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
    • HISTORY OF ASOR
    • MISSION, BYLAWS, & STRATEGIC PLAN
    • Board of Trustees
    • COMMITTEES
    • POLICIES
    • FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS
    • 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
    • 125th Anniversary Celebration
    • HONORS & AWARDS
    • ANNUAL MEETING SCHOLARSHIPS
    • PAST & FUTURE ANNUAL MEETINGS
  • MEMBERSHIP
    & RESOURCES
    • INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIPS
    • INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
    • NEWS@ASOR
    • AFFILIATED PROJECTS
    • AFFILIATED RESEARCH CENTERS
    • ARCHIVES
    • 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
    • News@ASOR
    • 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

 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

Construction: The Ancient Anatolian Way

Lauren Cook, 2024 BIPOC Scholarship Fieldwork Recipient

This summer, I had the opportunity to excavate for the first time at the site of Alalakh (Tell Atchana) in Hatay, Türkiye. Although I had obtained my masters in Archaeology back in 2021, I had not had the chance to participate in archaeological fieldwork at that time because of the COVID-19 pandemic. When I was accepted to excavate at Alalakh this July I could not wait for the project to begin, however, I was surprised by the unique and interesting work I got to be a part of there. Apart from our normal excavation project, my fellow colleagues and I got to be a part of an exciting and groundbreaking experimental archaeological initiative where we worked to reconstruct the site’s mudbrick walls and protect its ancient foundations.

Elevated view of completed and finished mudbricks

On my first day at the site Dr. Akar, our site director, stated that although one of our goals was to uncover the site’s mudbrick architecture; exposing the ancient mudbrick to the elements causes it to rapidly deteriorate. In order to preserve the site’s ancient foundation and to give visitors a better sense of what the site would have looked like in antiquity we would spend part of the summer’s excavation season creating mudbricks and reinforcing the site’s mudbrick walls using ancient building techniques.

To begin making a mudbrick wall you first need to create the mud bricks. Dr. Akar consulted with members of the local community on mud brick recipes, as up until relatively recently in the adjoining village of Tayfursökmen and the surrounding areas people where still building with mudbrick. However, the practice had sharply fallen out of favor, being replaced by more modern building techniques. The mud that we used was a mixture of soil, straw, and water which we would mix until it was wet and could hold shape. Working in pairs we would then throw the mud into brick shaped molds; the trick was to make sure that copious mud was packed into the corners as this gives the brick its stability. Once the molds were filled, my workmate and I, would remove the mold with one swift, fluid movement – leaving a mud cube behind. Then we would re-set and start the process all over again.

Line of mudbricks and mold
Pair of mudbricks

These bricks would be set aside to dry for at least a week before they would be utilized in the next stage of the process, construction. Water was the key ingredient in this step as it allowed us to adhere and secure the bricks to the foundations and to each other. We would wet the surface on which the bricks were to be set and add a substantial, but flattened layer of mud to act as an adhesive. We would then wet the bricks and carefully place them in the mud, adding layers of mud between them so that they would adhere. Finally, we would cover the newly created wall with a final layer of mud and leave it to dry. Once the wall had dried over several days, we would go back and add a final layer of mud in order to smooth and plaster the wall.

Building the wall

This was a messy and labor-intensive process to be sure and we would always end these days covered in mud from head-to-toe, but the days where we made mudbricks and built walls were also the most fun. Some of my best memories from Alalakh were when we would plaster the mudbrick walls while dancing to YMCA, or when the team would get into an inevitable mud fight! There was also something magical about the process of building as working with the mud would often transport us back to the Middle Bronze Age where we could see in real time the problems that ancient builders would have encountered, and following in their footsteps often used stones, ceramic fragments, water, mud, and straw as solutions. Once we were done with our work looking down at the freshly made walls from the top of the tell, I was often filled with a strong sense of pride knowing that these efforts would help to preserve the site for years to come.

Covered in mud but still having fun

Lauren Cook is a Baltimore-based doctoral student studying Art History at Johns Hopkins University. She is interested in imperialism and alterity in Ancient West Asia. Lauren received a dual BA in Art History and Archaeology from Pitzer College as well as a MPHIL in Mesopotamian Archaeology from the University of Cambridge.

Lauren excavating a Late Bronze Age tablet. Photo courtesy of Murat Akar.

ASOR is now accepting applications for 2025 Fieldwork Participation Scholarships. Learn how to apply here.

Want to help more students and early career archaeologists get into the field? Donate to the cause today by selecting “Fieldwork Scholarships” as your gift purpose!

