The lecture by Jack Gary (Colonial Williamsburg) scheduled for May 12 has been postponed to October 13, when we will celebrate International Archaeology Day and Virginia Archaeology Month with our first in-person lecture in more than two years! For our spring gathering, we are planning a social event at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts later this spring/summer – check back here for more information, or click on the ‘Contact’ tab and enter your information to join our email list.

Join us on Thursday, April 14 at 6:00 pm for a Zoom lecture by Dr. Leslie Reeder-Myers (Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Temple University), “Coastal Heritage and Climate Change—A Monumental Challenge to Preserve the Past in the 21st Century.”

Click here to register!

Lecture abstract:

Twenty-first century climate change threatens all kinds of cultural heritage—archaeological sites, historic monuments and buildings, traditional subsistence or cultural practices, among many others. This is especially urgent in coastal areas where the triple threat of rising sea level, more powerful coastal storms, and growing coastal populations create a monumental challenge. At the same time, though, people are placing a greater value on cultural heritage and gaining a better understanding of how precarious these resources are. In this talk, I will discuss global efforts to, first, understand the scale of the problem and, second, decide how to address it. Archaeologists cannot overcome this challenge alone, nor is it possible to save everything. We must develop strong community partnerships and think creatively about what is truly valuable in cultural heritage. I will specifically discuss my research in coastal California and the importance of partnering with indigenous communities to decide what matters most in cultural heritage.

All will be held on Thursdays at 6pm. The two lectures in the national AIA lecture program (Nov. and April) will be Zoom webinars. We will decide about the format of the others in the spring.

November 11 – Carrie Atkins (University of Toronto), “Religious Ritual on board the Greco-Roman Ship”

February 10 – Melinda Yang (University of Richmond), “Using ancient DNA to study human history – perspectives on East Asia”

March 3 – Vassiliki Panoussi (William & Mary), “The Image of Africa in Early Modern Vergil Commentaries”

April 14 – Leslie Reeder-Myers (Temple University), “Coastal Heritage and Climate Change—A Monumental Challenge to   Preserve the Past in the 21^st Century”

May 12 – Spring Member Event with Jack Gary, Director of Archaeology, Colonial Williamsburg