Volume 49, Number 3, Fall
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Fall 1999 Volume 49, Number 3 Committee on Archaeological Policy Inspection Trip 1999 he 1999 CAP Inspection Trip three issues repeatedly surfaced, at- tems have made the tasks of survey- took place from June 9–July testing to their importance: 1. Tech- ing and conducting regional studies T 13, 1999. In addition to myself, nology, 2. Conservation/Preserva- much more efficient, accurate and the tour participants included CAP tion, and, 3. Publications. useful for analytical purposes. There committee member Oded Borowski, Over the past twenty years, the use are nevertheless some challenges in Publications Director Billie Jean of modern technology in archaeologi- using these new technologies such as Collins and ASOR/ACOR Trustee cal field work and laboratory analy- the expense involved, the difficulty in Anne Ogilvy. CAP committee mem- sis has literally exploded. The hi-tec acquiring qualified staff to operate the bers Rudy Dornemann, Gary advances in archaeology were being equipment and analyze the results, Rollefson and Tom Levy participated employed by many of the projects we keeping up-to-date with the most re- in the trip as well, leading tours of visited. Most excavations now have cent and useful hardware and soft- their field projects. Consultations their databases computerized and in- ware, and devising methods of shar- were held with the Directors of the put data daily while still in the field. ing information with other projects Department of Antiquities in Jordan, The use of EDMs, GPS and GIS sys- using different programs/systems. Syria, Israel, the Palestinian National The issue of conservation and pres- Authority and Cyprus. A total of 61 ervation of antiquities was another archaeological sites were visited dur- topic raised in virtually every conver- ing the course of the tour (29 in Jor- sation. The rapid population growth dan, 16 in Israel, 6 in the West Bank, 6 in the region accompanied by inten- in Cyprus and 4 in Syria; see the ab- sified industrial and tourism develop- breviated itinerary for details). The ment is exerting increased pressure on Institute directors and their staffs at archaeological sites throughout the ACOR, AIAR, and CAARI did an out- Middle East. Although the national standing job of facilitating arrange- departments of antiquities constantly ments for the trip, describing the pro- struggle to protect ancient sites, it is grams of the institutes and extending clear that field archaeologists will their well-known hospitality. have to take an increasingly active An impressive array of sites were role in preservation and presentation visited ranging in date from the efforts if the archaeological sites are Lower Paleolithic to the Modern Pe- to survive for future generations to riod. Projects focusing on the Bronze study and enjoy. Age through Classical Periods are still The expeditious publication of the well represented but it was also en- results of surveys and excavations couraging to see more work being was another issue that surfaced as a done in the Prehistoric and Late-Clas- Artemis Joukowsky (left), and Anne primary concern. Despite the best sical Periods. During the site visits Ogilvy (right) in the west corridor of the and discussions throughout the trip, Great Temple at Petra. continued on page 4 - 1 - C E N T E N N I A L C O U N T D O W N Y2K CALENDAR OF ASOR EVENTS April 13–16, 2000—ASOR U.S. Centennial Celebration - Washington D.C. May 28–June 10, 2000—Overseas Centers ASOR Centennial Celebrations - Jerusalem, Amman, Nicosia November 15–19, 2000—ASOR Centennial Year Annual Meeting - Nashville, TN Plans for ASOR centennial celebrations are now rapidly developing. An exciting program honoring ASOR’s 100 year anniversary is taking shape for mid April in the nations capital. Housing for the event has been arranged at special rates at the Wyndham Washington Hotel which has an excellent mid-town location north of the White House. Present plans include the following: Thursday and Friday April 13–14—Boards of Trustees and Committees Spring Meetings Friday April 14 (evening)—Black tie optional Gala Centennial Banquet with Hon. Undersecretary of State Thomas Pickering as feature speaker. Saturday April 15 (day)—Special lecture program “Footsteps in the Dust: A Century of ASOR Discoveries in the Ancient Near East” held in cooperation with the Smithsonian Associates. Feature speakers will include ASOR and Overseas Centers notables William Dever, Seymour Gitin, Robert Merrillees, Pierre Bikai, and Eric Meyers. ASOR President Joe Seger will serve as moderator. Saturday April 15 (evening)—ASOR Centennial Grand Reception featuring an evening of Roasts, Toasts, and Boasts in commemoration of the ASOR family’s first century. Volunteers who wish to participate in making presentations honoring mentors and colleagues, chiding them mercilessly, and/or shamelessly boasting