Archaeological Institute of America

Çatalhöyük: The Bioarchaeology of an Early Farming Society in Transition (Clark Spencer Larsen)
2021-11-18 19:00 (America/New_York) | AZ
The Neolithic is a period of fundamental changes in living circumstances, much of which is tied to the shift from a lifeway based exclusively on hunting, gathering, and collecting wild plants and animals to one where domesticated plant and animals form a significant portion of the diet. For Western Asia, the human remains of early farmers recovered from Çatalhöyük (7100-5950 BC) in south-central Turkey provide a highly contextualized setting for addressing key issues relating to living circumstances, conditions in a proto-urban setting, and the context in general for much of the world we live in today.
Register by clicking the button below.

Pompeii on the Potomac
2021-11-18 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Vancouver) | Spokane, WA, 99201, United States
Constantino Brumidi’s Roman-Style Wall Paintings for the US Capitol
Dr. Elise Friedland (George Washington University, D.C.)
The US Capitol—America’s central federal building—echoes ancient Greece and Rome, not only in its architecture and architectural sculpture, but even in its decorative murals. This talk presents new research on the 1858 fresco cycle in the Senate wing’s Naval Affairs Committee meeting room, painted by Constantino Brumidi, the Italian-born artist, turned American citizen, who is most famous for his Apotheosis of George Washington in the Rotunda. Art historical and archival evidence demonstrate how Brumidi adapted Graeco-Roman motifs from a nineteenth-century publication of newly-discovered Pompeian frescoes to proclaim US naval power in the young nation’s main hall of government.

Reconstructing Queen Amanishakheto’s Musical Instruments (Free Virtual Lecture)
2021-11-18 18:00 - 19:15 (America/New_York) | AZ
Susanne Gänsicke, Senior Conservator and ​​Head of Antiquities Conservation, J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles
Double reed pipes, known as auloi, were popular musical instruments in the ancient Mediterranean. In 1921, archaeologists exploring the necropolis of Meroë (northern Sudan)—as part of the Harvard University-Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition—found a large collection of auloi in the pyramid of Nubian Queen Amanishakheto. Susanne Gänsicke will discuss the discovery’s importance and what it reveals about the connections between Nubia and the Mediterranean world as well as the significance of far-reaching musical traditions. She will also share recent efforts to conserve and reconstruct these ancient musical instruments.
Presented by the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East and the Harvard Museums of Science & Culture

The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: Monumental Power, Politics and Pride
2021-11-18 17:00 (America/Denver) | WEBINAR (Edmonton 1), Edmonton, AB

Useful Objects: Nineteenth-Century Museums and American Culture (Free Virtual Event)
2021-11-17 16:30 - 17:45 (America/New_York) | AZ
Reed Gochberg, Assistant Director of Studies; Lecturer on History and Literature, Harvard University
In conversation with:
Brenda Tindal, Executive Director, Harvard Museums of Science & Culture
What can the history of museums tell us about their role in American culture today? What kinds of objects were considered worth collecting, and who decided their value? Join Reed Gochberg, author of Useful Objects: Museums, Science, and Literature in Nineteenth-Century America (Oxford University Press, September 2021) to learn about the early history of American museums, including Harvard’s Museum of Comparative Zoology. In conversation with HMSC Executive Director Brenda Tindal, she will examine how writers and visitors reflected on a wide range of nineteenth-century collections—and how their ideas continue to inform ongoing debates about the challenges and possibilities museums face today.

Cultural Resource Management (CRM) Today
2021-11-16 19:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Davidson College, 315 North Main Street, Semans Auditorium, Belk Visual Arts Center, Davidson, NC, 28036, United States
Christy and Jim Pritchard, “Cultural Resource Management (CRM) Today”
THIS LECTURE IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE VACCINATED PUBLIC
MASKS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL ATTENDEES
About the lecture:
Christy and Jim Pritchard have been leading cultural resources efforts across the US over the past 25+ years. They will discuss the legislative and operational framework for CRM today. The presentation will highlight collaborations between academic and consultant archaeologists and will discuss the many beneficial preservation impacts, both educational and social, of consulting archaeology in the US. Christy and Jim will present important projects and provide insights from the front line of American historic preservation.
About the speakers:
Christy Pritchard, RPA, is Operations Manager / Cultural Heritage Project Manager at Environmental Research Group, LLC. She earned her M.A.Sc.in Cultural Heritage Management with emphasis in Archaeology and Heritage Interpretation from the University of Canberra, Australia. She led the business and field operations for both federal and state contracts of the Kentucky offices for a southeastern cultural resources firm. When she joined Environmental Research Group, LLC, in 2015, she co-developed the cultural resources practice of ERG and now manages both cultural and environmental compliance services and training to agencies including Department of Defense (DoD), Multiple Districts of the United States Corps of Engineers (USACE), Veterans Affairs (VA), Army National Guard, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Jim Pritchard, RPA, is Operations Manager at Environmental Research Group, LLC. He earned his M.A.Sc. in Cultural Heritage Management with an emphasis in Archaeology from the University of Canberra, Australia. In 2007, he became a Vice President with one of the larger cultural resources firms in the Southeast and opened its Kentucky offices. Jim undertook strategic marketing for the firm and expanded its geographic and workload coverage across the Upland South, Ohio Valley, and Great Lakes region. Jim focused on the ongoing archaeological research and Section 106 compliance at Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he oversaw the investigation of tens of thousands of acres and the recording of hundreds of archaeological sites. Jim came to ERG in 2015 to build the cultural resources program nationwide.

