Call for Early Career Scholars Social Media Content Creator

Posted on December 23, 2025 by Regan Baker

Early Career Scholars: Call for Social Media Content Creator 2025-2026

The Early Career Scholars (ECS) Committee is seeking part-time Social Media Content Creators. This paid position offers the opportunity to engage closely with scholars working across disciplines represented by the larger ASOR community. The successful candidate(s) will assist the Community Building Subcommittee of ECS in creating content for the Early Career Scholars Highlight series. We encourage graduate students to apply for this position to gain experience working and networking with early career scholars.

The main responsibilities will be designing, writing content, and scheduling posts; reaching out to potential early career ASOR members about participation in the social media series; and maintaining and using content submitted through our Google submission form. The content creator will report directly to the ECS Community Building Subcommittee and will follow an agreed upon posting schedule.

Candidates should be adept at writing interesting and detailed social media captions to highlight the work and projects of our early career community. Candidates should also have time-management and organizational skills to follow consistent posting schedules. The candidate(s) should be proficient in using social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and Canva.

To apply, please submit your CV and a brief statement of interest (250 words max.) detailing your qualifications and motivations for the position. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us at earlycareerscholars@asor.org.

If you wish to be considered by the committee, please fill out the application form here. Review of applications will begin on December 1, 2025 and close on January 30, 2026. The position will run from March 2 to June 30, 2026.

Please fill out this online form if you are interested in being a Social Media Content Creator.

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Honors and Awards Committee Seeks New Members

Posted on December 22, 2025 by Moni Islam

Honors and Awards Committee Seeks New Members

The Honors and Awards Committeeseeks nominations to serve on the G. Ernest Wright Book Award sub-committee. ASOR invites nominations, including self-nominations, from ASOR members who are interested in being considered by the committee for these openings. Committee members will serve a three-year term with the possibility of two consecutive terms. Nominees must fill out the online form by January 30, 2026. The Honors and Awards Committee takes responsibility for determining the awardees for the three book awards, the field archaeology award, the “best poster” and “best student paper” awards, and the multiple membership service awards that ASOR gives annually; conducting the awards ceremony during the Members’ Meeting at the ASOR Annual Meeting; and discussing and advising the ASOR Board of Trustees about ASOR’s awards, including recommending to the Board the creation of new awards as deemed appropriate.

Three candidates are sought for the G. Ernest Wright Award sub-committee. This award is given to the author/editor of the most substantial volume(s) dealing with archaeological material, excavation reports and material culture from the ancient Near East and Eastern Mediterranean. This work must be the result of original research published within the past two years. (One award is given annually.) Candidates may also serve on the Joy Ungerleider Poster or Student Paper Award sub-committees.

Preference will be given to candidates who complement the research specialities of the existing committee members.

In order to receive full consideration by the committee the online form must be submitted by noon EST on January 30, 2026. For questions and concerns, please contact Moni Islam (info@asor.org).

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Fieldwork Report: Don’Neka Hayslett

Posted on December 19, 2025 by Marta Ostovich

Looking Beyond: Finding the New in the Old

Don’Neka Hayslett, 2025 ASOR Fieldwork Scholarship Recipient

On my first few days at the Cadir Höyük 2025 project, I was introduced to a tool I had never used before: the dumpy level. At its core, it is a simple instrument for measuring horizontal levels—a tripod, a level head, and a staff marked with precise centimeters. But the challenge wasn’t in the setup; it was in the seeing. When I first looked through the lens, I kept getting lost in the landscape. My eyes drifted toward the mound, the hills, even the horizon, when all I really needed to find was a tiny line on the staff. It was only after practicing that I realized the trick: I had to look beyond the distractions in order to focus on what mattered. The dumpy level trained me to see not just what was directly before me but the exact measurement that would help piece together the excavation.

