Archaeological Institute of America

Exhibition Tour: Celtic Art Across the Ages
2026-07-31 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Harvard Art Museums, 32 Quincy Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, United States
Join this tour to learn more about the metalworking and decorative techniques used to make objects on view in the special exhibition Celtic Art Across the Ages. Led by British Museum curator Sophia Adams, the tour will introduce ancient manufacturing techniques and examine how evolving decorative approaches shaped artistic styles during the European Iron Age.
Led by:
Sophia Adams, Curator of First Millennium European and Roman Conquest Period Collections, British Museum
In Celtic Art Across the Ages (March 6–August 2, 2026), discover the many forms of Celtic creativity and their artistic legacies in this sweeping story that spans ancient to modern times.

Explore Archaeology with Members of the Rochester Society Archaeological Institute of America
2026-08-08 10:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Irondequoit Public Library room 113, 1290 Titus Ave room 113, Rochester, NY, 14617, United States
Join members of the Rochester Society of the Archaeological Institute of America for hands-on archaeology activities! Appropriate for all ages, this program will give participants the chance to interact with archeology enthusiasts and sample artifacts. Kids can enjoy play-doh, coloring pages, and archaeology toys, and even try out some archaeology for themselves in a sandbox!

Family Archaeology Day at Pittsford Library — Hands-On History with the Rochester Society
2026-08-14 14:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Pittsford Community Library, 24 State Street, Pittsford, NY, 14534, United States
Dig into history — literally. On August 14, the Pittsford Community Library is hosting a Family Archaeology Day in partnership with members of the Rochester Society, offering an afternoon to explore what’s been found beneath our region’s surface. It’s the kind of afternoon that makes a child look at the ground a little differently on the walk home.

Here Comes the Sun: A diachronic study on the role of music during the Amarna Period
2026-08-16 15:00 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/FcyP-FNRSbqg_kpujlRXuA
The American Research Center in Egypt, Northern California chapter, invites you to attend a Zoom lecture by Waleed el-Hawatky, The American University in Cairo:
“Here Comes the Sun: A diachronic study on the role of music during the Amarna Period”
Sunday, August 16, 2026, 3 PM PDT
This meeting is virtual, and not in person. It will be recorded.
Zoom registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/FcyP-FNRSbqg_kpujlRXuA
Image Credit: Relief of People Driving off Birds, ca. 1352–1336 B.C.E.. Limestone, pigment, 8 1/4 x 21 1/4 in. (21 x 54 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 60.197.3. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum,www.brooklynmuseum.org)
About the Lecture:
Music has played and continues to play a prominent role in the lives of individuals and in society, hardwired into the human experience and integral to our understanding of the world in both its tangible and intangible manifestations. This was no different in dynastic Egypt, where abundant iconographic and physical evidence from the Old Kingdom on shows music being performed in every context and at every level of society. Music appears not only to gain prominence during the Amarna Period but also to develop innovations, including new instrument designs and musical ensembles, all of which are well documented in the rich visual culture of the Amarna Period. This paper explores music in this era, with an emphasis on the royal court, demonstrating its increased role as compared with the first part of the 18th Dynasty with evidence garnered from representations in tombs, temples and texts, as well as physical instruments, amulets, figurines and other material objects associated with music. Through both an Egyptological and musicological approach, this study not only elucidates the function and possibly accelerated evolution of musical innovation in the Amarna Period, but also the implications of the social and gender roles observed in musical practice within the framework of the Aten ideology, perhaps even inspired directly by it.
About the Speaker:
Waleed el-Hawatky is an Egyptologist and Musicologist with an MA in Egyptology & Coptology from The American University in Cairo. Born and raised in California to Egyptian immigrants, el-Hawatky is a newcomer to Egyptology, coming from a background in genetics and public relations, bringing disciplinary versatility to his work. A composer, performer and recording artist of nearly three decades, el-Hawatky specializes in ancient Egyptian musicology, seeking new approaches to the study of ancient music in hopes of eventually constructing a comprehensive lexicon on the ancient Egyptian musical tradition, contributing to the wider study of daily life in ancient Egypt.
How to Register:
Register for the lecture by clicking on this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/FcyP-FNRSbqg_kpujlRXuA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the lecture.
There are a few things you should know before you join the lecture:
* Advance registration is required. When you click on the link to register. you will receive instructions by email on how and when to join, along with a link on which you will click to join the meeting. Save the email, as you will need the link it contains to join the meeting. Please register now. Please do not share the join link with anyone, it is unique to your email address. Try to join at least 10 minutes before the meeting. When you do join the meeting, be prepared to be put in the waiting room until the lecture starts at 3 pm. This is a security measure.
* If you haven’t already installed Zoom, you should download and install the Zoom program (app) well before you try to join the meeting. There IS an option to use your web browser to join the meeting instead of the Zoom program, but the browser interface is limited and depends greatly on what browser and what operating system you’re using.
* For tutorials on how to use Zoom, go to https://learn-zoom.us/show-me. In particular, “Joining a Zoom Meeting” should show you what you need to do to join our lecture.
* All meeting attendees can communicate with everyone, or with individual participants, using the chat window, which can be opened by clicking on the chat button and which you can probably find at the bottom middle of your Zoom viewing screen. Participants will be encouraged to hold their questions for the speaker until after the lecture, and will also be encouraged to address their questions for the speaker to everyone, not just to the speaker, so that all can see them. “Everyone” is the default chat option.
If you have any questions, please email glenn@glennmeyer.net or arcencZoom@gmail.com.
About Northern California ARCE:
For more information, please visit https://www.youtube.com/@NorthernCaliforniaARCE, https://www.facebook.com/NorthernCaliforniaARCE, https://arce-nc.org, https://bsky.app/profile/khentiamentiu.bsky.social, and https://khentiamentiu.org. To join the chapter or renew your membership, please go to https://arce.org/membership/ and select “Berkeley, CA” as your chapter when you sign up.

