ASOR held its first-ever hybrid format meeting with both in-person and virtual participation last month, November 15-18, at the Hilton Chicago and online.

More than 1,000 people were registered for the meeting with nearly 800 attending in Chicago. There was an increase in virtual attendance leading up to the Annual Meeting as current conditions in the Middle East impacted many registrants and program participants.

During the opening remarks, ASOR’s Executive Director, Andrew Vaughn, and ASOR President, Sharon Herbert, both mentioned the profound impact of the war in Israel and Gaza on the meeting and for our membership. The absence of many colleagues who had planned to come to Chicago was sorely felt and acknowledged.

While recognizing the challenges related to the situation in the Middle East and the hybrid logistics of the meeting, the meeting offered a way for attendees in Chicago and online to share their research and make meaningful connections. If you attended the 2023 Annual Meeting in Chicago or online, please complete the 2023 Annual Meeting Evaluation to provide valuable feedback that will be considered as we plan for 2024 and beyond.

Read on for a summary of the 2023 Annual Meeting, including features from the academic program, the business schedule, special events, and the 2023 ASOR Honors & Awards.

The 2023 hybrid ASOR Annual Meeting opened on Wednesday, November 15, with the Plenary Address by Dr. Rubina Raja (Aarhus University) titled, Death by Data? Or What Has a Decade of Research on Palmyrene Funerary Sculpture Taught Us about the Ancient World? The presentation generated a lot of discussion and enthusiasm which continued throughout the evening at the Welcome Reception.

The sessions and workshops of the academic program took place Thursday-Saturday, November 16-18, with presenters representing 35 countries and 6 continents. More than 500 presentations were given in Chicago and online as part of 112 sessions and workshops. The Poster Session featured 34 projects shared in Chicago, as well a virtual poster gallery. The recorded content of the Annual Meeting is being edited and will be available to registered attendees via the ASOR Hybrid Meeting Platform from mid-December through July of 2024.

Attendees in Chicago enjoyed several special events at the Hilton Chicago and at local museums. Dr. William Parkinson gave a lecture at the Field Museum and offered a walk-through of the new exhibit, First Kings of Europe. Events at the Hilton Chicago included the Women’s Mentoring Lunch, the Early Career Scholars brown-bag lunch panel, and Roundtable Discussions were offered for the first time at ASOR. Receptions were hosted during the event by ASOR, UCLA, and CAARI, as well a celebration in honor of Thomas E. Levy’s festschrift. The Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures (ISAC) Museum at the University of Chicago hosted a private reception for ASOR attendees on Saturday evening after the meeting ended.

ASOR would like to thank everyone who participated and contributed to the success of the 2023 Annual Meeting. Please enjoy some of the memorable moments captured in the photo album below, and we hope you will continue to enjoy the recorded content from the meeting through June 2024.

Please mark your calendars for ASOR’s 2024 Hybrid Annual Meeting at the Hilton Boston Park Plaza and online, November 20–23. The Call for Member-Organized Session & Workshop proposals will be open from December 15, 2023–January 15, 2024.