That realization became a metaphor for both archaeology and life. Archaeology is the art of connecting fragments—small sherds, soil layers, or architectural features—into a larger story of how people once lived. Like the dumpy level, it requires looking beyond what you can immediately see to uncover the bigger picture. Each tiny detail is meaningful, but only when joined with others does the whole emerge.

This idea also echoed a sermon I once heard about John in the book of Revelation. Exiled to Patmos, John could have focused only on his suffering or the power of Rome around him. But instead, he looked beyond his circumstances to receive visions of Christ and the churches. In doing so, he pieced together a larger truth: that God’s kingdom stood above earthly kingdoms, and that the faithful were called to live not by what was seen but by what was true.

My pastor also preached a sermon about a woman, described in Revelation as “Jezebel,” who lured people into sin. Many in that Roman city depended on her approval—or on society’s approval, to keep their businesses and livelihoods. Because the city was steeped in pagan worship with many gods, Christians were pressured into compromise. Their choice was stark: pursue wealth by following her influence, or trust God to provide. It’s unlikely that the woman’s actual name was Jezebel; rather, Jesus used the name to highlight her behavior, much like the Old Testament Jezebel who led Israel astray, claiming her words were from God. In the same way, false teaching must always be tested against Scripture. Every message should be weighed carefully, studied, and confirmed by the Word. It reminds me of using a dumpy level. You can either glance at the staff and guess your alignment, or you can use the notches to measure precisely. One way looks convincing, but the other ensures accuracy. Likewise, we must align every teaching with God’s Word rather than relying on appearances.

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Fieldwork Report: Yishu Deng

Posted on December 18, 2025 by Marta Ostovich

How Archaeology Bridges the Past and Present

Yishu Deng, 2025 Eric and Carol Meyers Fieldwork Participation Scholarship Recipient

After completing my MPhil in Archaeology degree at the University of Cambridge, I had the privilege of joining the excavation team at Kani Shaie in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq for the second consecutive year. The project is directed by my MPhil supervisor, Dr. Steve Renette, and offers a great opportunity to engage directly with ongoing archaeological research in the Near East. Fieldwork abroad is financially challenging. I was deeply honored to receive the generous support of and Eric and Carol Meyers Fieldwork Participation Scholarships through ASOR, which enabled me to continue pursuing my passion and advancing my career in archaeology.

The Kani Shaie Archaeological Project is a unique chance for my academic development. My primary research interest lies in metal production at military sites, and although Kani Shaie is modest in size, it has yielded consistent evidence of metallurgical activity across multiple seasons. A notable quantity of metal slag was found, as well as an assortment of iron artifacts, including arrowheads, blades, and other tools. This season was particularly exciting: in the Lower Town trench, we found a small crucible in situ, embedded in the middle of a firepit. Looking at it in its place of function and imagining its ancient use was profoundly inspiring.

Another remarkable object excavated this year was a complete iron hook found inside a tanoor (traditional clay oven), which further ignited my curiosity. It is exceptionally well preserved and was also found in the place where it was used to stoke the fire or remove ashes. These simple yet powerful finds vividly evoked scenes of daily life from thousands of years ago.

In addition to metal objects, Kani Shaie has revealed a wide range of artifacts: all types of pottery, seals, sealings, figurines, spindle whorls, etc., suggesting that the site possibly served administrative, domestic, and military functions. Mapping the distribution of metal working features in relation to other potential activity areas across the site may help us understand where and how metal production occurred, and how this industrial activity related to the broader organization of the settlement. Scientific analysis of the metal artifacts may provide further insight into production techniques and the provenance of raw materials. All such studies can be interesting future research projects.

Another compelling aspect of Kani Shaie is its long history of human activities, spanning from around 6000 BCE to the Ottoman period. This long temporal sequence offers a unique opportunity to study how a site evolves through time—how it was used, reused, and transformed, as well as how excavation can be best carried out to uncover this entangled history. It is our responsibility as archaeologists to discern both the changes and the continuities in these long-lived spaces. This season, I learned a great deal not only about excavation methodology but also about how the present-day lives of people in the region can inform us in archaeological studies.

