 15:00, 2022-09-15 10:00 - 15:00, 2022-09-16 10:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Auburn Valley State Park, 3000 Creek Road, Yorklyn, DE, 19736, United States
Auburn Valley State Park Archaeological Excavations
To prepare for an upcoming project which will switch the buildings at the Auburn Valley Marshall Mansion complex from septic to sewer, we will be excavating ~3 test units in order to determine the level of previous disturbances in the area. While most of the yard surrounding the mansion has little potential for intact archaeological remains, due to previous disturbances from old and modern construction and landscaping, part of the yard area on the west side of the property closer to Benge Road has the potential for intact deposits relating to the Insulite Mill or earlier deposits relating to a worker’s housing unit that used to be located in the area before the Insulite Mill was built.
Previous archaeological experience is preferred but not necessary for this project, as this excavation should not be as physically intensive as some of our other ones, and is easily accessible and close to buildings with air conditioning and toilets. We will provide any tools you will require for the project, but be sure to bring your own water and a bag lunch if you plan to stay for the day!
SIGN UP HERE: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a044daca82aa20-auburn3
Additional info about location, etc. will be sent out closer to the event after you register

CANCELLED - Working from Home: Assessing the Significance of Specialized Craft Production Based in Households in the Aegean Bronze Age
2022-09-13 17:00 (America/New_York)
This lecture has been cancelled.

Donald P. Ryan: “In the Footsteps of Howard Carter in the Valley of the Kings”
2022-09-15 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Vancouver) | Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, 2316 West 1st Avenue, Spokane, WA, 99201, United States
The archaeological exploration of ancient Egypt’s royal New Kingdom cemetery,
the Valley of the Kings, offers a rich history of fascinating discoveries made by determined
and often eccentric individuals including Howard Carter, who was well involved in the
Valley decades before he encountered the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922. In this lecture,
Don Ryan will describe some of his own work in the Valley of the Kings during which he
literally followed in the footsteps of Carter, including the re-excavation of three tombs
discovered by the famed archaeologist early in his career. One tomb is especially
controversial with its occupant identified by some as the female ruler, Hatshepsut, after its
rediscovery by Ryan.

“Barbarians” and Bronzes: The Origins of Civilization in Ancient Vietnam
2022-09-15 19:30 (America/Chicago) | Alumni Hall 302 (“Trustees Room’), Knox College, Galesburg, IL, 61401, United States
Joukowsky Lecture

Plumbing the Depths: Exploring Violence and Warfare in Humanity’s Past
2022-09-16 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Knight Auditorium, The Spurlock Museum, University of Illinois – Urbana/Champaign, 1 W. Green St, Urbana, IL, 61801, United States

Musical Performance and Talk on the Rock Gongs of Sudan
2022-09-18 09:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York)
Percussionist Jesse Stewart will give us a live demonstration on his lithograph as well as a talk on early instruments and music. This will be followed by a lecture on the rock gongs of Sudan by Yahia Fadl Tahir, who sends the following abstract:
Rock gongs are naturally situated rock that resonate when struck and show evidence of use as an idiophone. Rock gongs are mostly found in Africa, but also in other contexts. Rock gongs are common features in Sudan e.g., in the north, 3rd cataract region.
To investigate the rock gongs in our region, their archaeological contexts, surviving traditions, and ritual practice in the vicinity of these rocks were studied.
In the archaeological context, it is observed that 46% of rock gong sites are associated with Neolithic occupations, 62% with Kerma occupations, 23% with Christian cross drawings, 15% near churches (KBD 019 and MAS 031) and 69% of rock gongs are associated with rock drawings of animals.
Many traditions, ceremonies, and rituals were practiced on rocks from different parts of the Third Cataract Region along the Nile. Ritual practices and ceremonies performed are wind-making, protection from the devil, marriage ceremonies, and circumcision ceremonies.

Virtual Symposium: Pandora & Polychromy on the Base of Athena
2022-09-19 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago) | The Parthenon, 2500 West End Ave, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
Join us for a free virtual talk on Monday, September 19, at 6 PM Central. This Virtual Symposium is free and open to the public.
ABOUT THE SYMPOSIUM:
The ancient writer Pausanias said that the base of the statue of Athena inside the Parthenon was a scene of Pandora. But what exactly did it look like? Maria Sellers will share her research into Pandora on the base of Athena and show her project to provide a clear visual description of the famous Pandora scene. Through her color restoration we will see what an Acropolis visitor might have seen 2,500 years ago!
ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Maria Sellers is a graduate student at George Washington University. She conducted her senior thesis at Vanderbilt University with Dr. Betsey A. Robinson and has presented her research and findings at the Archaeological Institute of America Annual Meetings.

