Archaeological Institute of America

Arkhaios Cultural Heritage and Archaeology Film Festival
2026-10-12 09:00 - 2026-11-18 00:00 (America/New_York) | OH
The multi-day Arkhaios Cultural Heritage and Archaeology Film Festival is an annual juried competition, part of Archaeology Month celebration. It is free, open to the public, and is an educational event showcasing the discovery of past cultures gained from ethnological or archaeological research, and illustrated through documentary films.
The Virtual Edition is an international online screening of all the Official Selection films. During the week of the Festival, there are several in-person Arkhaios Festivals in the US, showing the best films from the Arkhaios Official Selections.

International Archaeology Day with Australian Ambassador Mr. James Larsen
2026-10-13 18:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | The National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Parks S., New York, NY, 10003, United States
We feel privileged that His Excellency Mr. James Larsen, the Ambassador of Australia’s Mission to the United Nations, will address the National Arts Club on the occasion of International Archaeology Day, the committee’s most significant annual lecture of each series. Previous presentations have included Ambassadors and Consul Generals from Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Malta, Sweden, and Sri Lanka.
Ambassador Larsen discusses the incredible heritage and history of the Kakadu region in Australia’s Northern Territory. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kakadu National Park, inhabited by Aboriginal people for over 65,000 years, is recognized for both its outstanding natural ecosystems and its rich cultural landscape including one of the world’s greatest concentrations of rock art paintings.

AIA Life, Luxury & Leisure in Ancient Rome tour
2026-10-14 - 2026-10-25 | OH
Immerse yourself in the opulence and grandeur of ancient Rome while uncovering the secrets of daily life, the indulgence of luxury, and the pursuit of leisure that helped to define one of the most influential civilizations in history. Our adventure
begins in Rome, heart of the Roman Empire, where we witness the architectural marvels that stand as a testament to Rome’s engineering prowess. At the Baths of Caracalla, learn about the interesting Roman bathing culture and the significance of these
communal spaces in Roman society. Delve into the world of luxury in ancient Rome with visits to the opulent villa in Tivoli and the well-preserved remains of ancient cities frozen in time by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Learn about the daily lives and
customs of the Romans through beautifully preserved frescoes and artifacts, as well as the exquisite art, landscaping, and leisure pursuits enjoyed by the Roman elite. Throughout the tour, archaeologist and professor Crispin Corrado will guide the group at many sites, offer several lectures, and be available to engage in discussions. Whether you are an avid archaeology or history enthusiast, or simply curious about one of history’s greatest civilizations, this journey will provide a deep understanding and appreciation of ancient Rome’s enduring legacy.
Highlights include:
• A custom-designed itinerary with five nights in central Rome, two nights in Naples, and three nights in Sorrento
• Visits to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites:
o Spend a full day exploring Rome’s ancient monuments, including the Roman Forum, the House of Augustus on the Palatine Hill, the Domus Aurea, and the Colosseum
o Enjoy a day trip to Tivoli for visits to Hadrian’s Villa, a 2nd-century A.D. complex; and the Villa d’Este, a Renaissance masterpiece of garden and villa architecture
o Explore Pompeii and Herculaneum, both of which were buried (and preserved) by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79; as well as Villa Poppea (Oplontis), an ancient villa with incredible wall paintings
• The collections of Rome’s Capitoline Museums, with magnificent Classical and Renaissance art; the awe-inspiring Pantheon; and the superb Naples Archaeological Museum
• Carefully selected, 4- and 5-star hotels
• Our group size is limited to 16, and you will also be accompanied by a professional tour manager, and expert local guides, who will handle the details so you can relax, experience, and learn.

Beyond Shipwrecks: Engaging the Past Across the Generations
2026-10-15 18:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Foster Auditorium, Paterno Library, the Pennsylvania State University, 201 Old Main, University Park, PA, 16802, United States

Fort Vancouver and the Historical Archaeology of the Pacific Northwest
2026-10-15 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W 1st Ave, Spokane, WA, 99201, United States
Please join us for a lecture by Dr. Doug Wilson.
Abstract:
This talk will illuminate Fort Vancouver’s central role in the colonial history of the Pacific Northwest seen through the lens of historical archaeology. Wilson will illuminate the extraordinary confluence of places, people and conflict that has shaped our region. Artifacts, belongings, and landscapes are contrasted with the documentary record to explore the critical place of Indigenous peoples and Immigrant groups in the region’s history. This talk will touch on early exploration, including colonial forts and explorer’s campsites, including Spokane House, and highlight the ongoing important connections between historic places and modern peoples.

International Archaeology Day Fair
2026-10-17 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Lowry Mall, 513 South Ninth Street, Columbia, MO, 65201, United States
The Central Missouri (Columbia) Society of the AIA will be hosting its annual International Archaeology Day Fair. Come learn about archaeology with professors, staff, and students in the Classics, Archaeology, and Religion & Anthropology Department as well as the Museum of Art and Archaeology!

