CULTURAL HERITAGE INITIATIVES

About CHI | Updates | Projects | CHI Tutorials | Who We Are

Initiated in 2014, ASOR’s Cultural Heritage Initiatives (ASOR CHI) is an international collaboration of scholars and institutions who work under the auspices of ASOR. Through two cooperative agreements with the U.S. Department of State and with the generous support of non-federal organizations and donors (especially the Getty Conservation Institute, The Whiting Foundation, and the Kaplan Fund), ASOR CHI undertakes projects to document, protect, and preserve the cultural heritage of war-torn Syria, northern Iraq, and Libya. Hundreds of significant heritage sites have been damaged since fighting began in 2011. Although the destruction of cultural property represents only part of the humanitarian crisis, these harmful actions threaten our common world heritage and cultural diversity. We have an ethical obligation to respond, and our project is part of an international effort to work with Syrians, Iraqis, and Libyans (and other peoples) to protect their heritage and cultural identity.

Browse the News Archive

FOA Webinar Panel: From Tunis to Tataouine

2026 Nominees for ASOR Board Elections

2026 Student Paper Award

ECS Fall Brown Bag: Beyond the Tenure Track

About American Society of Overseas Research (ASOR)

ABOUT ASOR

The American Society of Overseas Research (ASOR) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to initiate, encourage, and support research into, and public understanding of, the history and cultures of the Near East and wider Mediterranean world, from the earliest times. ASOR is apolitical and has no religious affiliation.

We were founded in 1900 by twenty-one institutions—including Harvard, Princeton, Yale, and Columbia. Over a century later, ASOR has approximately 53 consortium institutions, including universities, seminaries, museums, foundations, and libraries. In addition, we have more than 2,200 individual members and more than 40,000 Friends.

We remain true to our original mission – initiating, encouraging, and supporting research into the cultures of the Near East from the earliest times, and helping the public to understand the findings of that research, as outlined in our strategic plan. ASOR fosters original research, archaeological excavations, and explorations; encourages scholarship in the Near East’s basic languages, cultural histories, and traditions; builds support for Near Eastern studies; and advocates high academic standards. ASOR also offers educational opportunities in Near Eastern history and archaeology to students from all over the world, and through outreach activities to the public.

ASOR communicates news of the latest research findings in our publications, through lectures at the Annual Meeting, and our independent overseas institutes in Cyprus and Jerusalem facilitate research in the field by students and scholars. ASOR’s book series and journals, such as Near Eastern Archaeology and the Bulletin of ASOR, are intended for both a lay audience and specialist archaeologists, historians, and biblical scholars. ASOR’s Annual Meeting brings together scholars from around the world to present their latest findings and discuss their research. Fellowship programs are available from our overseas institutes to provide funds for work at these institutes as well as for Mesopotamian studies and student travel to the Annual Meeting.

FACTS & FIGURES

Name: American Society of Overseas Research (ASOR); formerly named “American Schools of Oriental Research”

Mission: ASOR’s mission is to initiate, encourage, and support research into, and public understanding of, the cultures and history of the Near East and the wider Mediterranean, from the earliest times.

Founded: 1900; incorporated in the District of Columbia in 1921

Members: approximately 2,200 individual members, 53 institutional members, 40,000 Friends, and 2 affiliated overseas research institutes

Publications: Four journals (Bulletin of ASOR, Journal of Cuneiform Studies, Near Eastern Archaeology, and Maarav), two e-newsletters (News@ASOR and The Ancient Near East Today), and four book series (ASOR Annual, Archaeological Report Series, Journal of Cuneiform Studies Supplement Series, and LCP Handbooks Series).

Annual Meeting: The conference has in-person and virtual components with approximately 1,200 attendees. The hybrid, in-person and virtual conference begins eight days (on a Wednesday) before American Thanksgiving. The in-person location varies annually.

Professional Personnel: ASOR has 8 full-time team and 3 part-time team members and 8 continuing contractors.

Donors: ASOR is supported by over 1,100 individuals who make annual charitable contributions to ASOR. Click here for our Fiscal Year 2026 Honor Roll of Donors. Click here for our Lifetime Honor Roll of Donors.

Volunteers: ASOR’s work is supported by more than 280 volunteers, some serving in multiple roles.

Scholarships, Fellowships, and Grants: ASOR plans to award $250,000 in scholarships, fellowships, and grants in 2026.

President: Jane DeRose Evans, Temple University

Chief Administrative Officer: Andrew G. Vaughn (Executive Director)