Female Benefactors in the Roman Empire (Dr. Rachel Meyers)
2021-11-15 17:30 - 19:00 (America/Chicago) | 32 Quincy Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, United States
The Iowa Society of the Archaeological Institute of America presents: “Female Benefactors in the Roman Empire” by Dr. Rachel Meyers (Iowa State University)
Evidence for the Roman practice of public generosity comes from ancient texts, inscriptions, and archaeological remains. This philanthropic activity, including endowments, bequests, construction projects, and entertainment, was a common way for the wealthy to show off their resources, promote their family’s standing, and position themselves for public office. Until recently, however, most female benefactors were pushed to the margins of scholarly inquiry or omitted entirely. While Roman women could not hold civic offices or military commands, they could acquire substantial wealth and engage in public life through priesthoods and public benefaction. This presentation features a large corpus of inscriptions from the Roman West that gives evidence for the numerous ways in which women used their financial resources for civic munificence. The data reveal geographical and chronological differences that help us gain a new understanding of women’s autonomy in the Roman Empire.
This is a virtual talk only. Please register ahead of time by clicking the button below.

Sardis: Recent Discoveries from the Bronze Age until the End of Antiquity
2021-11-14 15:00 - 16:30 (America/Chicago) | AZ
Dr. Nicholas A. Cahill, UW-Madison
The Archaeological Exploration of Sardis expedition has
carried out large-scale, scientific excavations at the site in western Turkey since 1958. Over these 5+ decades, archaeologists have documented the emergence and development of Sardis, the capitol of the Lydian Empire of the 6th and 7th centuries BCE, and one of the great cities of the ancient world. Utilizing spectacular aerial imagery, Dr. Cahill, Director of the Sardis Expedition since 2008, will discuss the geography, history, and challenges of excavating such a large
and complex site and will provide a backdrop for understanding recent discoveries and research. The speaker will address current archaeological questions including: Who were the Lydians? What does the early development of the city look like? What cultural transformations are evident when the native capitol becomes a Greek polis? What can the collapse of Sardis tell us about the “End of Antiquity” in the 7th c AD? On-going site conservation efforts will also be featured.

Tracing the Origins of Art in Africa
2021-11-13 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | AZ
Zoom lecture by Dr. Michael Chazan (University of Toronto)
Joukowsky Lecture

Zoom Details
The waiting room opens at 12:45pm CST, and the live lecture will begin at 1:00pm CST.
Click below to join the meeting. Or, join through Zoom with the following login:
Meeting ID: 361 501 0853
Password: [REDACTED]
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Archaeology to the Rescue: Recent Work at the Mycenaean Cemetery of Aidonia
2021-11-12 17:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | AZ
Dr. Lynne Kvapil (Butler University) will speak on “Archaeology to the Rescue: Recent Work at the Mycenaean Cemetery of Aidonia.”

Zoom Meeting ID: 988 2555 4469
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Humans and Alcohol: The Archaeology of a Deeply Entangled Relationship
2021-11-11 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | WEBINAR (Portland 1), Portland, OR
Norton Lecture

Religious Ritual on board the Greco-Roman Ship
2021-11-11 18:00 (America/New_York) | WEBINAR (Richmond 1), Richmond, VA

Archaeology and Ale and Book Release with Andrew Lawler
2021-11-10 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | AZ
Andrew Lawler will introduce us to his new book, UNDER JERUSALEM: The Buried History of the World’s Most Contested City. Sacred to three faiths and revered by more than half the people on the planet, Jerusalem conjures up powerful images of the celestial. Yet beneath its narrow alleys and holy places, the ancient city conceals a labyrinthine, three-dimensional time capsule recording five millennia of bustling prosperity, brutal war, and repeated religious innovation that altered the course of human history.
Since the days when Abraham Lincoln was in the White House, adventurers, archaeologists, and religious zealots have flocked here to hunt for buried treasure, unearth sacred artifacts like the Ark of the Covenant, and find proof of the Bible’s veracity. That digging to reveal the past continues today—and, in so doing, continues to alter the city’s future.
In this book he takes us into the tombs, tunnels, and trenches of the Holy City and brings to life the indelible characters who have investigated this subterranean landscape.
You can pre-order the book at the Seminary Coop Bookstore https://www.semcoop.com/under-jerusalem