Marking the Flesh: Revealing the Tattoo Practices of the Nile Valley
2026-10-18 12:00 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | OH
Martha Sharp Joukowsky Lectureships
Time and Location TBA

Sex in the Roman Arena
2026-10-18 15:00 - 16:30 (America/Chicago) | Mitchell Hall, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 3202 Downer Avenue, Milwaukee, WI, 53211, United States
Charles Eliot Norton Memorial Lectureship

A Bath for No One: Cosa’s Public Bathhouse and its Role in Reassessing Life in a Roman Town
2026-10-20 19:30 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Semans Auditorium (Room 117), Belk Visual Arts Center, 315 N. Main St., Davidson, NC, 28036, United States
A lecture by Allison Smith (Davidson College)

October AIA Archaeology Hour with Briana Pobiner: What was the REAL Paleodiet?
2026-10-21 20:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
Join the AIA as Briana Pobiner (Smithsonian) presents the first AIA Archaeology Hour talk the International Archaeology Day 2026 AIA Archaeology Hour talk : “What was the REAL Paleodiet?”
This presentation will be held on Wednesday, October 21, 2026 at 8pm Eastern/7pm Central/6pm Mountain/5pm Pacific.
Register Here!
This lecture will also be available in American Sign Language (ASL). ASL interpretation will be provided by Trail Blazing Interpreters. Due to Zoom limitations on mobile devices and tablets, participants interested in accessing ASL interpretation should log in using the desktop version of Zoom.

Exploring Hopi Yellow Ware Pottery
2026-10-22 17:00 - 18:30 (America/Denver) | Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, 500 University Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87106, United States
Dr. Kelley Hays-Gilpin (Museum of Northern Arizona) + Bobby Silas (National Park Service)
Hopi potter and Park Ranger at Kuaua Ruins (Coronado Historic Site) Bobby Silas and Museum of Northern Arizona Curator Dr. Kelley Hays-Gilpin explore the deep history of Hopi pottery traditions, from museum collections to contemporary potters’ expertise. Many unique aspects enliven stories from two millennia of continuous tradition, such as technical changes and challenges with paint recipes, coal-firing, innovative vessel forms, and meaningful painted designs. In-person lecture also offered on Zoom.

Archaeology under the Volcano: Six Thousand Years of Human History on the Caribbean Island of Montserrat
2026-10-22 17:30 - 18:30 (America/Chicago) | OH
Location TBA

Healthmaking in the Past: What ancient Egyptians can teach us about living healthier lives
2026-10-22 19:30 - 21:30 (Pacific/Honolulu) | Art Auditorium, Art Building University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2500 Campus Rd, Honolulu, HI, 96822, United States
Martha Sharp Joukowsky Lecture

Michigan Archaeology Day
2026-10-24 10:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Michigan History Center, 702 W. Kalamazoo St., Lansing, MI, 48915, United States
Michigan Archaeology Day returns to the Michigan History Center on Saturday, October 24, 2026. This exciting annual event is your chance to talk with archaeologists about investigations and artifacts that tell the story of 14,000 years of Michigan history! From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., archaeologists and experts in related fields will be stationed throughout the first and second floors of the museum where they will tell you about their research, show you some artifacts they have found and answer your questions. Plus, there will be many hands-on activities. More details to come on October 1. This all-ages annual event is free, and parking is too.

Petra (Jordan): A Wonder of the World Between a Rock and a Hard Place
2026-10-24 18:30 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Southern Methodist University, Moody Hall Auditorium, Airline Rd, Dallas, TX, 75205, United States

Isis, Mistress of the Southern Lands: From Heliodorus’ Aethiopica to Meroe, an ancient kingdom on the Nile
2026-10-27 19:30 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | OH
Martha Sharp Joukowsky Lectureships
Location TBA

Bundles of Meaning: Interpreting Rock Art Through Indigenous Knowledge
2026-10-29 18:00 - 19:30 (America/Denver) | https://www.archaeological.org/event/bundles-of-meaning-interpreting-rock-art-through-indigenous-knowledge/
Doris Z. Stone New World Archaeology Lectures
Virtual event, registration to be posted.

Buried in Enemy Territory: A Spartan Tomb in Athens and the Politics of Commemoration
2026-10-29 18:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | OH
Lecture will take place at Concordia University, exact location TBA.