One particularly memorable discovery came from the potentially late Parthian to early Sassanian level in the Lower Town trench, where we uncovered five tanoors, including the one where the hook was found. The place was likely a communal cooking area. The tanoor that contained the hook was connected at the back to a raised platform made of large stones. Steve suggested that the platform may have been supporting the tanoor. Under his guidance, we left the stones in situ and carefully excavated and sectioned the exposed half of the tanoor. What followed was an unexpected revelation: the tanoor contained a remarkably well-preserved stratigraphy. The upper layers consisted of ash in varying colors, while the lower layers comprised medium-sized stones. Beneath these stones, we found the complete iron hook. Finally, there was a grey layer of ash on the bottom of the tanoor, under the iron hook.

What made this find even more meaningful was the connection to present-day practices. Local team members told me that they still have similar tanoors in their homes for baking bread. After my fervent request, Mr. Zana Abdulkareem Qader kindly took me to see one at our neighbor’s house. It was strikingly similar to the ones we had excavated. There was even a similar iron hook hanging on the wall. Moreover, the tanoor was installed inside a stone-cement platform, which supported the tanoor just like the stones that we found. This type of installation is called sart-tanoor, as Zana explained. The next day at the site, I sat on the stone platform beside the excavated structure and imitated the motions of making bread using the tanoor. The height and layout felt just right.

For someone like me—raised in a modern city in a different country—it had always been difficult to visualize how such installations functioned in the past. Seeing these traditions alive in the present helped me connect the dots. It was a powerful reminder of how cultural practices endure over time, and how archaeology can bridge the past and present.

The precious experience at Kani Shaie this season would not have been possible for me without the generous support of ASOR and Profs. Eric and Carol Meyers. Their scholarship significantly alleviated the financial burden of travel and living expenses, for which I would like to express my gratitude once more. I am also grateful to my supervisor Dr. Steve Renette and the project’s co-directors André Tomé and Dr. Michael Lewis. Special thanks to Mr. Zana Abdulkareem Qader for his kindness and generosity, and to other local colleagues for their hard work and friendliness. I also learned so much from other students. This season has been invaluable, and I go forward with both knowledge and gratitude.

My name is Yishu Deng, and I’m originally from Beijing, China. My current research focuses on metallurgy and military fortifications in the Ancient Near East, with a particular emphasis on the Sasanian period.

The Kani Shaie Archaeological Project Instagram page: @kani_shaie_arch_project

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!

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ASOR and Libyan Department of Antiquities Sign Memorandum of Understanding for Cultural Heritage Conservation

Posted on December 12, 2025 by Darren Ashby

ASOR and Libyan Department of Antiquities Sign Memorandum of Understanding for Cultural Heritage Conservation

The American Society of Overseas Research (ASOR) is pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Libyan Department of Antiquities (DoA) for the protection, preservation, and promotion of Libyan history and heritage. This MOU formalizes more than a decade of cooperation between ASOR and DoA in Libya.

Through the framework of the MOU, ASOR and DoA will continue to work together on conservation and heritage education projects in Libya, expand the technical capacities of DoA’s employees, and strengthen relationships between Libyan heritage professionals and the global community.

This agreement builds upon collaborative work by ASOR since 2015 in the fields of history, archaeology, cultural heritage, and cultural property protection in Libya. Among its diverse work during this time, ASOR has supported (among others) the following activities and programs:

Through this Memorandum of Understanding, ASOR and DoA will expand their shared commitment to the conservation of Libya’s heritage for present and future generations. Their recently announced partnership to address damage caused by Storm Daniel to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cyrene represents a new step in this collaboration by expanding the cooperation beyond anti-trafficking and education programs to include the stabilization and restoration of built heritage.