You Can Do Archaeology Outreach from Anywhere! Level Up (or Start) Here
2026-08-31 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_chfFqP11TMGS6RGbneBTkA#/registration
Curious about participating in Skype a Scientist, but don’t know where to start? Or perhaps you’ve done it before, but are on the lookout for new ideas? Join AIA’s 2026-2027 Skype a Scientist Ambassadors Taylor Cwikla and Rachel Dewan and members of the AIA’s Outreach & Education Committee to hear a bit about their personal experiences with Skype a Scientist and strategies for virtually engaging classrooms and communities around the world. Stay for the Q&A to ask your burning questions and enjoy an informal conversation about this form of outreach.

Current Research in Tennessee Archaeology (CRITA)
2026-09-12 09:00 - 15:30 (America/Chicago) | NM
AIA-Nashville Society is excited to invite you to Current Research in Tennessee Archaeology (CRITA) on September 12, 2026! Organized by the Tennessee Division of Archaeology, this special program will be held in person from 9:00-3:30 at the Tennessee State Library and Archives in Nashville, Tennessee. See details below for free parking information. With morning and afternoon talks, this free day-long showcase is open to the public, bringing together professional archaeologists, students, and the interested public to learn about recent research into Tennessee’s archaeological heritage. This event is free and does not require registration.
More info: https://bit.ly/CRITA-2026
See website above for venue information, morning and afternoon program abstracts, and associated events.
Due to the January 2026 ice storm, CRITA has been rescheduled to September 12, 2026!
Full website link: https://www.tn.gov/environment/program-areas/arch-archaeology/current-research-in-tennessee-archaeology–crita-/2026-crita-program.html

The Mystery of the Midas Monument
2026-09-14 16:30 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | NM
The Elizabeth S. Ettinghausen Lecture

