President’s Report to ASOR Members

July 7, 2026

Dear ASOR Friends,

As we move into the summer months with time for our excavations, research and relaxation, I wanted to bring you some updates on what is going on, as our committees have been hard at work.

The Taskforce on the Revision of the Code of Professional Conduct has paused its meetings for the summer. As a reminder, the Code was last approved by the Board in 2015 and amended in 2019. Since then, it has become clear that we need to provide clearer guidance to committees and our membership on complicated issues, in a manner that would be consistent with our new Strategic Plan and our Values Statement. The Taskforce, which is comprised of researchers from various areas where we work and have overseas members, have discussed a rough draft of two sections of the current Code: III.A Education and III.B Stewardship. Some of the work was reorganizing these sections of the document, some was trying to move to more positive language about what ASOR members should and could do to fulfill the Strategic Plan, especially “ASOR’s place in the world”, by supporting high-quality academic research, cultivating partnerships in our educational and outreach efforts and in our combined efforts to protect cultural heritage. As the Taskforce discussed section III.B Stewardship, we took our first pass at discussing the complex issues of how we should approach site protection, artifact storage and data management; how we study archaeological heritage and cultural heritage especially in areas of open conflict; and how we respond to the problem of looting. It is very clear that our discussions need to be grounded in the knowledge of current international law and conventions, so that will be the focus of our first fall meeting(s). But it is also very clear that the process of updating the Code will need time, thought, and lots of discussion, which I hope you will join.

In case you haven’t heard, ASOR’s Committee on Archaeological Policies (CAP) was able to award $128,000 – thanks to generous donors from our membership – to 46 people who applied for excavation scholarships, project grants or research fellowships. We understand in the era of rising airline costs that these scholarships are important means of augmenting other research funds. Please reflect on whether you are able to help, especially younger scholars who need ASOR’s support!

The awardees will be working in a variety of areas of ASOR’s remit: Iraq, Greece, Tunisia, Egypt, Spain, Cyprus, Türkiye, Kurdistan, Jordan, Armenia, and Chicago and Philadelphia (on legacy records), as well as to ASOR-affiliated excavations.

Judging from the preliminary schedule of the 2026 Annual Meeting developed by the Program Committee, there will be a panel for your interests, whether you are a teacher of K-12 or in higher ed; interested in cultural heritage issues; interested in new technologies (I am looking forward to “How to Prepare for when Disaster Strikes”); or if you want to catch up on the latest research in the Bronze Age, Iron Age, different materials, or various regions where ASOR members excavate and research – this is just a meager mention of the riches that will be available in Chicago, or if you prefer, online. I will be working with the Program Committee to set aside a time and place for an informal place for you, ASOR’s officers and other interested Board members to meet and talk. I hope you can stop by!

A number of members and friends of ASOR just came back from a trip to Cyprus, where we were treated to site visits led by directors of ASOR-sponsored excavations. These visits were a real highlight of the tour, culminating in a delightful dinner at CAARI, hosted by Lindy Crewe, where we got to relax and spend time talking with CAARI staff, fellows and our archaeologist friends working in Cyprus.

With best wishes,

Jane DeRose Evans
President