ASOR and DOA signed the MOU at the culmination of the four-day U.S.–Libya Cultural Heritage Protection Workshop in Tunis that focused on building legal and prosecutorial capacity in Libya in order to counter the multi-faceted problem of illicit antiquities trafficking. To that end, the workshop brought together Libyan and American legal, law enforcement, and heritage professionals. The workshop strengthened their cooperation in supporting the current U.S.-Libya Cultural Property Agreement, through which Libya and the United States are working together to advance efforts to protect heritage sites and combat cultural property trafficking.

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Spring Internships at ASOR

Posted on December 11, 2025 by Rachel Bernstein

SPRING INTERNSHIPS AT ASOR

ASOR seeks candidates for part-time internship positions to begin around mid-January. These paid internships are for the spring semester (January-May) with the possibility of renewal for the summer and/or fall semester. Interns are expected to work 10–15 hours per week at ASOR’s headquarters—The James F. Strange Center, 209 Commerce St., in historic Old Town Alexandria, VA. Hours and schedule are flexible depending on school or other commitments.

For 125 years, ASOR has been a flagship for archaeology, history, and cultural heritage in the Middle East and wider Mediterranean, supporting professional standards for excavations, research, peer review, and conduct. ASOR has a unique ability to bring together scholars from archaeology, history, science and other fields to protect and study cultural heritage and share its importance with the public especially as so many sites are being threatened or destroyed. Please visit www.asor.org for more information.

Primary Responsibilities:

Maintain high-quality customer service for ASOR’s members and friends
Assist with the maintenance of ASOR’s website
Provide general office support (e.g., scanning, copying, ordering supplies, and processing mail, orders, and bills)
Assist with membership and donation mailings
Assist with managing ASOR’s social media platforms
Perform other office duties as assigned

Qualifications / Skills Desired:

General office skills
Customer service
Microsoft Office
Database management
Familiarity with social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X/Twitter)
Graphic and image design and editing (Adobe Photoshop, Canva, etc.)
Website management (WordPress or similar)
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Attention to detail; ability to multitask and to prioritize

Compensation: $15/hour for undergraduate interns, $20/hour for graduate interns.

How To Apply: E-mail your resume and a brief statement of interest to Marta Ostovich at programs@asor.org. Please include your name and “ASOR Spring Internship” in the subject line.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the positions are filled.

ASOR is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, gender, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or any other class protected by federal or state law (EEO/AA).

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Fieldwork Report: Kearyn Hall

Posted on December 9, 2025 by Marta Ostovich

Disturbance and Discovery: Learning from Looting at Humayma

Kearyn Hall, 2025 Harva L. Sheeler Fieldwork Scholarship Recipient

The 2025 field school began in Amman, the capital of Jordan, where our first week was devoted to lab-based training. Under the guidance of our instructors, we handled ceramics, practiced drawing profiles, reconstructed fragments, and grew accustomed to the meticulous process of cataloging. This initial week was invaluable; it allowed us to encounter the material record in a controlled environment before confronting its fragmentary and often damaged reality in the field. By the time we left Amman, I carried with me not only a set of practical skills but also a growing awareness of how even small sherds and fragments could speak volumes when studied carefully.

Travelling south to Humayma shifted our focus dramatically. The site itself lies in an austere yet striking landscape of desert plains framed by sandstone ridges. At first glance, it appears modest compared to monumental Nabataean or Roman centers, yet its significance lies precisely in its layered history. Established as a Nabataean settlement, later transformed by the presence of a Roman fort, and subsequently home to Byzantine churches and early Islamic occupation, Humayma presents a unique cross-section of centuries of cultural, religious, and social change. Standing within its ruins, one could trace how different communities shaped the same terrain, leaving behind traces that are at once fragile and enduring.

Life at Humayma quickly settled into a rhythm. Early mornings were spent in the field, where small teams divided their efforts among photogrammetry, architectural recording, survey, and midden documentation. Some days were devoted to tracing architectural features with RTK mapping, others to carefully noting the distribution of ceramics within middens. Afternoons were often spent reviewing notes, comparing interpretations, and discussing questions raised by the day’s work. Evenings, though quieter, were filled with writing, preparation, and the informal but equally important conversations that come with living and learning in close quarters.