AIA UNESCO Treasures of Ancient Greece Circumnavigating the Peloponnese by Private Luxury Yacht + pre & post-tour options
2026-09-17 - 2026-09-26 | NM
On this special circumnavigation of Greece’s Peloponnese peninsula in the company of two special AIA lecturers and hosts, archaeologists Jack Davis and Shari Stocker. You will spend a night in Athens and then cruise around the Peloponnese aboard the luxurious, 50-cabin Emerald Azzurra for seven nights. Along the way, Jack and Shari will be part of a team of onboard experts who together will offer a series of lectures and informal discussions. This cruise, aboard this ship, with these experts, is an unmatched way to experience a beautiful and deeply historical part of Greece that is filled with archaeological delights. Your adventure begins with a night in the heart of historic Athens and a private visit to either the Goulandris Museum
of Cycladic Art or the Benaki Museum of Greek Culture. Then you will embark Emerald Azzurra, whose sleek design grants access to hidden harbors and a rare, full circumnavigation of the Peloponnese peninsula. Along the way, visit five UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Mycenae, the fabled Bronze Age citadel; Epidaurus, known for its perfectly preserved ancient theater; Mystras, a remarkable Byzantine city; Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games; and Delphi, once home to the most influential
oracle in the ancient world. Perhaps the highlight of the program will be our special access — thanks to Jack and Shari — at Nestor’s Palace at Pylos, one of Greece’s best-preserved Mycenaean palaces. Between guided visits, explore coastal towns such as Nafplion, Gythio, and Pylos, each with deep historical roots. Conclude the voyage with a spectacular passage through the Corinth Canal before returning to Athens. Also available are a two-night, pre-tour extension in Athens and a four-night,
post-tour extension cruise in the Aegean.
Highlights include:
-Visit five UNESCO World Heritage Sites with expert local guides: Epidaurus, Mycenae, Mystras, Olympia, and Delphi.
-Transit the Corinth Canal, whose history extends back into classical times, including an unsuccessful attempt to build it in the 1st century A.D.
-Cruise for seven nights aboard the luxurious Emerald Azzurra, a state-of-the-art mega-yacht privately chartered and expertly staffed for unparalleled comfort and service.
-Gain special access to one of the most important Mycenaean sites in Greece, Nestor’s Palace at Pylos, where our AIA lecturers have done extensive fieldwork and made extraordinary finds.
-Wander through charming seaside towns like Nafplion, Gythio, and Pylos, where cobblestone streets, whitewashed buildings, and vibrant harbors create picturesque settings perfect for exploration.
OPTIONAL PRE-TRIP EXTENSION: TUESDAY–FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15–18 , 2026 (Athens Greece)
Depart home on an overnight flight to Athens, Greece. Arrive Wednesday, September 16, and transfer to the centrally located Athens Capital Hotel—MGallery Collection. Experience the treasures our AIA study leaders who will enrich your visit with their expertise. Explore ancient landmarks from the bustling Agora and lively Plaka to the iconic Acropolis and its acclaimed museum. Savor authentic Greek meals, visit the National Archaeological Museum, and enjoy time to discover this vibrant city at your own pace.
OPTIONAL POST-TRIP EXTENSION: SATURDAY-WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 26 -30, 2026 (Athens, Cape Sounion, Delos, Mykonos, KuŞadasi Turkiye, Herakalion, Crete, Greece and Knossos)
LIMITED AVAILABILITY Remain in your cabin for an additional four-night cruise through the Aegean Sea, exploring the region’s most iconic ancient sites with expert local guides. This extension must be booked with the main program to ensure the same
cabin throughout.

Spokane Monthly Archaeology Lecture
2026-09-17 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W 1st Ave, Spokane, WA, 99201, United States
Join us for our monthly lectures on a variety of archaeological topics!

AIA Romans & Moors in Morocco & Spain tour
2026-09-18 - 2026-09-29 | NM
Trace the layered history of the western Mediterranean on a journey through Morocco and Spain, where Roman, Islamic, and Christian civilizations shaped enduring cultural landscapes. From Morocco’s Roman ruins and imperial cities to Andalusia’s Moorish masterpieces and Spain’s great art collections, this thoughtfully paced itinerary weaves together archaeology, architecture, and living traditions. Along the way, you will be treated to insightful discussions with your AIA lecturer/host, Patrick Hunt, whose deep field experience and engaging lectures will bring these countries’ histories vividly to life.
Tour highlights:
• Explore Morocco’s imperial cities of Rabat, Meknes, and Fes, including the medieval medinas of Fes el-Bali (“Old Fes”)
• Walk through layers of history at Rabat’s Chellah Fortress, where Phoenician, Roman, and Islamic remains converge
• Experience Andalusia’s cultural crossroads in Seville, Córdoba, and Granada, featuring palaces, mosques, cathedrals, and historic quarters
• Visit exceptional Roman sites including Volubilis, Italica, and the soaring Roman aqueduct of Segovia
• Discover UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the Alhambra, Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, Royal Alcázar of Seville, and historic city centers
• Delve into Spain’s artistic legacy with a guided visit of Madrid’s Prado Museum
• Savor regional cuisine through welcome and farewell dinners, select hosted meals, and opportunities to dine independently
• Stay in well-located 4- and 5-star hotels chosen for their quality, comfort, and proximity to key sites
This exclusive, small-group tour is limited to just 16 participants.

