Fall 2025 Newsletter
SUMMER 2025, CULTURAL HERITAGE, AND THE AIA
The summer season – the heyday of archaeological fieldwork in the Mediterranean and much of the world – has come to an end, but the busy beginning of the academic years leaves no time for the September blues! I hope many of you had the opportunity to join summer fieldwork, and/or visit archaeological sites and museums around the world!
The excavation of the Greek and Roman city of Lyktos on the island of Crete, Greece, occupied the first half of my summer. In the fifth year of the project, I had the largest team ever, with many graduate and undergraduate students from New York City, elsewhere in the USA, and different European countries. If you are interested in following our news, and getting glimpses into how archaeological fieldwork feels like, please check our Instagram account.
Both in the first part of the summer (when I was at Lyktos), and in the second part (for much of which I was on family holidays), I became involved in major controversies over the preservation of cultural heritage, which is part of the core mission for the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA). Some 10 kilometers southwest of Lyktos, on the low hill of Papoura lies a newly discovered and well-preserved site of the early second millennium BCE, which is made of concentric walls (maximum diameter: ca. 50 m) and looks like a labyrinth (Figure 1).
I was privileged to receive a tour of Papoura by the colleagues of the Greek Archaeological Service who excavate it, and I was deeply impressed! Suffice it to say that Papoura is a candidate for the International Archaeological Discovery Award “Khaled al-Asaad” 2025, and for an award from the Archaeological Institute of the Chinese Academy. I personally hope that it will be included in the top-10 discoveries of 2025 by AIA’s Archaeology Magazine. Despite its undeniable importance, the monument is threatened by the plan of Greek authorities to build a civic aviation radar on the site, which has caused an uproar among the international community of experts on the archaeology of Crete, and among the locals, who have put together an online petition urging for the preservation of the monument.
Cultural heritage management issues also dominated the second part of my summer, part of which was spent on family holidays at the beautiful Medieval to modern castle-town of Monemvasia in southern Greece (Figure 2), where my family comes from. The plan of the Greek authorities to build a cable car facilitating access to the top of the rock of Monemvasia risks damaging the site’s protected natural and cultural landscape; as such it has divided the local community, and has caused international concern, even making it to the New York Times. In response to the threat posed by the cable car project, Europa Nostra, a pan-European Federation for Cultural Heritage, has declared the site one of Europe’s Most Endangered for 2025. A petition to stop this project is also underway.
Figure 1. Newly discovered site in Papoura, Greece, dating to the early second millenium BCE
Figure 2. Aerial view of Momenvasia.
The controversies surrounding modernization projects affecting Greek heritage sites like Papoura and Monemvasia, as well as many others in different Balkan countries, is the topic of a forthcoming book by a dear colleague, Professor Dimitris Plantzos, at the University of Athens, which is titled Monumental Heritage in Southeastern Europe: Cultural Management between Traditionalism and Modernization. Professor Plantzos entrusted me with the manuscript of his book before publication, which I read in August, while embroiled in the Monemvasia controversy. I found it particularly thought provoking, and I urge you to keep an eye for it!
In addition to caring about cultural heritage, the Board Members of the New York Society of the AIA and myself spent the summer working on several fronts. I am delighted to report on this!
We have put together a fascinating lecture program, which brings to NYC a host of experts covering diverse periods and topics, and focuses on different parts of the world! I take this opportunity to express our Society’s gratitude to the different institutions which will be hosting and/or co-sponsoring our lectures. These include the Metropolitan Museum of Art; the National Arts Club; the Aegean Bronze Age Colloquium; Hunter College; and NYU’s Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, and Institute of Fine Arts.
I am particularly proud to report on the scholarships programs offered by our Society! First comes the AIA-NYS Scholars Program/Archaeological Research Scholarship, which is currently in its 7th year and is open to undergraduate and first-year graduate students from New York Colleges and Universities. Talia Sankari, a graduate student from ISAW/NYU who received our 2025 summer scholarship and used it to acquire osteoarchaeological training in Cyprus, is sharing an exciting report on her fieldwork below.