Vigna Randanini: The Jewish Catacombs of Rome
2026-10-29 18:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Rehm Library, College of the Holy Cross, 1 College St., Worcester, MA, 01610, United States
Join Dr. Jessica Dello Russo for an engaging exploration of the Jewish catacombs of ancient Rome and the discoveries that are transforming our understanding of Jewish life and burial practices in antiquity. A specialist in Roman topography, funerary archaeology, and the history of archaeology, Dr. Dello Russo has developed and curated major scholarly initiatives, including the DAPICS image archive, the BiblioSelect research indices, the Luminaria blog, and the ongoing digitization of the archives of ICS founder Estelle Shohet Brettman.
Dr. Dello Russo’s archaeological and archival research has yielded significant discoveries, including pieces of the renowned “Sarcophagus of the Menorah” from the Jewish Catacombs of Vigna Randanini, the rediscovery of the long-inaccessible Jewish catacomb of Vigna Cimarra, and previously unpublished documentation from the earliest excavations of Rome’s Jewish catacombs. These findings have shed new light on the history and preservation of these extraordinary underground cemeteries. Drawing on her doctoral research, Dr. Dello Russo will discuss the history, archaeology, and enduring significance of Rome’s Jewish catacombs, offering fresh insights into one of the oldest Jewish communities in the Diaspora and the remarkable subterranean monuments that preserve its legacy.

The Ancient Library as a Museum
2026-10-29 18:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Emory University Campus, White Hall Room 205
Dr. Mamoli Mysrini presents recent work on the Pantainos Library at Athens, Greece.
Her recent research is on the architectural form of ancient libraries in general, and most recently she has been working specifically on the publication of the Library of Pantainos at the Agora in Athens. Her talk will have both a focus on the archaeological remains of the Library of Pantainos but will also tackle the broader topic of the ancient library, the “Μουσείον” as an integrated cultural center with both manuscripts and works of art, as it was in Alexandria, Pergamon, Rome (Temple of Peace), Athens (Hadrian’s Library), and Side (Gymnasion/ Structure M).

Archaeology Day of the Dead
2026-11-01 10:00 - 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Fresno Chaffee Zoo, 894 W. Belmont Avenue, Fresno, CA, 93728, United States
The activities in this event will consist of the following:
1. Archaeological Outreach at the Zoo
The Fresno Chaffee Zoo will host a major celebration for Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) on Sunday, November 1st, and has invited the Society to participate. Recognizing the high attendance anticipated for this event, the Society will host an educational table staffed by our board members. This presence will allow us to engage with the public, promote the importance of archaeology and anthropological studies, distribute educational materials, and recruit new members. Archaeology aligns perfectly with the thematic essence of Día de los Muertos; it serves as a profound reminder that death is not a final erasure, but rather an entry point for studying the vibrant cultures, civilizations, and enduring lessons left behind by past generations.
2. Guided Tour of the Kingdoms of Asia Exhibit
The Society will host an in-person, guided tour of the Fresno Chaffee Zoo’s newly opened Kingdoms of Asia exhibit. This immersive installation features monumental replicas of ancient Khmer architectural marvels and sacred sites, including the Bayon Temple, Ta Prohm Temple, and Kbal Sapean. The original 13th-century Cambodian temples are globally renowned, highly studied by archaeologists and art historians, and have served as iconic filming locations for several Western movies. This specialized tour will delve deeply into the historical significance of these structures, decoding their rich symbolic elements and explaining their roles in ancient Southeast Asian cultures.

Finger Lakes Society George F. Bass Lecture with Dr. Nicholas Bartos
2026-11-03 17:00 - 18:30 (America/New_York) | OH
The George F. Bass Lectures
Topic and venue TBA

November AIA Archaeology Hour with Joe Bagley: An Archaeology of the Battle of Bunker Hill
2026-11-04 20:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | OH
Join the AIA as Joe Bagley (City of Boston) presents the November AIA Archaeology Hour talk of the 2026-2027 season: “An Archaeology of the Battle of Bunker Hill.”
This presentation will be held on Wednesday, November 4, 2026 at 8pm Eastern/7pm Central/6pm Mountain/5pm Pacific.
Register Here!
This lecture will also be available in American Sign Language (ASL). ASL interpretation will be provided by Trail Blazing Interpreters. Due to Zoom limitations on mobile devices and tablets, participants interested in accessing ASL interpretation should log in using the desktop version of Zoom.

Ariadne’s Thread: Weaving 200,000 Years of Naxos’ History
2026-11-05 12:30 - 21:30, 2026-11-12 12:30 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | OH
Martha Sharp Joukowsky Lectureship
Time and venue TBA

New Brunswick Society National Lecture with Dr. Matthew Notarian
2026-11-06 12:30 - 21:30 (America/Halifax) | OH
Time, venue, and topic TBA

Boulder Society National Lecture with Dr. Derek Kennet
2026-11-09 12:30 - 21:00 (America/Denver) | OH

Evidence of Mobile Religious Practice from Roman Coins
2026-11-09 12:30 - 21:30 (America/Chicago) | OH
William E. Metcalf Lectures in Numismatics
Time and venue TBA

The Changing Power of the Past at the Late Bronze Age Cemetery of Aidonia, Greece
2026-11-11 12:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | OH
Time and venue TBA

"The Changing Power of the Past at the Late Bronze Age Cemetery of Aidonia, Greece”
2026-11-12 18:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Jepson Hall, Room 109, 221 Richmond Way, Richmond, VA, 23173, United States
Lecture by Lynne Kvapil (Professor of Classics, Butler University)