Humans and Alcohol: The Archaeology of a Deeply Entangled Relationship
2021-11-10 18:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | WEBINAR (Eugene 1), Eugene, OR

Wonderwerk Cave: Archaeology at the Edge of the Kalahari
2021-11-08 19:00 (America/New_York) | WEBINAR (Oberlin-Wooster 1), Oberlin, OH
Joukowsky Lecture

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Death comes to the Theban Sacred Band: Skeletons from the Battle of Chaironeia (338 BC)
2021-11-08 19:00 (America/New_York) | WEBINAR (D.C. 1), Washington, DC
Matson Lecture

Vitality Materialized: On the Piercing and Adornment of the body in Mesoamerica
2021-11-08 18:00 (America/New_York) | WEBINAR (New York City 1), New York, NY
Brush Lecture

Heroes on the Move: Greek Heroes in the Hellenistic World
2021-11-07 14:00 (America/New_York) | WEBINAR (Ottawa 1), Ottawa, ON
Santen Lecture

Limestone Sculpture of Cyprus: Portraits of Culture
2021-11-07 11:00 (America/New_York) | Hofstra University, Breslin Hall, 1000 Hempstead Turnpike (Hofstra University 105), Hempstead, NY, 11549, United States
A lecture by Dr. Pam Gaber, Professor of Archaeology and Art History on Lycoming College, on how Cyprus has yielded hundreds of votive sculptures from the First Millennium BCE, and how they reveal religious worship, travel, and trade in the Ancient Near East.

Zoom Meeting ID: 870 1437 5777
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Historic Bike Tour
2021-11-06 13:45 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Florida Museum, 3215 Hull Road, Gainesville, FL, 32601, United States
Take a ride through history! Experience the University of Florida from a completely different perspective on this FREE tour exploring archaeological sites and historic features that make the campus unique.
Led by the Florida Public Archaeology Network, with support from the Gainesville Society of the Archaeological Institute of America, this family-friendly tour includes information about the Native Americans who lived and thrived in this area for thousands of years, long before UF existed, before Victorian houses and railroad depots were built, and prior to when the Seminole and Spanish wrangled cattle on the Prairie.
Tour Stops
More venues may be added to this list:
Begin at the Florida Museum
Baughman Center
Lake Alice
University of Florida Levin College of Law
End at the Florida Museum

Weapons, Warfare, and Women
2021-11-04 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Whitman College, Maxey Hall, 413-461 Boyer Ave, Walla Walla, WA, 99362, United States
The Dangerous Lives of Early Bronze Age Women in Central Anatolia
Speaker: Stephanie Selover
Abstract:
In archaeology and art history, women of the ancient world are often identified through stereotypically “feminine” materials such as jewelry or weaving tools. This study of ancient cultures and the rise of early urbanism in the Early Bronze Age (ca. 3000-2000 BCE) reveals the reality to be less simple. Art historical studies combined with evidence from Anatolia (modern Turkey) Egypt and Mesopotamia, reveal that both male and female graves contained functional weapons, and that women were also sometimes depicted with weapons and as fighters. This talk investigates the increase in weapons as grave goods in both male and female graves, and how this change relates to alterations in the social order in a time of increasing warfare and violence.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
This lecture will be hosted as a hybrid event, with an option of either in-person or remote attendance (via Zoom).
The in-person event will be hosted on the Whitman College campus, in Maxey Hall room 207. Please note that proof of full vaccination (date of final dose no later than October 21st) or Whitman ID will be required at the door, at the west entrance of Maxey. Masks will also be required at all times within the building.
To register for the remote, live-streamed version over Zoom, please use the following link:

Humans and Alcohol: The Archaeology of a Deeply Entangled Relationship
2021-11-04 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | WEBINAR (San Francisco 1), San Francisco, CA

Ritual at the crossroads: a sacred stone in ancient Athens
2021-11-04 19:00 (America/New_York) | WEBINAR (Columbus 1), Columbus, OH

State Formation in Anglo-Saxon England
2021-11-04 18:00 (America/Chicago) | WEBINAR (Minneapolis-St. Paul 1), Minneapolis, MN