Religion at the Boundaries and the Archaeology of Interreligious Engagement
2026-09-21 14:00 - 20:30, 2026-09-23 17:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | NM
Kershaw Lectures in Near East Archaeology
Time and Location TBA

AIA Essential Greece by Land & Sea tour with a 4-Night Aegean Cruise & Optional post-tour extension: Peloponnese Discovery
2026-09-22 - 2026-09-30 | NM
JOURNEY THROUGH THE HEART OF CLASSICAL GREECE AND THE AEGEAN WORLD on this marvelous exploration of Athens, several Greek islands, and the vast Greco-Roman site of Ephesus, Türkiye. Begin with three nights in Athens, staying near lively Syntagma Square. Explore with expert local guides Athens’ iconic ancient landmark, the Parthenon, plus the exceptional Acropolis Museum and the Museum of Cycladic Art. Also take a full-day excursion to the stunning sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi, once considered the spiritual center of the ancient world.
Highlights include:
-Visit four UNESCO World Heritage Sites with expert local guides: Athens’ Acropolis, the island of Delos, Ephesus in Türkiye, and Crete’s Minoan Palace at Knossos.
-Delight in the antiquities and iconic sites in Athens such as climbing the Acropolis and visiting the Acropolis Museum while accompanied by expert guides.
-Cruise with AIA study leaders for four nights aboard the luxurious Emerald Azzurra, a privately chartered mega-yacht built, appointed, and staffed at the highest levels of comfort and service.
-Swim in azure waters surrounding the beautiful island of Mykonos and explore its beautiful cobblestone streets.
-Venture to Türkiye to walk the ancient streets of Ephesus, where the Greco-Roman world comes alive at one of the most complete classical cities in the Mediterranean.
-Wander the impressive ruins at Knossos in Crete, a spectacular Bronze Age site known as Europe’s oldest city.
OPTIONAL POST-TOUR EXTENSION: 9/30 to 10/3, 2026
Peloponnese Discovery Continue your journey with three nights in Greece’s Peloponnese, a region where layers of history unfold amid striking landscapes. Explore the ruins of Corinth, stand before the legendary citadel of Mycenae, and marvel
at the ancient theater of Epidaurus, celebrated for its remarkable acoustics. Balance these encounters with time to unwind in the seaside beauty of Nafplion. Conclude your travels in Athens with a visit to the National Archaeological Museum, home to one of the world’s most important collections of ancient art.

Something Old, Something Blue: The Color of Innovation through Ancient Western Asian Seals
2026-09-22 08:00 - 17:00, 2026-09-22 18:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Penn Museum, 3260 South Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States
Presenter: Pınar Durgun, PhD, Jeannette and Jonathan Rosen Associate Curator, Department Head, Ancient Western Asian Seals & Tablets, The Morgan Library & Museum
Stone and clay may dominate archaeological narratives of Ancient Western Asian museum galleries, shaping our understanding through what has survived best. Yet, ancient craftspeople worked within a far richer material world that included glass, glazes, pigments, faience, and one of history’s earliest synthetic materials: Egyptian blue or zagindurû in Akkadian. Drawing on the Ancient Western Asian seal collection at the Morgan Library & Museum made famous by the glyptic scholarship of Edith Porada, this lecture explores how seals can open a window into broader questions of material performance and innovation. Rather than viewing stone as the pinnacle medium in traditional hierarchies of value, it argues for a more expansive perspective on seal materials that recognizes experimentation, technical knowledge, and creativity.