The World’s Oldest Profession: Examining Prostitution in Pompeii’s Brothel
2022-09-20 17:00 (America/New_York) | Collins Cinema at Wellesley College, 106 Central St, Wellesley Hills, MA, 02481

New Approaches to the Archaeology of Disease: Climate, Imperialism and Malaria in the Indian Ocean
2022-09-20 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Webinar, Webinar, London, UK, London, Sonoma County, 5201, United Kingdom
Virtual lecture which is part of the AIA Archaeology Hour series.

New Approaches to the Archaeology of Disease — Climate, Imperialism, & Malaria in the Indian Ocean
2022-09-20 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Whitman College, Olin Hall 129, 920 E Isaacs, Walla Walla, WA, 99362, United States
Lecturer: Krish Seetah (Stanford University)
Come join us for a watch party of Professor Seetah’s live-streamed lecture. There will be a drawing for a surprise gift and discussion of the lecture afterwards.

Ancient Wonders of the Turkish Coast
2022-09-21
I invite you to join Archaeological Institute of America lecturer and host C. Brian Rose to visit extraordinary ancient Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman sites. Brian Rose is a supremely engaging lecturer who has been excavating in Turkey for decades and is former co-director of the excavations of Troy.
Your journey begins with one hotel night in Istanbul and visits to some of the city’s highlights; followed by an eight-night cruise aboard the lovely, 59-cabin, all-suite Island Sky. Cruise along the Aegean coast of Turkey toward Cyprus, calling en route at Troy, of Iliad fame; and the fabulous archaeological sites of Pergamon, Ephesus, Didyma, Priene, and Miletus. Along Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, explore the Lycian Peninsula sites of Xanthos and Patara, and the spectacular Roman theater at Aspendos.
Also available is a two-night, pre-trip extension in Istanbul, the incredible city that bridges the Eastern and Western worlds and was an imperial capital for nearly 1,600 years; and a two-night, post-trip extension in Cyprus, including time in Limassol and Larnaca.

Prehistoric Cave Art of Spain & France
2022-09-21
Investigate southwestern Europe’s most extraordinary prehistoric caves, including Lascaux IV, a new, exact reproduction of one of the most remarkable prehistoric sites ever discovered; Altamira II, a precise replica of the original that is often called the “Sistine Chapel of Prehistoric Art;” Atapuerca, the most significant early human site in western Europe; Las Monedas Cave and Cueva del Castillo, where 180 animal likenesses were painted some 12,000-14,000 years ago; Cougnac, which features paintings of extinct megaloceros and mammoth; Pech Merle, known for its “negative handprints;” and others.
Travel with world-renowned archaeological author Paul Bahn, a gifted and popular lecturer who regularly leads tours to study the prehistory of Spain and France, including this program. Dr. Bahn will enhance your understanding of the sites with lectures and informal discussions.
Tour archaeological and ethnographic museums with superb exhibits of prehistoric artifacts, including the Museum of Human Evolution in Burgos, Altamira Museum, Museum of Les Eyzies, and the Museé d’Aquitaine; plus the modern art collections of Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum.
Explore charming villages and cities, including Santillana del Mar and San Sebastian.
Enjoy excellent accommodations in fine hotels and charming inns, as well as fine wine and cuisine.

The People of Angkor
2022-09-21 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Eliot Hall Chapel, Reed College, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR, 97202
Matson Lecture

New Approaches to the Archaeology of Disease: Climate, Imperialism, and Malaria in the Indian Ocean
2022-09-21 19:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar, Webinar, London, UK, London, Sonoma County, 5201, United Kingdom

