UNEARTHING THE PAST SINCE 1900
  • BECOME A MEMBER
  • RENEW
  • GIVE NOW
  • SEARCH
  • ONLINE PORTAL
  • American Society of Overseas Research (ASOR)American Society of Overseas Research (ASOR)
  • ABOUT
    • WELCOME FROM ASOR OFFICERS
    • FACTS & FIGURES
    • MISSION, BYLAWS, & STRATEGIC PLAN
    • HISTORY OF ASOR
    • COMMITTEES
    • POLICIES
    • FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS
    • ARCHIVES
    • AFFILIATED PROJECTS
    • AFFILIATED RESEARCH CENTERS
    • ASOR’s Honors and Awards
    • CONTACT US
  • CULTURAL
    HERITAGE
    • ABOUT CULTURAL HERITAGE INITIATIVES
    • UPDATES
    • TUTORIALS
    • Who We Are
  • ANNUAL
    MEETING
    • REGISTRATION
    • HOTEL RESERVATIONS
    • ANNUAL MEETING SCHEDULES
    • SPONSOR & EXHIBIT
    • ASOR Online Library
    • HONORS & AWARDS
    • ANNUAL MEETING SCHOLARSHIPS
    • PAST & FUTURE ANNUAL MEETINGS
  • MEMBERSHIP
    & RESOURCES
    • INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIPS
    • INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
    • NEWS@ASOR
    • PAST ASOR NEWS, MONTH BY MONTH
    • ONLINE RESOURCES
    • PHOTO COLLECTION
    • EARLY CAREER MEMBER RESOURCES
  • FELLOWSHIPS
    & GRANTS
    • SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FIELDWORK PARTICIPATION
    • GRANTS FOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROJECTS
    • RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS FOR MEMBERS
    • MEMBERSHIP & ANNUAL MEETING SCHOLARSHIPS
    • ASOR-AFFILIATED RESEARCH CENTERS FELLOWSHIPS
    • OTHER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS
  • PUBLICATIONS
    • BOOK SERIES & MONOGRAPHS
    • BULLETIN OF ASOR
    • JOURNAL OF CUNEIFORM STUDIES
    • MAARAV
    • NEAR EASTERN ARCHAEOLOGY
    • THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST TODAY
    • LEVANTINE CERAMICS PROJECT
  • FRIENDS
    OF ASOR
    • Webinars
    • TOURS
    • THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST TODAY
    • ASOR ONLINE LIBRARY
  • Donate
    • FY25 HONOR ROLL OF DONORS
    • LIFETIME HONOR ROLL OF DONORS
    • ASOR LEGACY CIRCLE
    • WAYS TO DONATE
Aerial view of the island of Motya, Sicily, Italy.

 SHARE

 
 
 
 
 

NEWS@ASOR E-NEWSLETTER

ANCIENT NEAR EAST TODAY E-NEWSLETTER

PAST ASOR NEWS, MONTH BY MONTH

ASOR LEGACY CIRCLE MEMBERS

LIFETIME HONOR ROLL OF DONORS

FY25 HONOR ROLL OF DONORS

ASOR ANNUAL MEETING

2024 Dana Grant Report: Modeling Punic Space at Motya

Jason Herrmann, University of Pennsylvania and Paola Sconzo, University of Palermo

Ancient Motya (modern Isola San Pantaleo, Sicily, Italy), founded in the late 8th century BCE by Phoenician wayfarers, was a significant hub in the central Mediterranean, serving as a crucial point of contact between Carthage and Sicily at the city’s height in the 5th century BCE. Unlike many other Phoenician-Punic urban centers, Motya has remained largely undisturbed by subsequent occupations, offering archaeologists a rare and valuable opportunity to study Punic urban planning in its original context.

Since 2017, we have been conducting comprehensive geophysical surveys on the island for the Space and Identity at Ancient Motya project. Our goal is to map the layout of the city’s structures and to use their configuration to interpret Motya’s social organization and expressions of ethnic identity. This project is a collaboration between the University of Palermo and the Penn Museum and operates as a subproject under the University of Palermo Archaeological Mission to Motya, with the support of the Superintendency for Cultural and Environmental Heritage of Trapani.

