August 19, 2024
The AIA sent ten students to the field this summer with $2000 Jane C. Waldbaum Field School Scholarships! This year’s cohort brought a wide variety of archaeological interests and academic backgrounds. Please join us in welcoming Aayush Umesh.
Name: Aayush Umesh (he/him)
School: University of Georgia
Field School: Antiochia ad Cragum Archaeological Research Project, Turkey
Miles Traveled: 6068.61 miles (about 9766.48 km)
Bio: Aayush Umesh, a junior at the University of Georgia, will attend the Antiochia ad Cragum Archaeological Field School this June-July in Antalya, Turkey. He’s thrilled to learn more about Islamic culture in southern Turkey, and to examine the visual and material Roman rhetorics of Antiochia ad Cragum to synthesize his interests in archaeology and communication studies.
Project Description: The remains of Antiochia ad Cragum are located within the confines of the modern Turkish village of Güney, located approximately 12 kilometers SW of the town of Gazipaşa in the district of Antalya on the south coast. The site is extensive, encompassing an area of approximately three hectares. There still stand substantial remains of baths, a market, a colonnaded street with gateway, a large early Christian basilica, monumental tombs, and a temple, along with several unidentified structures. Antiochia is mentioned by several ancient sources as an important Roman commercial center and during the Byzantine era the city was a seat of a Christian bishopric.
The Antiochia ad Cragum Archaeological Research Project (ACARP) has been conducting excavations at the site since 2004. We have operated a field school since 2011 and so far over 150 students and volunteers have participated in the field school and helped to uncover the ancient city. Students from all over the United States, Canada, and Australia have joined the team. In addition, we are partnered with Turkish universities and archaeology students from Atatürk University participate annually. Learn more about the project here!
Since its inception in 2007, the Waldbaum Fund has supported undergraduate juniors, seniors, and first-year graduate students as they venture into the field for the first time. The fund helps make it possible for them to participate in this vital part of their archaeological training by contributing to travel costs, accommodations, and tuition. Your contribution can make a significant difference for these young scholars. Donate today to support the future of archaeology at archaeological.org/donatewaldbaum