BROWSE THE NEWS ARCHIVE

  • FOA Webinar: Ory Amitay
  • Friends of ASOR Chicago Tour 2025
  • October Webinar Challenge
  • 2025 Annual Meeting Highlights

Latest Posts from @ASORResearch

asor_research

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


Over the past few months, ASOR has offered free tr
Over the past few months, ASOR has offered free training in its cultural heritage documentation curriculum to Syrian and Yemeni students and heritage professionals in collaboration with Syrians for Heritage (SIMAT) and Heritage for Peace. ASOR’s freely accessible curriculum aims to help cultural heritage specialists perform surveys and condition assessments through mostly open-source tools and software, including KoboToolbox, QGIS, LibreCAD, and Agisoft Metashape. Read more by clicking the link (https://buff.ly/Tvocl38) in our bio.
#CulturalHeritage #Syria #Yemen


Mark your calendars for our next webinar on Octobe
Mark your calendars for our next webinar on October 29 at 12:00pm ET: "Alexander the Great in Jerusalem: Myth and History", presented by Dr. Ory Amitay. The episode of Alexander’s visit to Jerusalem is familiar mostly through the story of Flavius Josephus—this version of the story dominates not only the public imagination but also scholarly discussion. Dr. Amitay’s recent book, Alexander the Great in Jerusalem: Myth and History, explores the four different versions of the Alexander in Jerusalem story and concludes that the story, in all its versions, cannot be regarded as history; it is a political myth. Tune in to the webinar to learn about the stories and the contexts of their creation. Click the link (https://buff.ly/GHbmf8a) in our bio to register.


Join ASOR's Early Career Scholars on Friday, Octob
Join ASOR's Early Career Scholars on Friday, October 17th from 12:00-1:15pm EDT via Zoom for a virtual Brown Bag workshop, "How to Get Involved in Archaeological Field Projects." Curious about how to join an archaeological dig or how to expand your field experience? Join us for a panel session featuring directors of field projects in Turkey, Cyprus, and Egypt, who will share firsthand insights into what fieldwork really looks like and how students at all levels can get involved. Click the link (https://buff.ly/hhAGoMp) in our bio to register!


While the ASOR Annual Meeting offers a robust acad
While the ASOR Annual Meeting offers a robust academic program, attendees joining us in Boston can also enjoy a range of special events. These include workshops, the Early Career Scholar reception, roundtables, and even free admission to the Museum of Fine Arts. The Museum of Fine Arts is offering complimentary general admission to Annual Meeting attendees from November 19–26, 2025. Simply show your ASOR name badge at the admissions desk for free entry. Some events require advance sign-up for registered participants. Click the link (https://buff.ly/6EuvOJO) in our bio for more information.


Friends of ASOR gathered in Chicago for a fantasti
Friends of ASOR gathered in Chicago for a fantastic two-day adventure through some of the city’s exceptional museums. Thirty participants enjoyed exclusive, behind-the-scenes access at @isac_uchicago's special exhibition Megiddo: A City Unearthed, A Past Imagined, curated by Kiersten Neumann. Later, Morag Kersel led a walking tour of Chicago’s monuments, offering fresh perspectives on the city’s public spaces. Day two brought a visit with @artinstitutechi curators Ashley Arico and Lisa Çakmak, who shared insights into how the Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Byzantine collections are curated. The trip concluded with an unforgettable afternoon at the @fieldmuseum, where Bill Parkinson treated the group to a behind-the-scenes look at the museum’s world-class anthropology collections. Read more by clicking the link (https://buff.ly/FmVOgIG) in our bio.


Remember to tune in TOMORROW (Oct. 8) at 7:00pm ET
Remember to tune in TOMORROW (Oct. 8) at 7:00pm ET for our next FOA webinar: "Readers of the Lost Ark: The Ark of the Covenant from Biblical Religion to Contemporary Culture" presented by Kevin McGeough with panelists Jennie Ebeling and Bill Caraher. Register now if you haven't: https://buff.ly/1oKIpSA


ASOR is accepting applications for the 2025 Studen
ASOR is accepting applications for the 2025 Student Paper Award (pictured is Nicole Constantine, winner of the 2024 award). The award is accompanied by a $500 prize—applications and recorded paper presentations are both due by November 5. Read more about eligibility and how to apply by clicking the link (https://buff.ly/NcjivIT) in our bio.


Biblical Archaeology Review is looking for a new A
Biblical Archaeology Review is looking for a new Assistant Editor! Biblical Archaeology Review is a quarterly archaeology magazine that acts as a bridge between the academic study of archaeology and a broad general audience eager to understand the world of the Bible better. See their job announcement for more details: https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/about-the-biblical-archaeology-society/employment/


The #ImageoftheWeek from this week’s ANE Today:
The #ImageoftheWeek from this week’s ANE Today: 12,000 year old rock art panel of life-sized camels discovered in the Nefed Desert, Saudi Arabia. Orthophoto with tracings digitally outlined in color. Image source: M. Guagnin et al. 2025 (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-63417-y). CC By 4.0. #Archaeology #RockArt #SaudiArabia


The Ark of the Covenant is an ancient biblical art
The Ark of the Covenant is an ancient biblical artifact that is easy for people to imagine. Because its function is ambiguous, there is a rich and diverse interpretive history of the object that is as old as the Bible itself. Read more in the newest ANE Today by Kevin McGeough by clicking the link (https://anetoday.org/imagining-the-ark/) in our bio.