View of Motya
Fig. 1. Motya was situated on an island in the Marsala Stagnone in western Sicily. By the 5th century BCE, the fortified city of Motya covered the entire island and was connected to the Sicilian mainland by a causeway, now submerged and visible in the foreground of the above image.
Students and team members on the boat to site.
Fig. 2. Many students and team members were housed on the Sicilian mainland and traveled by boat to and from Motya daily for fieldwork.

Thanks to the support of the ASOR Stevan B. Dana Grant, our multidisciplinary project was able to continue with the assistance of an international team of eleven students from the University of Palermo and the University of Pennsylvania. These students contributed to both the geophysical survey and the ongoing excavations carried out toward two primary objectives. The first was to expand the geophysical survey coverage beyond the areas that were accessible for magnetic gradiometry in previous years. To this end, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and electrical soil resistance helped to document subsurface features where vegetation or other surface conditions made magnetic gradiometry unfeasible.

Our second goal was to further investigate ambiguous features observed in the magnetic gradiometry that required additional clarification. One area of particular interest was a depression in the northeast sector of the island where magnetic data were inconclusive. Here we employed GPR, a technique that measures how radio waves are reflected off changes in the textures of buried materials. Preliminary results show that, unlike the rest of the island, this area was not covered with streets and houses during Motya’s urban expansion, suggesting that it was reserved for some special purpose.

Excavation of Motya's fortification wall.
Fig. 3. Excavation continued in protected contexts adjacent to the Motya’s fortification wall where early 6th and 7th century contexts are preserved.
Team members in pit revealed by magnetic gradiometry data.
Fig. 4. Features observed in the geophysical data from previous seasons were verified through test excavations, including a deep pit that was visible in the magnetic gradiometry data and seemed to date to the early 6th and 7th centuries BCE. From left: Prof. Giuseppe Minunno, Helen Wong and Sarah Maria Messina.

We were also interested in determining the depths of key features across the island to aid the development of a digital reconstruction of the ancient city and landscape. For this, we combined GPR with electrical soil resistance, a method that measures the ease with which an electrical current travels in sediments, to measure the depth of streets that had been previously mapped in the magnetic data. Unlike magnetic gradiometry, GPR and electrical resistance data allow for precise estimation of the depths of the observed features, providing critical information for reconstructing the ancient city’s layout.

We thank ASOR and the Stevan B. Dana project grant for enabling broad student participation in our 2024 field season. Because of this support, we have been able to come closer to a complete map of Motya’s ancient urban plan with geophysical survey and have been able to verify some of the features we observed in the geophysical data through excavation. This information, supported by data from aerial surveys, surface collection, and legacy excavations is enabling us to develop detailed interpretations of the use of space for multiple phases of the life of ancient Motya, and establish a strong foundation for future work on this island site.

Team members conducting ground-penetrating radar survey
Fig. 5. Ground-penetrating radar surveys were carried out on areas where we wanted to confirm our interpretations of the magnetic data or where other geophysical surveys would not be effective because of the surface conditions. From left: Helen Wong and Mary Elizabeth Alexander.

Learn more on the project’s website.

Follow the Mozia Project and UPenn’s Center for the Analysis of Archaeological Materials on Instagram.

Read about applying for a 2025 ASOR Project Grant. 

BROWSE THE NEWS ARCHIVE

  • Fieldwork Report: Lonnie Reid
  • Thank You Fiscal Year 2025 Donors
  • DC Day of Archaeology 2025
  • Table of Contents for Near Eastern Archaeology 88.2 (2025)

Latest Posts from @ASORResearch

asor_research

Initiating and supporting research of the history and cultures of the Near East and wider Mediterranean world.


Summer is in full swing, but it’s not too early
Summer is in full swing, but it’s not too early to think about your fall calendar. The Annual Meeting Program-at-a-Glance, as well as information about business meetings and special events, can be found on the 2025 ASOR Annual Meeting Schedules Page. Make sure to include the plenary address by Timothy P. Harrison and ASOR’s 125th Anniversary Celebration when you plan your ASOR 2025 itinerary. Check it out by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/am/2025/schedules-2025) in our bio.