about feigned or actual achievements should contact Rudy Dornemann at the ASOR Boston office or Joe Seger for program details. Special recognitions are being planned for ASOR affiliated Dig groups and for the Overseas Centers A special evening of good fun and good food is being organized. You won’t want to miss it! Sunday April 16 (morning)—A special program of papers is being organized by the CAMP Program Committee under the leadership of Doug Clark. Watch for further details. Sunday April 16 (noon)—ASOR Digs Reunion Luncheon. It is only appropriate that ASOR’s centennial celebration conclude with an event that honors its many dig groups and their sponsors. WATCH FOR FURTHER DETAILS AND REGISTER EARLY Details on registration for the April meeting programs and for events planned at the overseas centers will be available at the Annual Meeting in November. Sponsors to support the various program elements are being solicited in an effort to make the events affordable to everyone. - 2 - he year 2000 now looms close Letter he Board of Directors of Letter ahead and plans for the cel- Scholars Press announced from from Tebration of ASOR’s 100 year T on September 1, the “re- birthday are moving forward rapidly. the structuring” of Scholars Press, a the Meanwhile, support for ASOR’s President move that involves the dissolution of Editor 1999–2000 annual program is the Press and therewith an end to needed. Within a budget of slightly over $750,000, an the services it has provided ASOR, a Sponsor of the amount of $112,000, the same as in 1998–99, is projected Press, since 1991. Among the services that Scholars for the combined giving of ASOR Trustees and Mem- has provided are membership and subscription fulfill- bers. I am pleased to say that last year members of the ment (M/S), book and journal production, marketing and Board of Trustees showed outstanding leadership in reg- distribution, accounting, and Web (directory) support. istering 100% participation in contributions and pledges ASOR recently moved its Publications office to the new prior to the November meeting in Orlando. I have chal- home of Scholars Press at the Luce Center on the cam- lenged the current Trustees to repeat that performance pus of Emory University in Atlanta in order more effec- for 1999, and I likewise challenge all of you, as mem- tively to manage its growing Publications Program. De- bers and friends of the organization, to join them in help- cember 31, 1999 has been announced as the deadline ing meet our 1999-2000 financial needs. for the ending of services. This leaves ASOR with a very Is it necessary to convince you of the importance of limited time to find alternative sources for the services contributing to ASOR, and of the value of the supports the Press currently provides. and opportunities it provides for its individual and in- The most critical task before us is the search for a stitutional members? I hope not, but if you do need con- new vendor to provide membership and subscription ser- vincing I warmly invite you to review closely the dy- vices, as ASOR’s first priority is, and must be, to ensure namics of ASOR’s ongoing programs and activities as that there is no disruption in the benefits to its mem- reflected in recent issues of our ASOR Newsletter. As bers. The good news is that already several avenues ASOR’s first 100 years of work draws toward conclu- are being explored, including handling M/S in-house. sion, the organization has never been more vital. Testi- Beyond the concern for continuity in service to its fying specially to this is the response for participation members, ASOR is in a unique position now to redefine in this year’s Annual Meeting in Boston/Cambridge itself and its Publications Program. Improved and ag- where a record attendance is anticipated. gressive marketing of both books and journals, better This all makes your annual financial help that much financial planning, and more direct control of its assets more important. Won’t you please give early attention are the potential benefits of this development. to providing your gift or pledge using form below. By Despite the suddeness of the decision, it was not en- doing so you will help to secure a smooth year of transi- tirely unexpected, and research had already begun on tion into ASOR’s second century and provide a firm fi- alternative arrangements for our books and journals. nancial base for promoting its future work. The Publications staff is working full-time to find the With thanks on behalf of our Chairman, P. E. best alternatives for future growth and improvement. MacAllister, the Development Committee, and myself, The ASOR Membership can rest assured that from here we look forward to receiving your early response. on out it only gets better. Joe D. Seger, President Billie Jean Collins - 3 - Ken Holum (right) explaining his work at Caesarea to (from right to left) Anne Ogilvy, Oded Borowski, and Billie Jean Collins.