Among the many tasks we undertook, the reality of looting stood out most starkly. It was impossible to ignore; it was everywhere. Some disturbances were recent, the scars from metal detectors fresh in the soil. Graves had been torn open, leaving human remains displaced, stripped of the context that would have allowed us to understand their original placement and significance. In another area, a marble platform had been ripped apart, apparently under the assumption that it concealed valuables. In truth, it was nothing more than a built surface, its destruction a senseless erasure of evidence. These episodes made clear how devastating looting is, not only for material culture but for the fragile stories of lives once lived.

Looting also shaped our daily practice. It was evident that looters were aware of our presence, and we were advised not to linger in any single area for too long. This necessity forced us to adapt; recording and documentation were carried out with a heightened sense of urgency, trying to get everything done at once so we didn’t have to worry about it still being there tomorrow to document. It was a sobering reminder that the work of archaeology does not unfold in isolation, but in a living landscape where the past and present are in constant negotiation.

For me, the most difficult moments were those involving disturbed human remains. Confronting looted graves was unsettling; faced with the incivility of leaving someone once buried to wither away on the surface, at first, I questioned whether I was truly suited to pursue bioarchaeology. Yet when I was able to contribute to the documentation of these remains, I realized how meaningful it was simply to approach them with care and respect. That experience did not erase the destruction I witnessed, but it gave me a sense of purpose in responding to it. It reminded me that archaeology is not only about recovering knowledge, but also about honouring the people and cultures whose traces we encounter.

I am deeply grateful to ASOR and to the Sheelers for supporting my participation in this project. This opportunity not only allowed me to gain invaluable field experience, but also helped me realize that I have found something I truly love to do. Thank you for supporting my dream and helping me take these first steps toward a career in archaeology.

Kearyn is in her final year of her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Classics at the University of Alberta. She is currently applying to Master’s programs with a focus on Osteoarchaeology.

Learn more about this project here.

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2025 Dana Grant Report: Erbil Plain Archaeological Survey

Posted on December 4, 2025 by Marta Ostovich

2025 Dana Grant Report: Developing an Accessible Digital Ceramic Typology for the Erbil Plain Archaeological Survey (EPAS)

Elise Laugier, Utah State University

In recent years, urban expansion and agricultural intensification have placed increasing pressure on the region’s archaeological sites and cultural landscapes. Rapid documentation and accurate dating of surface materials have become critical for protecting the region’s cultural heritage. The EPAS ceramic typology, long used internally by the project, offers a standardized system for identifying pottery across 21 chronological phases (from the Proto-Hassuna to the Islamic periods) but has not yet been widely available.

Our goal in the last two seasons has been to expand access to EPAS’s ceramic typology by developing a bilingual, image-rich digital platform, an app that will allow archaeologists and heritage professionals to quickly identify pottery and date sites in the field. The app, accessible on both desktop and mobile devices, integrates detailed ceramic descriptions, diagnostic criteria, and color images, and will soon include both English and Kurdish. Once finalized, this accessible resource will provide students, archaeologists, and heritage officials in Iraq with a standardized system for ceramic classification, ensuring consistent documentation of sites across the Erbil Plain and adjacent regions.

With support from ASOR’s Stevan B. Dana Grant, our 2025 season focused on expanding and completing the image database that underpins this typology. Working at the Museum at Erbil Directorate of Antiquities, the team processed and added dozens of images from early phases (Proto-Hassuna through Ninevite 5) to the existing ArcGIS Online mobile application. We also photographed hundreds of additional sherds representing later periods (Mid-Late 3rd Millennium through Islamic), creating a database of over 2,500 high-resolution images. Together, these materials form the foundation of the first comprehensive digital typology for the Erbil Plain.

