“Dura-Europos: Past, Present, Future”

From Yale University’s ARCHAIA program:

Upcoming hybrid conference: Dura-Europos: Past, Present, Future

This three-day event (March 31-April 2, 2022) sponsored by Yale University’s interdisciplinary ARCHAIA program is arranged to celebrate the centennial of excavations on-site at Dura. Papers and discussion will explore the town’s regional and long-distance ties in antiquity, 21st-century geopolitical entanglements, and avenues for future research. Registration is free, and online attendance is open to all.

For information about the papers and presenters, and to register, please see: https://campuspress.yale.edu/duraeuropos2022/.

E&A Colloquium – March 1 – Jonathan Price

The Department of Egyptology and Assyriology invites you to their first Tuesday talk of the semester, which will take place on March 1 at 12pm in Wilbour 301

Jonathan Price will be presenting “Who’s a Good Boy? Canine Metaphors and the Ethos of Service in the Neo-Assyrian State Correspondence.”

For those of you who are not on campus, please join on Zoomhttps://brown.zoom.us/j/97587414273

Submerge Yourself In ArchaeoCon, Saturday, March 5!

From the Archaeological Institute of America:

Two of our featured ArchaeoCon presenters have collectively spent decades underground and underwater uncovering the mysteries of the past.  Join us for live presentations and Q&A with maritime archaeologist Jim Delgado and Mayanist and archaeological illustrator Heather Hurst. 

Tickets starting at $10

1:00 pm ET
Heather Hurst presents The Murals of San Bartolo: A Maya Masterpiece in Pieces

Anyone who has experienced the frustration and satisfaction of putting together a jigsaw puzzle will be awed by the tale of Hurst’s 10-year effort to document and re-assemble nearly 7,000 fragments of mural paintings in the pyramid of Las Pinturas at San Bartolo in Guatemala.  The San Bartolo murals are remarkable for their depiction of origin mythologies from the time of the first Maya kings and queens, as well as for their hieroglyphic texts. Experience the magnificent murals and story of San Bartolo like never before though the eyes of illustrator, archaeologist, and materials scientist (not to mention, MacArthur “Genius” and Guggenheim Fellow) Heather Hurst.

7:00 pm ET
James Delgado presents Behind the Scenes with National Geographic International’s Number One Maritime Archaeology Show, “Drain the Oceans”

For over five decades, maritime archaeologist James Delgado has worked on some of history’s most iconic shipwrecks – the Titanic, Kublai Khan’s lost fleet from his invasion of Japan in 1281, the Civil War Wreck of the USS Monitor, the wrecks from D-Day,  the Arctic exploration, the California gold rush, the lost ships of Pearl Harbor and the atomic tests at Bikini Atoll, and most recently, the Clotilda, the last known ship to bring enslaved people to America.  ArchaeoCon participants will be transported behind the scenes of the show to talk about how archaeology helps film makers and how films and documentaries help archaeology.  Delgado will share insights into many of the wrecks and sites featured in this and past seasons—as well as a few of the iconic wrecks not featured in “Drain the Oceans” (yet!).

See the full ArchaeoCon schedule.

Not available on March 5? Not to worry, recordings will be made available to all ticket purchasers and can be viewed throughout the month of March.

Buy tickets.

Press Release: Groundbreaking TV Series Re-frames Hollywood Portrayal of Archaeologists

From Wendy Bird Womack and Patrick William Smith, Producers – Groundbreaking (Kiyo Films):

TV SERIES ‘GROUNDBREAKING’ REFRAMES HOLLYWOOD PORTRAYAL OF ARCHAEOLOGISTS 

Audiences get first-look at the long-awaited series trailer

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Groundbreaking, a new mockumentary television series being described as “The Office meets Indiana Jones”, aims to reframe how Hollywood portrays archaeologists. Drawing inspiration from hundreds of accounts of actual archaeologists – the series leans into the more innocuous day-to-day activities of a working dig site, unearthing a wealth of relatable comedy.

Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/z4tXJTMoUM4

“We really wanted archaeologists to see themselves – their frustrations, their challenges, their unique traditions – represented accurately on screen, so every component of the show was researched and informed by professionals in the field. Our actors trained alongside notable archaeologists in Ireland, England, France, and the US – participating in actual digs prior to production – and our art department scoured the planet to obtain authentic vintage tools used on past digs – many with fascinating stories of their own.” – Patrick William Smith (creator/writer/director)

On a macro-level, Groundbreaking hopes to bring a renewed interest to the field of archaeology, which is currently experiencing alarming shortages in trained field workers. 