Columbus Society Kershaw Lecture in Near East Archaeology with Dr. Erin Darby
2026-09-22 16:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | NM
Kershaw Lectures in Near East Archaeology
Topic and Time TBA

SAIG 2026 Dissertation Lecture: "Remembering Collapse: Understanding Ritual at Abandoned Late Bronze Age Sites on Crete through the lens of Social Trauma Theory" with Sarah Malik Bell
2026-09-22 17:00 (America/New_York) | NM
Please join the Student Affairs Interest Group for their annual Dissertation Lecture featuring Sarah Malik Bell, who received her PhD from Brown University in 2025, for her talk, “Remembering Collapse: Understanding Ritual at Abandoned Late Bronze Age Sites on Crete through the lens of Social Trauma Theory” on Tuesday, September 22nd at 5:00 PM ET/2:00 PM PT. The lecture will be held on Zoom – please register here.

Abstract:
This talk will discuss social trauma theory—a theory that is currently applied almost exclusively to social traumas originating in the contemporary moment—and its applicability to ancient archaeological contexts. Bell will discuss the ritual practices covered in her dissertation and map the periodic renewal of these practices against the material evidence for subsequent episodes of social change on the island of Crete. She will show that, as social trauma theory allows us to predict, embodied ritual practices became vital resources in the repeated reification of post-collapse identities during times of increased social threat on the island. She will also touch on regional variation and sociopolitical change to discuss long-term sociopolitical developments on Crete, including the development of the Cretan Poleis.

About the Speaker:
Sarah Malik Bell, PhD is Assistant Professor of Art History and Archaeology at Berea College. She received her PhD in archaeology from the Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World at Brown University, specializing in the ritual visitation of abandoned sites associated with social trauma in both the ancient and the contemporary worlds. Her current research continues to focus on the material legacies of difficult heritage and the role these legacies play in healing and/or perpetuating past trauma.

AIA Prehistoric Cave Art of Spain & France tour
2026-09-23 - 2026-10-05 | NM
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 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.
Highlights include:
• Enjoy excellent accommodations in fine hotels and charming inns, as well as fine wine and cuisine.
• 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 Sebastián.

Consider the Lobster: The Acholla Archaeological Project (Tunisia)
2026-09-24 16:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | NM
Charles Eliot Norton Memorial Lectureship
Time and Location TBA

Beyond Shipwrecks: Currents and Connections
2026-09-24 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | NM
Anna Marguerite McCann and Robert D. Taggart Lectureship in Underwater Archaeology
Location TBA

AIA Crete & the Cycladic Islands: Archaeological Gems of the Aegean tour
2026-09-27 - 2026-10-11 | NM
Step back in time to explore the island of Crete, center of the Minoan civilization during the Bronze Age, as well as the nearby Cycladic Islands of Santorini, Mykonos, and Delos. Marvel at the physical evidence of this first advanced civilization in Europe, which created palace complexes, stunning works of art, a unique writing system called Linear A, and an extensive trade network. You will stay in comfortable, four- and five-star hotels, perfect for exploring or just relaxing, with nine nights on Crete in the capital city of Heraklion and in the lovely coastal towns of Agios Nikolaos and Rethymnon, plus two nights on whitewashed Santorini and two nights on chic Mykonos.
Highlights include:
• Four of the six sites on Crete that comprise the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Minoan Palatial Centers”: Knossos, Phaistos, Malia, and Zominthos.
• Santorini’s ancient Minoan town of Akrotiri, which was well-preserved for millennia under volcanic ash and today paints a picture of life before the island’s 2nd-millennium B.C. eruption.
• The island of Delos, most sacred of the islands in the ancient Aegean, which grew from a sanctuary of Apollo into a major hub of commerce.
• Crete’s nearby islands of Mochlos, with a long archaeological past including a Minoan town; and Spinalonga, a former leper colony with a 16th-century Venetian fortress.
• A variety of Minoan villas, houses, and towns, including the “royal villa” of Agia Triada, the houses at Tylissos, and the vast town of Gournia.
• The Venetian port towns of Chania and Rethymnon, with their charming old towns, and Rethymnon’s 16th-century Fortezza, a grand fortress built to defend the city against the Ottomans.
• Several excellent museums, including the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, housing the world’s finest collection of Minoan art and artifacts; and the Museum of Prehistoric Thera, with a stunning collection of artifacts and wall paintings from the ancient site of Akrotiri.
• The beauty of the cliffside, whitewashed town of Fira, Santorini; and the chic shops and narrow lanes of Chora, Mykonos.
• In addition to your knowledgeable and congenial AIA study leader, you will be accompanied by local guides and a professional tour manager who will handle all of the logistics so you can relax, enjoy, and learn.

