Archaeology journal
2017-2018 | Issue 6
Aphrodisias from east, South Agora and pool at center
In This Issue
Message from the Director
2 | Abydos, Egypt Matthew Adams, Senior Research
This year’s edition of the Institute’s Archaeology Journal presents the many exciting discoveries and achievements made
Scholar; Field Director, Institute of Fine Arts, NYU Excavations at Abydos
3 | Aphrodisias, Turkey oland R.R. Smith, Lincoln Professor R of Classical Archaeology and Art, University of Oxford; Director of NYU Excavations at Aphrodisias K atherine Welch, Associate Professor of Fine Arts, Institute of Fine Arts, NYU; Deputy Director at Aphrodisias
4 | Samothrace, Greece onna D. Wescoat, Samuel Candler B Dobbs Professor of Art History, Emory University; Director of Emory University and NYU Excavations, Sanctuary of the Great Gods, Samothrace
5 | Selinunte, Sicily Clemente Marconi, James R. McCredie
Professor in the History of Greek Art and Archaeology, Institute of Fine Arts, NYU; Project Director of Excavations at Selinunte
Rosalia Pumo, Field Director of Excavations at Selinunte, Institute of Fine Arts, NYU
6 | The Institute’s Archaeology Program Donors 7 | Spotlight
by our remarkable site directors and ambitious students during the 2017 dig season, as well as personal accounts by students and supporters of their experiences at our dig sites. In my inaugural year as the Judy and Michael Steinhardt Director of the Institute of Fine Arts, I am thrilled to share with you our community’s inspiring contributions to research that continues to build and redefine the cultural history and heritage of our four archaeological sites. In Abydos, new findings in previously unknown royal monuments are revealing details about royal ritual practices in ancient Egypt. Aphrodisias was among the most recent sites added to UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. Additionally, in Samothrace, the team encountered a torrential rainstorm that uncovered new architectural findings, while excavations in Selinunte, Sicily led to discoveries that captured glimpses of the ancient Greek colony’s daily life. The work of Professor Clemente Marconi and his colleagues led to the inauguration on September 22, 2017 of the Selinunte Museum, in celebration of ten years of fascinating discoveries. The Institute’s archaeology program offers invaluable research and scholarship by our esteemed faculty and students, whose impact extends beyond the scope of academia. We are so grateful for our donors whose contributions and support are essential to making our archaeology program possible. I am eager to continue watching the program grow and thrive.
Christine Poggi Judy and Michael Steinhardt Director Institute of Fine Arts