News and Notes

ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF AMERICA--NORTH ALABAMA SOCIETY

banner image: Moundville, Alabama

5.1.09

German battlefield yields Roman surprises



German battlefield yields Roman surprises - CNN.com

AIA TALK: January 20 City of the Grim Reaper

Dr. Paul Zimansky received his undergraduate degree in Classics at Johns Hopkins University and then did his PhD at the University of Chicago in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations. He has taught at UC Berkely and Boston University before his current position as Professor of Archaeology and Ancient History at SUNY Stony Brook, where his wife and frequent collaborator, Dr. Elizabeth Stone, is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology. Prior to the outbreak of the recent wars in Iraq, Dr. Zimansky participated in and led excavations at Nippur, Bastam, Tell Hamide, and Mashkan-shapir, which will be the site he presents to us. Mashkan-shapir is approximately 100 miles southeast of Baghdad and in its hey day was larger than the famed Sumerian city of Ur. Mashkan-shapir was dedicated to the deity Nergal, the Mesopotamian god of death, and its rulers were rivals of the famed Babylonian king, Hammurabi. Recent satellite and aerial photography reveals that this once thriving city that contained extensive, well-preserved and highly significant archaeological remains has been looted on an industrial scale.

"City of the Grim Reaper: Rediscovery and Demise at Mashkan-shapir, Iraq"
Chan Auditorium, 7:30 PM

1.1.09

Fall Benefit a Big Success!

Our recent benefit for next year’s lecture series held at the Lowe House in November was fun, informative, and successful. Approximately 60 members and friends of our organization enjoyed sampling Spanish and South American wines while perusing and then purchasing all of the items in our Silent Auction. We wound up our event with a fascinating and poignant talk by member Dr. Tom Sever who spoke about the parallels between the Maya and modern interventions in the environment. We raised $3400 to help bring speakers to Huntsville next year. Thank you so much! Lillian