We did it (once again)! The 2025 fiscal year has o
We did it (once again)! The 2025 fiscal year has officially come to a close, and ASOR has set a record member participation rate for gifts this year thanks to our generous donors. It is truly gratifying to see our members and friends choosing to invest in ASOR and helping us make our work possible. Thank you again for your support!


ASOR was delighted to participate in the DC Day of
ASOR was delighted to participate in the DC Day of Archaeology Festival by @aitc_dc this past Saturday, June 28 at Tudor Place. The ASOR table included activities like a sandbox to dig up artifacts, puzzles, trivia, plus posters about our organization and free journals to give out! Read more by clicking the link in our bio. #dcdayofarchaeology


To start off our new series of #ObjectoftheWeek: F
To start off our new series of #ObjectoftheWeek: Funerary model of cow giving birth. Probably from Meir, Egypt, c. 2040 – 1985 BCE. Royal Ontario Museum 910.18.16.1. Photo courtesy of ROM: https://collections.rom.on.ca/objects/184967


What is a god? While the question is simple enough
What is a god? While the question is simple enough, the answer depends on context and perspective. Read the first article in a 4-part series by Michael Hundley in the newest Ancient Near East Today by clicking the link (https://anetoday.org/god-ancient-near-east/) in our bio.


Make sure to join ASOR this Saturday, June 28, for
Make sure to join ASOR this Saturday, June 28, for this year's DC Day of Archaeology Festival at Tudor Place in Washington, DC. Stop by the event organized by @aitc_dc from 10AM to 3PM for music, food, and fun activities!


This spring, McKinley Tech High School students ex
This spring, McKinley Tech High School students explored Black Georgetown’s legacy at Mt. Zion–Female Union Band Historic Memorial Park. Through virtual reality and archaeological research, the program encouraged students to engage with the history of Black communities and experiences in Washington, D.C. Read the story by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/news/2025/06/mckinley-tech-mt-zion) in our bio!


ASOR is now offering affiliation to civil society
ASOR is now offering affiliation to civil society organizations and conservation projects as a way for them to be part of the ASOR community. Applications are reviewed by ASOR’s Cultural Heritage Committee. ASOR-affiliated projects are eligible for Shepard Urgent Action Grants. Learn how to apply for affiliation with the link in our bio.


Check out the special June issue of NEA 88.2 on on
Check out the special June issue of NEA 88.2 on one of the most famous sites in the ancient Near East—Megiddo. Read the Table of Contents by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/news/2025/06/nea88.2-toc/) in our bio.


ASOR CHI was delighted to participate in this year
ASOR CHI was delighted to participate in this year’s Arab Network of Civil Society Organizations to Safeguard Cultural Heritage (ANSCH) Conference on May 28–29. ASOR spoke on the types of free resources available through ASOR for civil society organizations in the region, including tutorials for cultural heritage surveys, funding through Shepard Urgent Action Grants, and the ability to join the ASOR community as affiliates. Read more by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/chi/updates/2025/06/asor-ansch-conference) in our bio.


ASOR has turned 125—and you’re invited to join
ASOR has turned 125—and you’re invited to join the celebration by participating in a special dinner event on Saturday night at this year’s Annual Meeting in Boston!

We’ll be kicking off the festive occasion at 6:45 pm on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at the Hilton Boston Park Plaza. Join us for an evening of great dining, entertainment, and ASOR-themed activities, as well as speakers who have been part of ASOR’s mission. Regular dinner tickets cost $100, but to ensure that everyone can attend, we are offering discount codes for reduced ticket prices of $25 and $50. Read more and register for the event by clicking the link in our bio!


In ancient Egypt, marriage was key to establishing
In ancient Egypt, marriage was key to establishing a household. What were the expectations of wives and what do we know about women’s rights when entering into—or leaving—marriage? Read the newest ANE Today by Alison Wilkinson by clicking the link (https://anetoday.org/ancient-egypt-marriage/) in our bio.


