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.