School of Historical Studies Centre for Classics & Archaeology

2008 news archive

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Awards for Classics & Archaeology students

17 March 2008

Congratulations to Classics and Archaeology students, Nicholas French, Edward Smith and Damjan Krsmanovic. Nicholas won the first prize in Latin Translation, Edward the first prize in Greek Translation, and Damjan a ‘Highly Commended’ certificate in Greek Translation in the inaugural competition administered by ASCS (the Australasian Society for Classical Studies).


New Archaeology Fieldwork Opportunity in Israel:
In the wake of the Sea Peoples/In the footsteps of Goliath

04 March 2008

Over the last several years, Classics & Archaeology Senior Lecturer, Louise Hitchcock has been exploring a range of fieldwork projects that will provide on-site archaeological training for School of Historical Studies students - not only students who are involved in Aegean archaeology, but also those with interests in history, Classics, Jewish Studies, and Biblical Studies and would like to learn more about material culture and archaeology of the Philistines. Students at all levels of undergraduate and post-graduate research as well as staff are welcome to join the project as volunteers and receive training in archaeological field work, artifact processing, and attend lectures and go on fieldtrips in Israel.

In 2007, the Centre for Classics & Archaeology became involved in a 3rd collaborative project with Bar Ilan University: The Philistine site of Tell es-Safi, ancient Gath, the largest city of the Philistine Pentapolis is believed to have been founded by Cypriot and Mycenaean refugees, disenfranchised groups among the Sea Peoples contingent causing destruction in the Mediterranean at the end of the Bronze Age.

Volunteers can choose to work ffor 2, 3 or 4 weeks and are housed at the Kibbutz Revadim. If you would like to participate in the forthcoming season from July 6-Aug 1 and work with a large ethnically and culturally diverse international team, please contact Louise Hitchcock lahi@unimelb.edu.au.


New Archaeology Fieldwork Projects in Georgia and Turkey

18 February 2008

Since the closure of excavations at Sos Höyük in eastern Turkey, Classics & Archaeology Acting Director, Professor Antonio Sagona, has been preparing the way for a new fieldwork project that will provide on-site training for the Centre's students - not only students who are involved in archaeology, but also those whose interests are more text-based and would like to learn more about material culture and archaeology.

Starting in 2008, the Centre for Classics & Archaeology will be involved in two new collaborative projects overseas:

1. One is with the National Museum of Georgia (Caucasus) at Samtavro, a large Late Bronze Age-Iron Age (c. 1500-700 BC) cemetery site.

2. The other is at the significant Neolithic site of Ulucak near Izmir in western Turkey.

If you would like to learn more about forthcoming fieldwork opportunities - these projects were designed largely to provide benefits to the Centre's postgraduate cohort - please attend a briefing session on Thursday 28th February in Old Engineering Theatre A1 at 1:00pm.


Spencer-Pappas Trust scholarships

18 February 2008

A generous bequest from the Spencer-Pappas Trust has made it possible to offer a number of travel and publication grants in the broad field of the ancient Near East. Dr Gertrude Spencer (MA 1992) had a deep and abiding interest in the ancient Near East. Her generous bequest to The University of Melbourne included a considerable collection of books that are now housed in the Centre for Classics and Archaeology, and the establishment of financial support studying languages, archaeology, and cultures of the Near East.

Applications due Thursday 20th March 2008.

Further information and application guidelines

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