November 1, 2018
In 1879, Harvard University professor Charles Eliot Norton and his colleagues and friends founded the Archaeological Institute of America in Boston to promote and conduct archaeological and artistic investigation and research. One hundred eight people attended the first AIA meeting. Since then, it has grown to become the largest archaeological organization in North America, with more than 220,000 members.
Today, in keeping with Norton’s vision, the AIA continues to support archaeological excavation, research, and publication, and works for the protection and preservation of archaeological sites around the world. In addition, its annual meeting is attended by around 2,500 scholars. The AIA publishes Archaeology magazine and the American Journal of Archaeology and hosts websites that are visited by millions of people each year. Through its extensive grant program, it provides a variety of resources for professional archaeologists and the general public. Learn more about the AIA at archaeological.org.
Thousands of scholars will gather at the AIA-SCS Joint Annual Meeting in San Diego, California, January 3–6, 2019. The meeting, to be held at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina, is an opportunity for scholars and students to come together to discuss research results and learn about the latest findings in the fields of archaeology, classics, and philology. The program kicks off on January 3 with a public lecture by archaeologist Sarah Parcak, followed by the Opening Night Reception. Academic sessions begin on Friday, January 4, and end on Sunday, January 6. In addition, the meeting will feature receptions, networking events, the AIA awards ceremony, and the annual meeting of the AIA Council.
We hope you’ll join us in San Diego. Information about discounted hotel rates and travel, as well as the most up-to-date information on the academic program, is available on the Annual Meeting section of the AIA website at archaeological.org/annualmeeting.
To mark the AIA’s 140th anniversary, the AIA-SCS Joint Annual Meeting will feature a public event, ArchaeoCon 2019, on Saturday, January 5, at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina.
ArchaeoCon will be a day of entertaining programs, workshops, and demonstrations that celebrate archaeology and the AIA. Local archaeological organizations and AIA Societies will host booths and exhibits with interactive activities and hands-on experiences. Participants will have the opportunity to hear from and talk to leading archaeologists. Headlining the festivities are space archaeologist and Egyptologist Sarah Parcak and television personality Josh Gates. Parcak is associate professor of anthropology and director of the Laboratory for Global Observation at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She is also the winner of the 2016 TED Prize. Gates is an archaeologist, television presenter, producer, and author who currently hosts and co-executive produces the Travel Channel series Expedition Unknown and Legendary Locations.
Please join us for a fun day of archaeology. ArchaeoCon 2019 will be a unique opportunity to learn about all the AIA does and to introduce friends and family members to the Institute. Visit archaeological.org for more information.
The 123rd season of the AIA Lecture Program began in August and will run through May 2019. The Institute’s longest-running public outreach program reaches thousands of people each year. The current season features 79 leading scholars who will present 222 lectures at AIA Societies across the United States and Canada. AIA lectures are always free and open to the public, and we encourage you to attend one near you. This year’s Lecture Program explores a wide variety of topics, with lectures including King Richard III: The Resolution of a 500-Year-Old Cold Case; Exploring the Roots of the Vine: The History and Archaeology of the Earliest Wines; Beyond Indiana Jones: Digital Storytelling in Archaeology; Grave Bj 581: The Viking Warrior Who Was a Woman; and New Archaeology Research at Jerash—One of the Famous Roman Decapolis Cities. The schedule of upcoming lectures is available online at archaeological.org/lectures.
The stunning 2019 AIA calendar, “A Year of Archaeology,” is now for sale at archaeological.org/calendar. The calendar features archaeological images from around the world that were submitted to the AIA’s Annual Photo Contest. Buy your calendar today and don’t forget that “A Year of Archaeology” makes a wonderful gift for the archaeology lovers among your friends and family. All proceeds support AIA programs, including our efforts to protect and preserve 29 sites around the world. Buy your calendar today at archaeological.org/calendar.
Join the AIA today. The AIA is North America’s largest archaeological organization and AIA members support archaeological research, outreach and education, and the conservation and protection of archaeological sites around the world. Over 100 AIA Local Societies in the United States and abroad provide members with the opportunity to connect to archaeology and each other in their local communities. Joining is easy: Visit archaeological.org/join to become an AIA member.
We have an exclusive membership offer for Archaeology magazine subscribers: For just $40, you can upgrade to a Supporting Membership in the AIA. As a Supporting Member, you will be able to join an AIA Local Society near you and attend AIA member events. Go to archaeological.org/upgrade to take advantage of this special deal.
In addition to supporting the Lecture Program, AIA Local Societies organize many other events, including archaeology fairs, conferences, colloquia and symposia, themed dinners, and even garden parties. Societies and their members are the backbone of the AIA. Join a Society near you to become a part of this wonderful network of people who are doing things to promote and preserve archaeology. To learn more about our Societies, visit archaeological.org/societies.