The 2nd scholarship program of our society is only in its second year! It is centered on a partnership between our Society and the Metropolitan Chapter of the New York State Archaeological Association, and it is open to undergraduate and graduate students from our city and anywhere in the world, who wish to conduct archival, collections and field-based research and scientific analyses or to lead a public outreach project with a prime focus on New York City-based archaeology. The recipient of last year’s scholarship will be reporting on her fascinating research in the January newsletter. We would be grateful for your help in advertising this new program to the world!
The scholarships programs and other initiatives of our society rely on the generosity of our members and especially our Friends. The Chair of Friends of the AIA-NYS, Heidi James-Fischer, recently stepped down from this role after seven years of hard work. We are grateful to Heidi for her amazing service for the Friends! I am happy to report that our Secretary, Jason Earle, has agreed to be the new Chair of Friends and we all wish him the best on his new duties!
Another long-time Board Member of our society, Paul Zimmerman, decided to leave our Board because of commitments with archaeological fieldwork which take him overseas for long periods. Paul has been handling a lot of the digital technology for our Society (scholarship application platforms, Zoom account etc.) and he designed our printed Newsletter for a long time. In the past two years, he has been sharing these duties with our Board Member Gina Tibbott, thus ensuring a smooth transition. On behalf of our members, I express my gratitude to Paul for his great service!
Our Society and the Archaeological Institute of America is dedicated to supporting fieldwork and finds research, championing the protection of cultural heritage, enhancing archaeological education, and promoting the appreciation of our shared humanity! This range of noble causes depends on individuals like you, so please remember to renew your membership, or consider becoming a member, and help us attract to the AIA anyone who may be interested by forwarding this link or this Newsletter!
With regards,
Antonis Kotsonas
President of the AIA New York Society
Associate Professor of Mediterranean History and Archaeology
Institute for the Study of the Ancient World
New York University
AIA-NYS Scholars Program/Archaeological Research Scholarship for Students at New York Colleges and Universities, 2025 - 26
We are happy to announce the seventh year of the New York Society’s outreach initiative promoting local young scholars in their study of archaeology, both by encouraging their engagement in activities of the Archaeological Institute of America-New York Society, and by supporting their participation in a range of archaeology-related projects. Designed specifically for the benefit of college students in New York City, the program is wholly administered and overseen by the local AIA society.
AIA-NYS Scholars Program
Eligibility
Open to matriculated students at an accredited college or university within the five boroughs of New York City (but need not be residents of New York City): sophomore, junior, senior undergraduate students and first-year graduate students are eligible for consideration.
Open to students from all academic disciplines, but those majoring in archaeology or related fields are especially encouraged to apply.
Application Process (online only)
Faculty members from colleges and universities in the Five Boroughs are encouraged to nominate one student apiece, with a brief letter of recommendation to the New York Society.
Nominated students will provide a short personal statement (250 words or less) outlining their interests, experience, and academic and career goals; plus an official electronic transcript from their institution’s Registrar’s Office.
The application deadline is Wednesday 15 October 2025. The decision of the NYS Scholarship Committee will be announced at the November 2025 meeting of the AIA-NYS.
Activities & Benefits
Up to a maximum of six (6) students will be named annually as “AIA-NYS Scholars,” who will:
Attend at least two (2) regular meetings of the AIA-New York Society (and will be introduced as this year’s “AIA-NYS Scholars”), and as circumstances permit, may be invited to have dinner with the speaker. The NYS’s lecture meetings extend from September 2025 through to May 2026. Listening in to virtual lectures or attending in-person lectures satisfies this attendance requirement.
Be invited to submit a short, illustrated report of any fieldwork or research experience they may have had, for publication in the spring issue of the AIA-NYS Newsletter, a digital publication. Having had fieldwork experience is not a requirement for consideration.
Receive a one-year student membership to the Archaeological Institute of America, with a subscription to the American Journal of Archaeology, if desired.