This project supports local capacity building and collaboration with Kurdish heritage professionals, ensuring that vital archaeological expertise is shared widely and sustainably. By transforming years of specialized field research into an open, bilingual reference, the project contributes to both heritage preservation and digital innovation in Mesopotamian archaeology.

We thank ASOR and the Stevan B. Dana Grant for its generous support in helping us transform a decade of research into a shared resource for the archaeological and heritage communities of the Erbil Plain and beyond.

Learn more about the project on their website or follow the project on Facebook.

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2025 ASOR Honors & Awards

Posted on December 4, 2025 by Marta Ostovich

2025 ASOR HONORS & AWARDS

Each year at the Annual Meeting, ASOR recognizes individuals who have performed outstanding service for the organization, those who have published exceptional academic work, and those who made significant contributions to our field. The following award recipients were honored at the 2025 Annual Meeting in Boston and during the Members’ Meeting on November 21st. Awards were presented by Lynn Welton, co-chair of ASOR’s Honors and Awards Committee.

The Richard J. Scheuer Medal. This award honors an individual who has provided truly outstanding, long-term support and service contributions to ASOR (this medal is awarded when such an individual is identified).

Awarded to Sharon Herbert, for her exceptional contributions and guidance during her two terms as both Vice President and President of ASOR.

The Charles U. Harris Service Award. This award is given in recognition of long-term and/or special service as an ASOR officer or Trustee (one award is given annually).

Awarded to Charles E. Jones, Tombros Librarian for Classics and Humanities at Pennsylvania State University, for his time as ASOR Vice President from 2020-2025, most prominently his work with the Chairs Coordinating Council (CCC).

The P. E. MacAllister Field Archaeology Award. This award honors an archaeologist who, during his/her/their career, has made outstanding contributions to ancient Near Eastern and eastern Mediterranean archaeology (one award is given annually).

Awarded to Yorke Rowan, Research Professor, Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures at the University of Chicago, for his impactful contributions to the archaeology of Eastern Badia, Wadi al-Qattafi, and major Chalcolithic sites.

Community Engagement and Public Outreach Award. This award recognizes individuals, teams, and organizations who have initiated outstanding educational, informational, or practical projects (including but not limited to classes, programs, exhibits, resources, events, and platforms) with the goal of making subjects and information about the ancient world accessible to wider (particularly non-academic) audiences.

Awarded to Chad Spigel (Trinity University) and Paul Flesher (University of Wyoming), for their development of the website for the Duke University Galilee Database, which makes publicly available all of the original field records for the 1970-1981 excavations of four synagogues of Upper Galilee: Meiron, Gush Halav, Khirbet Shema, and Nabratein. The database provides a searchable presentation of all field notes: from locus sheets and top plans to pottery readings and object lists, from daily notes to weekly and end-of-season reports.

ASOR Membership Service Award. This award recognizes individuals who have made special contributions on behalf of the ASOR membership, through committee, editorial, or office services.

Awarded to: Theodore W. Burgh, Professor, University of North Carolina Wilmington, has been an exemplary leader for ASOR’s Membership and Outreach Committee during his two terms as its chair, from 2020 through 2025.

Awarded to Allison Thomason, Professor, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, for her work as Co-Chair of the Program Committee for the last six years and compassionate approach to her service to ASOR.

Awarded to Vanessa Workman, University of Pennsylvania, who has served on the Early Career Scholars (ECS) Committee since 2017 and became its Co-Chair in 2023.

The W. F. Albright Service Award. This award honors an individual who has shown special support or made outstanding service contributions to one of the overseas centers (AIAR, CAARI), or to one of the overseas committees – the Baghdad Committee and the Damascus Committee. This award is given when such an individual is identified.

Awarded to Matthew J. Adams, Director of the Center for the Mediterranean World, who served as Director of the W. F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research from 2014 to 2022, revitalizing its facilities, programs, finances, and global reach.

