Latest News

Hill of Tara Threatened by Roadway Construction

July 22, 2005

The Hill of Tara is one of the most important archaeological sites in Ireland. In use since ca. 4000 B.C., at first as a burial ground and religious center, it was also a center of Irish kingship and a key medieval site. It stands in the midst of a larger landscape containing a wealth of related sites and monuments. Now, Tara and the surrounding landscape are threatened by a proposed major highway (the M3) that will cut through the landscape and divorce Tara from the related sites that surround it.

Support for U.S.-China Agreement

February 3, 2005

In response to ongoing looting of their archaeological and cultural heritage, the People’s Republic of China has requested a bi-lateral agreement with the United States under Article 9 of the 1970 UNESCO Convention and implemented by the U.S. Cultural Property Implementation Act. The agreement was supported by the AIA and SAFE.

AIA Supports the US Funding Proposal for Archaeological Site Protection in Iraq

January 6, 2005

The unprecedented magnitude of the current plague of archaeological site destruction by looters in Iraq is documented in satellite images, aerial photographs taken by Coalition personnel, and in accounts by journalists and antiquities officials working in Iraq.

Presentation of the Winckelmann Medal to the AIA

December 1, 2004

In November 2004 the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) received the prestigious Winckelmann Medal from the German Archaeological Institute (Deutsches Archäologisches Institut or DAI).

Movie Commentary: Alexander

December 1, 2004

Dr. Eugene Borza, Professor Emeritus of Ancient History, The Pennsylvania State University, has seen Alexander, and has authored a commentary on the film from an archaeological and historical perspective.

AIA Endorses Move to Protect Petroglyph National Monument. Extension of Freeway through Monument Opposed

November 17, 2004

Despite the efforts of archaeologists and archaeological organizations, the street bond issue passed on November 2. Unless there is further action, the road through Petroglyph National Monument will go ahead. Further information will be posted as it becomes available.

Emergency Protection for Iraqi Cultural Antiquities Act Passes

November 1, 2004

The AIA has released a press release on the passage of the “Emergency Protection for Iraqi Cultural Antiquities Act of 2004”. The release is available in PDF format. Please distribute it to any interested individuals.

AIA Receives Winckelmann Medal

October 1, 2004

The Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) is proud to announce that it has been named the recipient of the prestigious Winckelmann Medal of the Deutsches Archäologisches Institut (German Archaeological Institute, DAI).

Hatra Threatened by Military Activity in Iraq

September 1, 2004

On September 9, 2004, as a response to recent information that controlled detonation of military ordnance near the important ancient and Early Islamic site of Hatra in Iraq will likely result in permanent damage to the site, AIA President Jane C. Waldbaum sent a message to Dr. Joseph Collins, Assistant Secretary of Defense, Col. Frank Romano, Department of Defense, and Mr. William Jeffrey, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy requesting that they take steps to ensure the protection of the site.

Naomi Norman Chosen Editor-In-Chief of AJA

May 15, 2004

The Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) is pleased to announce that Dr. Naomi J. Norman has been selected as the next Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Archaeology (AJA).

Movie Commentary: Assessing the Evidence for the Trojan Wars

May 1, 2004

The recent or forthcoming releases of several new sword-and-sandal epics have sparked a wave of interest in antiquity not seen since the days of Cecil B. DeMille.

Saving Antiquities For Everyone (SAFE) Launches New Website

April 30, 2004

Saving Antiquities For Everyone (SAFE), the volunteer group dedicated to increasing public awareness of the looting of cultural antiquities worldwide and the illicit antiquities trade, officially launches its new web site.

Update on Pending Legislation Regarding Iraq and Afghanistan, March 8, 2004

March 1, 2004

On March 4, the Senate passed legislation (S. 671) that gives the President the authority to impose restrictions to prevent the import into the United States of cultural materials that have been illegally removed from Iraq since August 1990. Enactment of this legislation is crucial to prevent cultural materials looted from Iraq’s cultural institutions from entering the United States and to help combat the looting of archaeological sites.

Movie Commentary: Two Archaeologists Comment on The Passion of the Christ

March 1, 2004

Dr. Andrea Berlin and Dr. Jodi Magness have both seen The Passion of the Christ, and have authored a commentary on the film from an archaeological perspective.

2004 Teachers’ Workshops

January 7, 2004

The 2004 Teachers’ Workshops were held at the Hilton Hotel on Saturday January 3, 2004 in conjunction with the annual meetings of the Archaeological Institute of America in San Francisco.

AIA Sends Letter Concerning Cultural Heritage Resource Management in Iraq

January 3, 2004

On January 8th, 2004, Jane Waldbaum, AIA President, sent the following letter to officials at US AID and the US Army Corps of Engineers requesting that the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage (ISBAH) be consulted and that cultural heritage resource management requirements be established…

Two Objects of the “30 Most Wanted List” Recovered

November 3, 2003

The 812th Military Police Company, working with the Iraqi police, have again reclaimed items on the “30 Most Wanted List” of antiquities stolen from the Iraq Museum.

Iraq Cultural Heritage Protection Act

October 6, 2003

It now appears that no action will take place on H.R. 2009, the “Iraq Cultural Heritage Protection Act.” A new piece of legislation, S. 671/H.R. 1047, is now in process and contains provisions—although not as strong as H.R. 2009 would have been—for the protection of Iraq’s cultural heritage. The AIA supports this piece of legislation and urges the public to help secure its passage.

John M. Russell appointed Deputy Senior Advisor to the Iraqi Ministry of Culture

September 1, 2003

On September 20, AIA member John M. Russell (Massachusetts College of Art) will go to Iraq to work with the Coalition Provisional Authority as Deputy Senior Advisor to the Iraqi Ministry of Culture.

Antiquities Dealer Frederick Schultz Case

June 25, 2003

The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld the conviction of Frederick Schultz, a prominent New York antiquities dealer. This ruling affirms the lower courts decision that cultural objects subject to national ownership laws are considered to be stolen property when removed from their country of origin without the consent of that Government.

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