Capitol Archaeological Institute
Encyclopedia
The George Washington University Capitol Archaeological Institute is a recently founded American
archaeological
research and educational institute in Washington, D.C.
It was formally opened on October 7, 2010 at the George Washington University
at the Elliott School of International Affairs
. The current director and founder of the institute is Professor Eric H. Cline
, who is also head of the university's Department of Classical
and Near Eastern
Languages and Civilizations
. It is a part of the university's Columbian College of Arts and Sciences
.
, the Egypt
ian Vice Minister of Culture
and Head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities
, who signed the charter opening the institute along with Professor Cline and the University President, Stephen Knapp
.
The next guest speaker will be Dr. Sophocles Hadjisavvas, former director of the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus
, on November 3, 2010, speaking about the history of Cyprus. This is related to a similar exhibit at the National Museum of Natural History
.
, Professor Jeffrey P. Blomster, Anthropologist, Professor Allison S. Brooks, New World Archaeologist, Dr. Linda A. Brown, Bronze
and Iron Age
Archaeologist, Historian and Director of the Institute, Professor Eric H. Cline
, City Archaeologist of Alexandria, VA, Dr. Pamela Cressey, Classical Archaeologist, Dr. Elise A. Friedland, Celtic Archaeologist, Dr. Susan A. Johnston, Sub-Saharan Africa Archaeologist
, Professor Stephen C. Lubkemann, and Assistant Professor of Classics, Dr. Andrew M. Smith II. Deborah Lehr is chairwoman of the institute.
The Institute hopes that other archaeologists from different organisations in the area, around the country and around the world will join the institute and contribute to its growth, with the eventual goal being to turn the Institute into a national and international center for archaeological research and education.
with Tel Aviv University
, and The Tel Kabri Expedition
in partnership with Haifa University, both in Israel
; the Bir Madkhur Project in Jorda, the Smithsonian Institution
's Human Origins Program, and Archaeology of Alexandria in Virginia.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
archaeological
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
research and educational institute in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
It was formally opened on October 7, 2010 at the George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
at the Elliott School of International Affairs
Elliott School of International Affairs
The Elliott School of International Affairs at the George Washington University is a professional school in international relations. It is located in the heart of Washington, D.C...
. The current director and founder of the institute is Professor Eric H. Cline
Eric H. Cline
Eric H. Cline is an author, historian, archaeologist, and professor of ancient history and archaeology at The George Washington University in Washington DC, where he is Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Classical and Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations as well as Director of...
, who is also head of the university's Department of Classical
Classical antiquity
Classical antiquity is a broad term for a long period of cultural history centered on the Mediterranean Sea, comprising the interlocking civilizations of ancient Greece and ancient Rome, collectively known as the Greco-Roman world...
and Near Eastern
Ancient Near East
The ancient Near East was the home of early civilizations within a region roughly corresponding to the modern Middle East: Mesopotamia , ancient Egypt, ancient Iran The ancient Near East was the home of early civilizations within a region roughly corresponding to the modern Middle East: Mesopotamia...
Languages and Civilizations
History of the Middle East
This article is a general overview of the history of the Middle East. For more detailed information, see articles on the histories of individual countries and regions...
. It is a part of the university's Columbian College of Arts and Sciences
Columbian College of Arts and Sciences
The Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, or CCAS, is The George Washington University's liberal arts and sciences college. The Columbian College bears the original name of The George Washington University when it was chartered by Congress in 1821...
.
Misson
According to Dr. Cline, the institute is intended to take advantage of the political and cultural wealth offered by the city. “The GW Capitol Archaeological Institute is poised to take advantage of the deep expertise in our own back yard, especially resources available through foreign embassies, government and international agencies, cultural institutions and museums. The confluence of resources here in Washington, D.C., is unparalleled. This is our opportunity to advance archaeological research initiatives and facilitate a global community of academics, politicians, diplomats and business leaders.”Notable Speakers
The Institute plans to hold guest lectures by numerous archaeologists of international renown. The first guest speaker was Dr. Zahi HawassZahi Hawass
Zahi Hawass is an Egyptian archaeologist, an Egyptologist, and former Minister of State for Antiquities Affairs. He has also worked at archaeological sites in the Nile Delta, the Western Desert, and the Upper Nile Valley....
, the Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian Vice Minister of Culture
Ministry of Culture (Egypt)
The Ministry of Culture of Egypt is a ministry responsible for maintaining and promoting the culture of Egypt. The current Minister is Dr. Emad Badr El-Din Mahmoud Abu Ghazy.-Critics:...
and Head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities
Supreme Council of Antiquities
The Supreme Council of Antiquities is the branch of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture responsible for the conservation, protection and regulation of all antiquities and archaeological excavations in Egypt...
, who signed the charter opening the institute along with Professor Cline and the University President, Stephen Knapp
Stephen Knapp
Stephen Knapp is an American artist best known for his use of the medium of lightpainting He has gained an international reputation for large-scale works of art held in museums, public, corporate, and private collections, which are executed in media as diverse as light, kiln-formed glass, metal,...
.
The next guest speaker will be Dr. Sophocles Hadjisavvas, former director of the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
, on November 3, 2010, speaking about the history of Cyprus. This is related to a similar exhibit at the National Museum of Natural History
National Museum of Natural History
The National Museum of Natural History is a natural history museum administered by the Smithsonian Institution, located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., United States. Admission is free and the museum is open 364 days a year....
.
Faculty
The current faculty includes: New World ArchaeologistArchaeology of the Americas
The archaeology of the Americas is the study of the archaeology of North America , Central America, South America and the Caribbean...
, Professor Jeffrey P. Blomster, Anthropologist, Professor Allison S. Brooks, New World Archaeologist, Dr. Linda A. Brown, Bronze
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
and Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
Archaeologist, Historian and Director of the Institute, Professor Eric H. Cline
Eric H. Cline
Eric H. Cline is an author, historian, archaeologist, and professor of ancient history and archaeology at The George Washington University in Washington DC, where he is Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Classical and Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations as well as Director of...
, City Archaeologist of Alexandria, VA, Dr. Pamela Cressey, Classical Archaeologist, Dr. Elise A. Friedland, Celtic Archaeologist, Dr. Susan A. Johnston, Sub-Saharan Africa Archaeologist
African archaeology
The continent of Africa has the longest record of human activity of any part of the world and along with its geographical extent, it contains an enormous archaeological resource...
, Professor Stephen C. Lubkemann, and Assistant Professor of Classics, Dr. Andrew M. Smith II. Deborah Lehr is chairwoman of the institute.
The Institute hopes that other archaeologists from different organisations in the area, around the country and around the world will join the institute and contribute to its growth, with the eventual goal being to turn the Institute into a national and international center for archaeological research and education.
Institute Projects
The Institute currently has five official ongoing faculty projects with more promised soon. These include the current Tel Megiddo Expedition in consortiumConsortium
A consortium is an association of two or more individuals, companies, organizations or governments with the objective of participating in a common activity or pooling their resources for achieving a common goal....
with Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University is a public university located in Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel. With nearly 30,000 students, TAU is Israel's largest university.-History:...
, and The Tel Kabri Expedition
Tel Kabri
Tel Kabri is an archaeological site on the grounds of Kibbutz Kabri, near the city of Nahariya, Israel.Tel Kabri is notable for its Minoan-style frescoes, the only such frescoes ever discovered in Israel....
in partnership with Haifa University, both in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
; the Bir Madkhur Project in Jorda, the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
's Human Origins Program, and Archaeology of Alexandria in Virginia.