The G. Ernest Wright Award. This award is given to the editor/author of the most substantial volume(s) dealing with archaeological material, excavation reports and material culture from the ancient Near East and eastern Mediterranean. This work must be the result of original research published within the past two years (one award is given annually).

Awarded to Kevin D. Fisher, Associate Professor of Eastern Mediterranean Archaeology, University of British Columbia, for his substantial contribution to the archaeology of Cyprus in Monumentality, Place-Making and Social Interaction on Late Bronze Age Cyprus (Equinox Publishing).

The Frank Moore Cross Award. This award is presented to the author/editor of the most substantial volume(s) related to the history and/or religion of the ancient Near East and Eastern Mediterranean. Primary consideration will be given to historical, epigraphic, textual, and comparative literary studies; or to works that advance and/or evaluate new methodological approaches to the literary record(s). This work must be the result of original research published during the past two years (one award is given annually).

Awarded to Tiffany Earley-Spadoni, Associate Professor, University of Central Florida, for the novel analysis of Urartu as a decentralized non-urban empire with a political organization constructed around a dispersed fortified regional network in Landscapes of Warfare: Urartu and Assyria in the Ancient Middle East (University Press of Colorado).

The Nancy Lapp Popular Book Award. This award is presented to the author/editor of a book published in the last two years that offers a new synthesis of archaeological or textual evidence intended to reach an audience of scholars as well as students and the broader public (one award is given annually).

Awarded to Tate Paulette, Associate Professor at North Carolina State University, for In the Land of Ninkasi: A History of Beer in Ancient Mesopotamia (Oxford University Press), which synthesizes the long and colorful history of Mesopotamian beer.

The Joy Ungerleider Poster Award. This award is conferred upon the author(s) of the poster presenting the results of a study about ancient Near Eastern societies in a clear, legible fashion using original graphic content. Subject matter may be based in archaeological sciences, history, anthropology, epigraphy, ethnography, heritage or other scholarly approaches to understanding ancient people in the areas covered by ASOR (one award is given annually).

Awarded to Defne Bilgili, Johns Hopkins University, for the poster: “Preservation and Public Engagement at Tell Atchana, Alalakh: A Digital Reconstruction of the Middle Bronze Age Gate Complex.”

Student Paper Award. This award is conferred upon the author(s) of a paper presented during the Annual Meeting that conveys the results of a study about ancient Near Eastern and wider Mediterranean societies in a clear, understandable, and convincing fashion. The first author and presenter of the paper must be a registered student at the time of presentation in order to be eligible for consideration for this award.

Awarded to Aaren (Zhengfang) Zhou, New York University, for her paper “Cooking Pots and Negotiating Identity: Material Culture and Adaptive Agency During the Egyptian Occupation of Beth She’an.”

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Silent Auction at ASOR’s 125th Anniversary Celebration

Posted on October 31, 2025 by Regan Baker

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Silent Auction at ASOR’s 125th Anniversary Celebration

[/vc_column_text][mk_divider][vc_column_text]ASOR is gearing up for our 125th Anniversary Celebration at this year’s Annual Meeting in Boston on Saturday, November 22nd, and we can’t wait to see you there! A silent auction will be held as part of the festivities, and this is your chance to make a unique contribution to this very special milestone.

All proceeds from the silent auction will go towards Membership and Annual Meeting Scholarships. ASOR has already awarded over $15,000 in scholarship funds this year and we need your help to make sure we can continue to support those members of our ASOR community with financial need.

Not able to make it to the celebration Boston this November? ASOR will be hosting the auction on-line through December 31, so that you can still bid on these one-of-a-kind items and experiences.

Auction items can include:

Autographed books
A virtual lecture
Private lunch or dinner
VIP tour of a site
Special access to or a personal tour of a museum
Artwork
Hands-on or virtual training in a particular skill or method
Translation services
Editorial services
Or anything you can think of!

Do you have a great idea for an auction item? Fill out this brief Google form to make your mark on the festivities.

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