If attending the Annual Meeting of the Archaeological Institute of America, receive partial financial support: a student registration fee and a ticket for the Opening Night Reception, if applicable.
Be eligible to apply for the annual AIA-NYS Archaeological Research Scholarship.
AIA-NYS Archaeological Research Scholarship
This scholarship provides one (1) annual grant of $2000, awarded to one of the year’s AIA-NYS Scholars, to help cover expenses for participation in a project of archaeological research, broadly defined.
Eligibility
Applications accepted from the annual cohort of AIA-NYS Scholars ONLY.
Must be for an archaeological field project or field school, with a minimum stay of three weeks or for a research project of comparable duration, such as archival, collection-based, or laboratory work, under the supervision of a faculty member or curator. There are no restrictions geographically or by time/cultural period for the proposed research activity.
Application Process (online only)
Applicants will complete an application form (link below) that includes the following:
Information about the project, including relevant links and websites.
A brief essay (350 words or less) summarizing the significance of the project and its relevance to the student’s current program of study, as well as to their academic and future career goals.
A budget statement, outlining anticipated expenses for participation in the project, along with other sources of funding, applied for or received.
Names and contact information for two academic recommenders: professors or advisors familiar with the student’s work, who can write on their behalf.
The application deadline is 16 March 2026. If a scholarship is awarded, the decision of the Scholarship Committee of the NYS will be announced by Monday 30 March 2026 and also, if possible, at the April or May lecture meeting of the New York Society.
Documentation; Follow-up Reports
The recipient of the annual AIA-NYS Scholarship will be responsible for the following:
To provide a letter from the Director of the archaeological field school or project, or from the faculty supervisor or museum curator, confirming acceptance into the program; and subsequently, a letter from the same, attesting to the student’s successful completion of the project.
To present a brief (ca. 5–10 minute) PowerPoint report of their work at the first fall 2025 meeting of the New York Society.
To submit a short, illustrated report of their fieldwork experience or archaeological project, for publication in the Fall 2026 issue of the AIA-NYS Newsletter.
Second year for a scholarship for students doing research on NYC archaeology
A selection of artifacts from New York State. Image from nysarchaeology.org.
Now in its second year, the Society is pleased to announce a collaboration with the Metropolitan Chapter of the New York State Archaeological Association. This fall we will be offering a $1,500 scholarship to a student in support of archival, collections or field-based research, scientific analysis or a public outreach project primarily focused on New York City-based archaeology. The program will be administered and overseen by both organizations.
To be eligible the student must be pursuing a relevant course of study and research that involves the archaeology of New York City. We will be accepting applications from undergraduate or graduate students, enrolled in an accredited US or Canadian college or university, who are preparing a thesis or doctoral dissertation, or are engaged in independent research connected to the student’s academic studies.
More information on the program will be provided to interested students through their faculty advisors and professors in a communication that will be sent out in the near future. Information on the program will also be available on our website. Stay tuned!
Field report by Talia Sankari, 2025 AIA-NYS Archaeological Fieldwork Scholarship recipient
Talia working in the lab at the Cyprus Department of Antiquities.
This summer, I had the privilege of traveling to Nicosia, Cyprus with the support of the AIA-NYS Archaeological Research Scholarship to participate in the bioarchaeological analysis of human remains excavated from ancient Kition (modern-day Larnaca) at the laboratory of the Cyprus Department of Antiquities. Under the leadership of Dr. Efthymia Nikita of the Cyprus Institute and Dr. Nicholas Hermann of Texas State University, I worked on sorting commingled remains which were removed during a salvage excavation. Because the cemetery from which the remains come appears to have been in use for centuries with frequent re-purposing of tombs over the years, the context and exact dating of the remains was unknown. Additionally, the graves were very badly waterlogged, contributing to the very poor preservation of the bones themselves.