Ancient Cypriote Sculpture in New York: Cesnola, the Metropolitan Museum and 19th Century Spectacle
2022-09-22 18:00 - 19:30 (America/Phoenix)
Dr. Ann-Marie Knoblauch
Associate Professor, Art History
Virginia Tech
In the 1870s, two massive shipments of ancient Cypriote art arrived in New York, forming the foundational collection for the city’s new universal museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The collection had been acquired from Luigi Palma di Cesnola, the notorious antiquities collector working on Cyprus. The material led to public controversy fairly quickly. While most welcomed with enthusiasm the large collection of original ancient Mediterranean objects, New Yorkers familiar with the Greco-Roman past had a hard time making sense of the Cypriote material and its perceived “otherness.” Furthermore, a scandal (and eventual public trial) about alleged improper restorations to some of the Cypriote sculpture by Cesnola (by now the director of the Met) raised questions about archaeological ethics and authenticity.
In this presentation Dr. Knoblauch explores the public reception of (and reaction to) the ancient Cypriote material in 1880s New York. Unintentionally, Cesnola caused a spectacle for the newly-opened museum, and cynical New Yorkers–familiar with the antics of P.T. Barnum when it came to creating spectacles—enjoyed poking fun at the large and bewildering Cypriot collection and the arrogant Cesnola.
For questions about the event or registration, please email the program coordinator, Casey Gipson, at casey.gipson@asu.edu.

The Archaeology of Dreams and What It Tells Us about Climate Change
2022-09-24 13:00 (America/Chicago)
ZOOM Lecture: “The Archaeology of Dreams and What It Tells Us About Climate Change” by Dr. David S. Whitley, Adjunct Professor in the School of Geographical Sciences at Arizona State University. Zoom room opens at 12:45 and lecture promptly starts at 1 PM. Sign in at 12:45, please…
More Zoom events are listed here on the St. Louis Society webpage.

Mes Aynak and the Continued Threat to Archaeology and Archaeologists
2022-09-24 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Denver)
September Denver Society Lecture: Saturday September 24, 2022 @ 1:00 PM, Online Webinar
Mes Aynak and the Continued Threat to Archaeology and Archaeologists
Presented by Erik DeMarche, MA, International Archaeology Consultant & President of the Denver Society of the Archaeological Institute of America
Abstract: The archaeology site of Mes Aynak consists of a one-thousand-year-old Buddhist copper mining city likely on top of a bronze age and older settlements and the second largest copper deposit in the world in the heart of a pro-Taliban province. After a Chinese state-owned mining company acquired the mineral rights to the copper, an international rescue excavation began. These efforts were hindered by mix of government corruption and the Taliban harassment. One year after the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, Mes Aynak remains in danger as do many of the Afghan archaeologists who worked there. This lecture will cover a brief history of Mes Aynak, a history of the archaeology work done here, and the contemporary and ongoing surrounding controversies.
Biography: Erik DeMarche is an international archaeology consultant specializing in archaeology in areas of conflict and is the current president of the Denver Society of the Archaeological Institute of America.

Life at Berkou: a newly-discovered Roman fortress in Egypt
2022-09-26 16:30 (America/New_York) | Department of Art & Archaeology seminar room (Green Hall 3-S-15), Washington Rd., Princeton, NJ, 08540, United States
Ettinghausen Lecture

Community Archaeology as Sustainable Archaeology
2022-09-26 19:30 (America/New_York) | Belk Visual Arts Center 117, Davidson College, 405 N Main St, Davidson, NC, 28036, United States

Operation Demeter: What Italy's largest antiques bust reveals about archaeological looting today
2022-09-27 17:30 (America/New_York) | UMass Amherst, Herter Hall 601, 161 Presidents Drive, Amherst, MA, 01003, United States

Prehistoric Cave Art of Spain & France
2022-09-28
Investigate southwestern Europe’s most extraordinary prehistoric caves with Prehistory expert Paul Bahn, including Lascaux IV, a new, exact reproduction of one of the most remarkable prehistoric sites ever discovered; Altamira II, a precise replica of the original that is often called the “Sistine Chapel of Prehistoric Art”; Atapuerca, the most significant early human site in western Europe; Las Monedas Cave and Cueva del Castillo, where 455 animal likenesses were painted and engraved some 22,000-14,000 years ago, but other motifs such as hand stencils and red dots have been dated to more than 40,000 years ago, meaning that they may well have been made by Neanderthals; Cougnac, which features paintings of extinct megaloceros and mammoth; Pech Merle, known for its “negative handprints”; and others.

Healing the Body: How Scientific Archaeology is Revealing the Medicinal Practices of Enslaved Peoples
2022-09-29 14:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar, Webinar, London, UK, London, Sonoma County, 5201, United Kingdom
Virtual lecture which is part of the AIA Archaeology Abridged Series.