POSTPONED!!! “Archaeology through Art: Early Modern Japanese Ship Construction”
2021-11-03 19:30 (America/Chicago) | AZ
THIS LECTURE HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL SOMETIME IN THE SPRING.
Michelle Damian, Assistant Professor of History, Monmouth College (mdamian@monmouthcollege.edu)
Maritime trade and transport flourished during Japan’s early modern (Edo, 1603 – 1868) period, connecting the urban centers of Osaka and Edo with the farthest reaches of Hokkaido and Kyushu. The omnipresent nature and variety of styles of boats, from local ferries, to fishing vessels, to large trade ships are recorded diligently in hundreds of woodblock prints by numerous different artists. Careful analysis of the construction styles and contexts of these vessels in the prints, in conjunction with contemporary ships’ treatises, extant artifacts in museum collections, and ethnographic research suggests that shipwrights strove to create visually striking watercraft that were adapted to the waters they plied. This lecture will highlight some of the distinctive features of Japanese ship construction and explore the role that different vessels play in the early modern maritime cultural landscape.
Wednesday, November 3, 2021, 7:30 pm, Trustees’ Room (Room 302), Alumni Hall, Knox College, Galesburg, IL 61401
Plans are to zoom this lecture live. Watch this space for more information.

U2 Spy Plane Photos and The Archaeology of the Middle East
2021-11-03 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Denver) | AZ
Declassified military imagery from planes and satellites plays an important role in landscape and environmental archaeology. Historic imagery sources, especially the large archives generated by the US during the Cold War, are far better than Google Earth for providing archaeologists with a window into the past, before development and intensive agriculture took hold in many rural parts of western Asia. In the mid-late 1990s, the archaeology of arid regions in Eurasia was revolutionized by the declassification of CORONA “spy satellite” photographs showing large swaths of the region in high-resolution, as they appeared in 1967-1972. Now there is a new source of even older high-resolution historical imagery: photos from U2 spy planes captured 1958-1960.
In this lecture, Dr. Emily Hammer (UPenn) presents case studies showing how U2 photos can be used to shape archaeological and historical conclusions about early southwest Asia. These new datasets allow for a better understanding of the environmental distribution of prehistoric hunting traps (“desert kites”) in eastern Jordan, the size of the ancient Mesopotamian city of Ur in southern Iraq and this city’s ancient water supplies, as well as the spatial demography of 20th-century communities living around the marshes of southern Iraq.

The Spirit of Repatriation Under NAGPRA
2021-11-03 17:00 (America/New_York) | WEBINAR (Boston 2), Boston, MA

SASA's Halloween Bash
2021-11-03 | AZ
FREE and open to the public, this celebration of SASA’s progress and call to action to support our mission is complete with a 10-day lineup of special events! From Mesopotamian ‘vampires’ and the underworld, to Pictish monsters, ‘Assassins Creed: Valhalla’ archaeogaming, and a feature on ‘Lovecraft’, join us to explore the history of Halloween and the related festivals and figures from the ancient world.
FREE Halloween Bash Event Lineup:
~Oct. 23 – 2pm EDT – SASA Book Club LIVE: ‘Murder Mystery in the Roman Republic’ by Dr. Emma Southton, hosted by Jack Chandler
~Oct. 25 – 2pm EDT – Art Contest Winners Reveal
~Oct. 26 – 2pm EDT – “Death, Dying, and the Dreary Underworld in Mesopotamia” led by Dr. Petra Creamer
~Oct. 28 – 1pm EDT – SASA Archaeogaming LIVE: “Rainbow Road to Asgard: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Discovery Tour” hosted by Kate Minniti and Jacob Coffey
~Oct. 29 – 12pm EDT – “The Gods and Myths of the Picts” led by Dr. Kelly Kilpatrick
~Oct. 30 – 2pm EDT -SASA Q&A LIVE: ‘Lovecraft’ w/ S. T. Joshi, hosted by Jackson Reinhardt
~Oct 31 – 1pm EDT – SASA Halloween Spooktacular Party
~Nov. 1 – 2pm EDT – ”Ancient ‘Monsters’ as seen in Mesopotamian Cylinder Seals of the Morgan Library Collection” led by Nicole Leist
~Nov. 3 – 11am EDT – “Lilith: not quite a ‘Babylonian vampire’, but…” led by Dr. Martin Worthington

Awash in Innuendo at the Baths of Caracalla
2021-11-02 17:00 (America/New_York) | WEBINAR (New Haven 1), New Haven, CT
a remote ZOOM lecture by Maryl Gensheimer, University of Maryland
Archaeological Institute of America, New Haven Society
November 2 2021, from 5-6 pm
Zoom link: https://yale.zoom.us/j/93935437567

You are invited to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Zoom is Yale’s audio and visual conferencing platform.
Topic: AIA Fall 2021
Time: Nov 2, 2021 05:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://yale.zoom.us/j/93935437567
Or Telephone：203-432-9666 (2-ZOOM if on-campus) or 646 568 7788
Meeting ID: 939 3543 7567
International numbers available: https://yale.zoom.us/u/aIjNdjuhB

The Power of the Ancestors at Pylos
2021-11-02 17:00 (America/New_York) | Andrews Hall, Room 101, College of William & Mary, 605 Jamestown Road, Williamsburg, VA, 23187, United States
Howland Lecture