ASOR is seeking a volunteer photographer to help c
ASOR is seeking a volunteer photographer to help capture our upcoming 2025 Annual Meeting at the Hilton Boston Park Plaza from November 19–22, 2025, including our 125th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday evening. This is an uncompensated position, but reimbursements and hotel nights are negotiable. Read more by clicking the link (https://buff.ly/aZQB5kS) in our bio. Applications due October 15th.


Gabrielle Puckett, a 2025 Eric and Carol Meyers Fi
Gabrielle Puckett, a 2025 Eric and Carol Meyers Fieldwork Scholarship Recipient, excavated at Makounta-Voules in Cyprus this summer. With a strong interest in zooarchaeology, Gabrielle shares her experience digging with views of the Mediterranean in the background. Read her report by clicking the link (https://buff.ly/2CSjLkn) in our bio.
#Fieldwork #Archaeology #Cyprus


Join Friends of ASOR on our very first archaeologi
Join Friends of ASOR on our very first archaeological tour of Cyprus! Experience exclusive, behind-the-scenes access as scholars, archaeologists, and museum curators personally guide you through a specially curated itinerary of sites and museums. The Early Bird rates are only till tomorrow, September 30. Read more about how to reserve your spot here: https://buff.ly/GHulteg
#Cyprus


The American Academy of Religion, Southeastern reg
The American Academy of Religion, Southeastern region, invites abstracts for its annual conference. With opportunity to participate in more than 20 units and 50 sessions, scholars and students of religious studies, theology, and biblical literature located in the southeast are encouraged to apply. There will be ASOR member-sponsored sessions on Field Reports and Related Scholarship, and Shifting Identities and the Archaeology of the Ancient World.
The Call for Papers deadline is October 1, 2025. Learn more at https://relse.org.


Join us for our next webinar on October 8 at 7:00p
Join us for our next webinar on October 8 at 7:00pm ET: "Readers of the Lost Ark: The Ark of the Covenant from Biblical Religion to Contemporary Culture" presented by Kevin McGeough with panelists Jennie Ebeling and Bill Caraher. Since the release of Raiders of the Lost Ark, the Ark of the Covenant has become one of, if not the most famous biblical “artifact,” despite the fact that scholars don’t agree on what might have happened to it or if it even really existed. Introducing his new book, Readers of the Lost Ark, Kevin will discuss how the Ark has been understood in different communities, from ancient Jewish and Christian commentators, through Medieval theologians, to modern ancient aliens theorists, misguided explorers, and Indiana Jones fan communities. Register for the free webinar by clicking the link (https://buff.ly/1oKIpSA) in our bio.


ASOR is pleased to announce, with support from the
ASOR is pleased to announce, with support from the American Institute for Roman Culture, the Cyrene Conservation Initiative—a 12-month conservation and heritage education project at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cyrene in eastern Libya. Developed in close collaboration with the Libyan Department of Antiquities, the Cyrene Conservation Initiative is a response to the impacts of Storm Daniel, which caused catastrophic flooding in September 2023. The project will focus on key areas of the ancient city that were particularly affected by the flood, including Valley Street and the Sanctuary of Apollo terrace, one of the most iconic districts in the city. Read more about the project by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/chi/updates/2025/09/cyrene-conservation-announcement) in our bio!
#Libya #Cyrene #Conservation


Remember to join us TOMORROW at 7:00 pm ET for our
Remember to join us TOMORROW at 7:00 pm ET for our next FOA webinar, "Visions of Antiquity: Paintings of Robert Duncanson and Sculptures of Edmonia Lewis", presented by Dr. Tasha Vorderstrasse. Click the link (https://buff.ly/2uKaM6u) in our bio to register if you haven't already! #foa #foawebinars #foatours


A 2025 ASOR Harris Grant helped launch the Craftin
A 2025 ASOR Harris Grant helped launch the Crafting Landscape Project (CraftLand) in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The project's objective is to investigate the use of natural resources and the organization of ceramic production in the Chamchamal region through archaeological survey, landscape analyses, and interviews with traditional potters. Read the project report from Dr. Claire Padovani by clicking the link (https://buff.ly/BAee9K1) in our bio.
📸 C. Padovani
#Fieldwork #Iraq


The #ObjectoftheWeek from this week's ANE Today: A
The #ObjectoftheWeek from this week's ANE Today: A faience figurine of the Egyptian dwarf god Pataikos was recently found in Perre, Türkiye (ancient region of Commagene), in a tomb context dating to ca. 75 BCE. Image Source: https://whyrwe.com/nieuws/2025/250902-1316.htm
#Archaeology #Egyptian #Turkiye


Through the ages, the Book of Esther has been one
Through the ages, the Book of Esther has been one of the most beloved biblical books across Jewish communities. Why has it been neglected by Christians? Read the newest ANE Today by Isaac Kalimi by clicking the link (https://anetoday.org/book-of-esther/) in our bio.
#Archaeology #Bible #BookofEsther



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