Teaching Ancient across Disciplines: Field Notes from the Harvard Art Museums
2026-09-28 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | NM
Martha Sharp Joukowsky Lectureships
Location TBA
Reception before event, lecture starts at 5:30 PM

Teaching Ancient across Disciplines: Field Notes from the Harvard Art Museums
2026-09-29 17:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | NM
Martha Sharp Joukowsky Lectureships
Time and Location TBA

Washington, D.C. Society George F. Bass Lecture with Dr. Nick Bartos
2026-09-30 16:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | NM
The George F. Bass Lectures
Topic, Time, and Location TBA

AIA Tunisia: Phoenicians to Romans, Mosaics to Mosques tour
2026-10-01 - 2026-10-14 | NM
Join us for a comprehensive, expert-led exploration of Tunisia, a country whose layered history has shaped the Mediterranean world for more than three millennia. Traveling with archaeologist and AIA study leader Nejib ben Lazreg, we will experience all seven of Tunisia’s cultural UNESCO World Heritage Sites, explore fabled cities of the Phoenicians, Romans, and early Islamic dynasties, and enjoy the comfort of exceptional accommodations throughout. From four nights along the Tunis coast to immersive visits in Dougga, Bulla Regia, Kairouan, El Djem, and Sousse, this itinerary offers an ideal balance of archaeological discovery, cultural enrichment, and thoughtful pacing. Along the way, we will benefit from Nejib ben Lazreg’s deep expertise, gaining context and insight that bring Tunisia’s monumental past vividly to life.
Highlights include:
• Travel and learn with study leader/guide and archaeologist Nejib ben Lazreg and up to 16 guests.
• Visit all seven of Tunisia’s cultural UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
• Explore fabled Carthage, including the Antonine Baths and the cisterns.
• Spend three full days in and around Tunis, including a visit to the Bardo Museum, featuring exquisite exhibits of Roman and Byzantine mosaics.
• See the beautiful Cape Bon coast and the Punic site of Kerkouane.
• Marvel at Bulla Regia, a well-preserved site featuring underground Roman villas, a museum, a Temple of Apollo, and a 2nd-century theater.
• Tour Dougga, established prior to the Romans, with its 3,500 seat theater; Temples of Saturn, Augustan Piety, and Mercury; and Capitol.
• Discover Kairouan, the fourth holiest city in the Muslim world, founded in A.D. 670, with its carpet, leather, brass, and spice vendors; and its Great
Mosque with a three-tiered minaret.
• Visit El Djem, one of Tunisia’s most extraordinary sites, with a marvelous, 30,000-seat, ancient amphitheater and a museum that houses
lovely mosaics.
• Visit the Roman city of Sbeitla (Sufetula), one of North Africa’s best-preserved Roman cities, including several stunning 2nd-century A.D. temples and mosaic-covered Byzantine baptisteries.
• Wander through Thuburbo Majus, a sprawling site occupied in turn by Berbers, Phoenicians, and Romans. The imperial remains include the Forum, Temple of Mercury, and sunken winter baths.

(Early) International Archaeology Day at the RMSC
2026-10-03 11:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Rochester Museum and Science Center, 657 East Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14607, United States

Remembering Boudica: Monuments of a Barbarian Queen
2026-10-05 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | NM

New Orleans Society Charles Eliot Norton Memorial Lecture with Dr. Alison Futrell
2026-10-06 16:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | NM
Charles Eliot Norton Memorial Lectureship
Topic, Time, and Location TBA