Gabbi Graber, a 2024 Stevan B. Dana Fieldwork Scho
Gabbi Graber, a 2024 Stevan B. Dana Fieldwork Scholarship recipient, excavated at Tel Burna in the Shephelah hills of Israel. Drawing from personal reflections and field experience, Gabbi shares what it was like to dig in this storied landscape. Read her fieldwork report by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/news/2025/05/fieldwork-report-graber) in our bio.


As you embark on fieldwork and research this summe
As you embark on fieldwork and research this summer, ASOR invites you to make submissions to our Virtual Archaeology Initiative. The Virtual Archaeology Initiative is a growing collection of digital resources that illustrate or teach various steps involved in the archaeological process. Read more about the initiative by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/news/2025/06/virtual-archaeology-initiative-submissions) in our bio. Submissions can be sent to info@asor.org.


Check out the May issue of Bulletin of ASOR 393, w
Check out the May issue of Bulletin of ASOR 393, with fascinating articles like Nabatean Tent Sites on the Ruhot Plain, Central Negev, and Nomadic Visibility; Olive Oil Production in the North-East Temple of Canaanite Lachish; Qaṭrāyīṯ and the Linguistic History of Ancient East Arabia, and much more. Read the Table of Contents by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/news/2025/05/basor393-toc/) in our bio.


Friends of ASOR is pleased to share information on
Friends of ASOR is pleased to share information on BASONOVA & BAF lectures. On Tuesday, June 10 at 8pm ET via Zoom, Elizabeth Bloch-Smith (Princeton Theological Seminary) will present "Hearing the Voices of the Dead in Ancient Israel". The witch of Endor was consulted by Saul to summon the spirit of the prophet Samuel. This presentation examines the Zeitgeist and theology behind Isaiah 8, where the deceased Samuel speaks to King Saul (1 Samuel 28), and alongside considers tales of the talking dead from Mesopotamia, Hatti (Hittites) and Greece. Register here: https://basonova.org/next-lecture-reservation.html


Dominique Langis-Barsetti, a 2024 Katherine Barton
Dominique Langis-Barsetti, a 2024 Katherine Barton Platt Fieldwork Scholarship recipient, excavated with the Kerkenes Project in the central Anatolian plateau last spring. As an associate director on the project, Dominique encountered various situations that required her to overcome logistical and environmental challenges with quick thinking and creativity. Read her fieldwork report by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/news/2025/05/fieldwork-report-langisbarsetti) in our bio.


ASOR invites members to submit poster proposals fo
ASOR invites members to submit poster proposals for the Poster Session as part of the 2025 ASOR Annual Meeting. Posters are an ideal format for presenting archaeological projects in general, a technical aspect of your project, or a spectacular find from the field season. Poster abstracts of 250 words may be submitted in the ASOR Abstract Center between now and August 1. Please read the Call for Posters (https://www.asor.org/am/2025/posters-2025) by clicking the link in our bio.


Once believed to be the location of Herod’s Augu
Once believed to be the location of Herod’s Augusteum, the cave at Paneas has yielded up some surprising discoveries following recent excavations. Read the newest ANE Today by Adi Erlich and Ron Lavi by clicking the link (https://anetoday.org/pan-grotto-paneas/) in our bio.


Join ASOR for this year's DC Day of Archaeology Fe
Join ASOR for this year's DC Day of Archaeology Festival, organized by @aitc_dc, on Saturday, June 28 at Tudor Place in Washington, DC. Stop by the event for music, food, and activities, and make sure to check out ASOR's table!



Instagram

Stay updated with the latest insights, photos, and news by following us on Instagram!

Follow Us on Instagram

American Society of Overseas Research
The James F. Strange Center
209 Commerce Street
Alexandria, VA 22314

E-mail: info@asor.org

© 2025 ASOR
All rights reserved.
Images licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

Contact Us
Membership
Give
Friends of ASOR
ASOR Cultural Heritage Initiatives
Terms of Use
News

Please follow & like us :)
Facebook
YouTube
LinkedIn