Fortunately for me, the highly fragmented and fragile condition of the remains presented the perfect challenge as a student of bioarchaeology looking to hone her osteology skills! My work in the laboratory involved cleaning, identifying, sorting, and reassembling commingled bone fragments – including re-fitting together any pieces that might be from the same bone – before finally entering each one into a database. By logging each individual item, we were able to estimate the Minimum Number of Individuals (MNI) of each box and account for other observations including taphonomy, specific measurements (which could be used to estimate age or height), and presence of pathology.
I would like to once again express my gratitude to the AIA-NYS for the opportunity to travel to Cyprus for this experience. Hands-on osteological training in an archaeological setting is a crucial aspect of my education as a student of bioarchaeology and this scholarship made the entire project possible. Participating in the AIA-NYS Scholars Program opened countless doors for me and was an experience for which I will forever be thankful!
Talia Sankari
PhD student at the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, New York University
Friends of the AIA-NYS - Another great year for exclusive Friends events
In November 2024, Dr. Valerie Higgins (Associate Professor of Archaeology, The American University of Rome) gave an on-line presentation “Getting a Bad Press - Museums and their Reputations.” In her presentation after noting how “iconic world- famous museums” (e.g. The Louvre; the Met; British Museum) ”were entangled” in antiquities acquisition, she examined how museums came to be in the eye of the storm and what the future might bring.
In December, the Friends had a special treat - an exclusive inside tour of the Metropolitan Museum’s Thomas Watson Library. Led by Jessica Ranne-Cardona, Museum Librarian, the tour included not only the reading room of the library but a rare opportunity to descend down into the extensive storage area with the Met’s huge book Depository.
In January, we had another exclusive tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s exhibition “Flight into Egypt: Black Artists and Ancient Egypt, 1876 - Now.” Dr. Akill Tommasino, Curator in the Department of Modern and Contemporary Art and curator of the exhibit, explored with the Friends how Black artists from the late 19th century through the Harlem Renaissance to today engaged with ancient Egypt through various forms of artistic expression. It was an eye-opening tour.
Looking Ahead for 2025-2026, there will again be a mix of in-person events and special online lectures. The forthcoming season of the Friends will include a visit to the Morgan Library and to the exhibit “Rodin’s Egypt” at the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, among others.
Who are the Friends of the AIA-NY Society and what are the benefits of joining?
The Friends’ group supports the mission of the AIA-NYS to foster archaeological discovery and outreach to the public about the latest discoveries. The Friends’ support is crucial to the AIA-NYS’ Scholars program which each year awards up to 6 scholarships to university students in NY City for their archaeological studies and a Fieldwork Scholarship helping with the costs for participation in a fieldwork project. The Friends support also the AIA-NYS’ outreach mission by bringing the latest archaeological discoveries to the public via our lectures, far above the lectures sent out from the AIA’s national office. All contributions are tax-deductible.
To learn more about the AIA-NY Society go to our website, www.aia-nysociety.org. To learn more about the Friends and how you can join the group, send an email to Jason Earle at jearle@instap.org.
2025-2026 lecture program
September 17: Lecture by Sarah Murray
Perati, Porto Rafti, and the End of the Aegean Late Bronze Age
October 21: Lecture by Jesse Wolfhagen (Danyale Z. English lecture and annual meeting)
Rethinking Human-Cattle Interactions in Neolithic Çatalhöyük (Türkiye)
December 4: Lecture by Eleni Hasaki
Running a Potter’s Workshop in Ancient Greece: Technical Expertise and Project Management
January 9: Lecture by Diana Craig Patch and Brendan Hainline (Ira Haupt lecture)
Divine Egypt
February 17: Lecture by Kathryn Morgan
Beyond Midas: Towards and Archaeological History of Phrygia
March 17: Lecture by Christina Halperin (Waldron lecture)
Rewriting Narratives of Collapse: Recent Investigations at the Ancient Maya City of Ucanal, Guatemala
April 17: Lecture by John North Hopkins
On Fortune’s Doorstep: A Newly Identified Republican Temple on the Quirinal Hill in Rome