Symposium Vesuvianum: Slavery and Humanity Revisited: The Impact of Slave Systems on Personal Experience
2026-10-07 12:00 - 2026-10-11 13:00 (Europe/Rome) | Villa Vergiliana, Via Cuma 320, Bacoli, NA, 80070, Italy
Organizers: John Bodel, Brown University; William Owens, Ohio University; Roberta Stewart, Dartmouth College
In his 1965 book Sklaverei und Humanität, Joseph Vogt offered a description of Roman slavery in which the enslaved accommodated themselves to the moral universe created by their enslavers. A dozen years later Moses Finley delivered a riposte to Vogt in a lecture at the Collège de France on “Slavery and Humanity,” in which he insisted on “a sharp distinction between more or less humane treatment of individual slaves by individual masters and the inhumanity of slavery as an institution”. Finley considered “the ambiguity inherent in slavery” to be “an excellent starting-point from which to examine the theme” but in the end concluded that the topic, “slavery and humanity, is plunged into the centre of modern moral and ideological controversy, as much a field for the philosopher and the theologian as for the historian” (Ancient Slavery and Modern Ideology, p. 122).
Now, nearly fifty years after Finley’s pronouncement, we propose to return to the issue of slavery and humanity and to convene a group of scholars with diverse interests and methodologies to consider the impact of ancient Mediterranean slave systems on persons, both the enslaved and the enslavers. What effect did systemic slavery have on the personal experiences and worldview of enslavers and the enslaved in ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern societies? What new insights into this question can be gained through methodologies developed over the past fifty years? Of particular relevance to the focus on persons are the distortions in the archive created by systems of domination. Such distortion is especially true for ancient Mediterranean slavery. Consideration of an enslaved person’s point of view often entails reading the ancient archive against the grain and increases our reliance on the comparative method and other heuristic devices as well as our obligation to employ them self-consciously and critically.
We solicit papers that consider any aspect of human experience in ancient Mediterranean or Near Eastern slavery. Possible topics include: the contexts of economic activity and social relations; affectual relations among the enslaved and between enslavers and enslaved; modes of resistance or accommodation; solidarity among the enslaved and among enslavers; religion and other aspects of cultural memory among the enslaved; trauma, or the psychic assault of enslavement and its consequences.
The symposium will include three and a half days of papers and discussion. Papers will be 25-30 minutes long with time for discussion. The schedule will also include visits to selected sites nearby. Meals and housing will be provided by the Villa Vergiliana (a bed in a double room with breakfast and dinner is approximately €70 a day; single rooms are available at private hotel/B&B accommodations within walking distance of the Villa). Those staying at the Villa should also figure in the cost of Vergilian Society membership ($35 for the year). In addition, there may be a modest registration fee, dependent on outside funding, to help defray the cost of lunches and other conference activities.
Confirmed participants include: Seth Bernard (University of Toronto), Ronald Charles (University of Toronto), Chris DeWet (University of Pretoria), Deborah Kamen (University of Washington), Sarah Levin-Richardson (University of Washington), David Lewis (University of Edinburgh) and Lauren Petersen (University of Delaware).
Please submit abstracts (300-400 words) to William Owens (owensb@ohio.edu) by February 15, 2026.
The organizers will get back to you during the first week of March.

AIA Coastal Peru: Cradle of Civilization in the Americas tour
2026-10-08 - 2026-10-19 | NM
We invite you to join us on an in-depth archaeological journey with anthropological archaeologist Gabriela Cervantes-Quequezana, Ph.D., whose extensive fieldwork brings depth and perspective to the societies we explore along Peru’s dynamic northern coast. Discover the ancient cultural centers of coastal Peru, home to some of the earliest and most influential civilizations in the Americas. From the remains of monumental pyramids at Caral-Supe to the richly decorated temples of the Moche and Chimú, this journey reveals more than five millennia of innovation, artistry, and ritual practice.
Highlights include:
•The Americas’ earliest urban centers: Explore the UNESCO-listed Caral-Supe and visit the early coastal sites of Bandurria and Vichama, featuring sunken plazas, stepped pyramids, and striking friezes
•Major ceremonial sites: Experience Pachacamac, tour Sechín with its carved warrior bas-reliefs, and see Chankillo (UNESCO), one of the world’s earliest solar observatories
•Moche and Chimú achievements: Visit Huaca de la Luna and the vast adobe capital of Chan Chan (UNESCO), masterpieces of coastal architecture and artistic expression
•Royal tombs and elite burials: Study iconic discoveries at El Brujo, Batán Grande, and the Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum
•Exceptional museum access: Enjoy an in-depth visit to Lima’s renowned Larco Museum, with a private curator discussion (pending confirmation)
•Expert leadership: Gain insight through lectures and discussions with Dr. Cervantes-Quequezana, whose research focuses on political integration, architecture, craft production, and social dynamics in ancient Peru
•Traveling with a small group: Limited to just 16 participants
•An optional, 6-day, post-tour extension to Cusco (UNESCO) and Machu Picchu (UNESCO) is available