Since releasing the trailer this month, a massive groundswell of support for the project has already led to over 1-million views, thanks in large part to Chinese-Irish actor Steven He, whose meteoric rise to YouTube stardom has garnered him more than 8 million followers and nearly 1 billion views across his social media channels (recently making headlines for his ultra-viral and widely circulated “Emotional Damage” video).

“I think Hollywood nearly always misses the point of archaeology. Real archaeology isn’t treasure hunting – it’s story huntingand Groundbreaking really seeks to honor that.” – Wendy Bird Womack (Producer, Co-Writer)

Groundbreaking is a full-length dramedy series that follows a team of astoundingly unsuccessful archaeologists on the brink of unemployment, who unwittingly discover an ancient Celtic secret that sparks a series of inexplicable events. 

Groundbreaking’s ensemble cast is made up of notable actors hailing from nine different countries and 7 languages were spoken on set. Filmed in Ireland, the story pays homage to ancient Irish mythology and beautifully showcases the world-famous Connemara landscape. A mixture of comedy, adventure, and mystery – Groundbreaking hopes to reach a wide audience thirsty for original content. 

Groundbreaking is ultimately a story about friendship, discovery, and the rekindling of wonder in the lives of the wonder-less – something it seems we could all use a bit more of these days. And after spending two years in isolation – waiting for the film industry to kick back into gear – the sheer act of living and working with all these incredible people quickly became one of the most cathartic, engrossing, and (mis)adventurous experiences of my life.” – Patrick William Smith (Creator, Producer, Writer, Director)

Currently in post-production, Groundbreaking will be seeking wide distribution later this year. The production is currently running a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for post-production. Fans looking for a way to get more involved (and even hide their own artifact in the show) can visit: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kiyofilms/groundbreaking-series 

School of Archaeology in Abruzzo (Italy)-summer program 2022

From the Summer School of Archaeology in Abruzzo (Italy):

Application is now open for the international School of Archaeology in Abruzzo (Italy)-2022 summer program, organized by the University of Pisa (Italy).

The Archaeological Summer School in Abruzzo is a part of a multi-faceted research program that aims at reconstructing the history of human occupation in central Italy during the Neolithic period.

The school program arises from the desire to offer students, from all over the world, the chance to participate in current research, allowing them to live an important experience of personal and professional growth.

Our aim is to increase awareness and skills of the students on archaeological and methodological issues through an intensive program:

– morning: field activities at Rio Tana, the most ancient Neolithic site of Central Italy;

– afternoon: field activities/ experimental activities/laboratories/surveys.

During the school time, students will be involved in experimental activities focused on the manufacturing techniques and use of Neolithic lithic products and could participate at Surveys organized in order to investigate the surrounding territory and the possible lithic outcrops used by Neolithic groups.

School Partners: Superintendence of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape of Abruzzo, ICCOM-CNR U.O.S. of Pisa and INGV of Rome.

 To notice:

Every year the School of Archaeology organizes a call for a financial grant: One of 1000 Euro, sponsored by the University of Pisa, is available to meritorious students from developing countries (defined by the World Bank).

To ask the grant is necessary:

– apply to the school

– send all documents required for the inscription

– send a cover letter where the student briefly explains the grant request.

The deadline for request grant is 18 March 2022

In Brief:

Name: School of Archaeology in Abruzzo (Italy)-summer program 2022

Where: the school will take place in the area of Fucino in Abruzzo, a region of cCentral Italy

Dates:  from July 10th to 30th, 2022

Deadline: April 8th, 2022

Costs include: academic program, housing (shared rooms), meals, Resident Director, orientation, transportation to/from dig site, lab fees and official transcripts.

To Apply: https://www.unipi.it/index.php/how-to-apply

Each participant will earn 6 undergraduate credits and an official certificate of participation by the University of Pisa.

Contact[email protected]

For more information and to apply visit:

our fb page:    https://www.facebook.com/SummerSchoolAbruzzo/

our website:  https://www.unipi.it/index.php/humanities/item/22299-school-archaeology-abruzzo