Central Indiana Society of the Archaeological Institute of America

11/15/2023

Nov Book Club Reminder!!
Join the AIA-CIN in our first book club on Nov 16th at 7:30pm EST. We will engage in informal discussion with local author Sandy Hurt regarding her first book, Priestess of Pompeii, as well as her upcoming publications. See synopsis below. It is not required to read the book to attend the book club. The event will be held in the Ford Salon, located in Eidson-Duckwall Recital Hall at Butler University. The address is 4600 Sunset Ave. We will be offering a Zoom option. We hope to see you there!
A dream of her betrothed’s death and ensuing darkness serve as a catalyst to begin the initiate’s journey where sexual awakening mirrors spiritual illumination.
The book takes readers to healing sites in ancient Greece: Epidaurus, Ariadne’s Palace of Knossos on Crete, the Sanctuary of Apollo, and the Oracle of Delphi. Rufilla receives messages through dreams, Dionysian rituals, and mythological encounters as she struggles with her conflicting feelings over traditional marital duties and the desire to be completely free and independent.
Priestess of Pompeii is an epic, yet intimate portrayal of Rufilla’s world in ancient Pompeii and Greece. Mythology and history intertwine, like the inner and outer worlds of life. Whether on the pirate-infested seas, in the quiet of sacred sanctuaries, inside Julius Caesar’s politics, swept up in the bustling marketplaces, or in the throes of erotic rituals, Priestess of Pompeii is not only a book for time travelers, but is a portal into a woman’s coming of age through the lens of Jungian psychology.

11/01/2023

Join the AIA-CIN in our first book club! We will engage in informal discussion with local author Sandy Hurt regarding her first book, Priestess of Pompeii, as well as her upcoming publications. See synopsis below. It is not required to read the book to attend the book club. The event will be held in the Ford Salon, located in Eidson-Duckwall Recital Hall at Butler University. The address is 4600 Sunset Ave. We will be offering a Zoom option. We hope to see you there!

A dream of her betrothed’s death and ensuing darkness serve as a catalyst to begin the initiate’s journey where sexual awakening mirrors spiritual illumination.
The book takes readers to healing sites in ancient Greece: Epidaurus, Ariadne’s Palace of Knossos on Crete, the Sanctuary of Apollo, and the Oracle of Delphi. Rufilla receives messages through dreams, Dionysian rituals, and mythological encounters as she struggles with her conflicting feelings over traditional marital duties and the desire to be completely free and independent.
Priestess of Pompeii is an epic, yet intimate portrayal of Rufilla’s world in ancient Pompeii and Greece. Mythology and history intertwine, like the inner and outer worlds of life. Whether on the pirate-infested seas, in the quiet of sacred sanctuaries, inside Julius Caesar’s politics, swept up in the bustling marketplaces, or in the throes of erotic rituals, Priestess of Pompeii is not only a book for time travelers, but is a portal into a woman’s coming of age through the lens of Jungian psychology.

09/20/2023

September Guest Lecture Reminder!!
Join the AIA-CIN in hosting our September guest lecturer, Dr Yorke Rowan of the University of Chicago, on Sept 26th at 7:30pm! Dr Rowan will be presenting his work on Neolithic desert kites in the Middle East. The lecture will be held in Butler University's Jordan Hall, JH 141. The address is 4600 Sunset Ave, Indianapolis, IN. Flyer and abstract attached below.

Enigmatic features of the desert that caught the eye of early 20th century aviators, “desert kites” seemed to be the shape of a child’s kite. Widely recognized as vast chains of animal traps, these lines of rocks are clearly visible from the air but easily missed when walking across the landscape. Similar traps are known from Kazakhstan and Armenia to Saudi Arabia, but this lecture will focus on one of the main concentrations recognized in the Black Desert of Jordan. When were they built, how did they function, and what do they tell us about changes in the ways people adapted to change during the Neolithic?

09/05/2023

Join us in hosting Dr Yorke Rowan of the University of Chicago on Sept. 26th at 7:30pm! The lecture will be held in Butler University's Jordan Hall, RM 141. We hope to see you there!

Lecture Summary:
Enigmatic features of the desert that caught the eye of early 20th century aviators, “desert kites” seemed to be the shape of a child’s kite. Widely recognized as vast chains of animal traps, these lines of rocks are clearly visible from the air but easily missed when walking across the landscape. Similar traps are known from Kazakhstan and Armenia to Saudi Arabia, but this lecture will focus on one of the main concentrations recognized in the Black Desert of Jordan. When were they built, how did they function, and what do they tell us about changes in the ways people adapted to change during the Neolithic?

04/23/2023

April Guest Lecture Update!! Due to unforeseen circumstances, our April guest lecture has been canceled. We are so sorry for the short notice. Please stay tuned for new guest lectures in the upcoming school year!

04/11/2023

Join us in hosting Dr Irene Soto Marín of Harvard University at IUPUI's Lilly Auditorium, on Zoom or in person! April 25th, at 7:30pm. We hope to see you there!

Lecture Summary:
Although mostly recognized as the “breadbasket” of Rome among historians of the Graeco-Roman world, the economy of Roman Egypt was
diverse and robust and included more products than just grain. Egypt housed numerous established industries which were central for the
running of the empire, such as papyrus, rope, and texƟles, and as the southernmost point of the Empire, it connected Rome to sub-Saharan
Africa. Its Red Sea coast facilitated trade with the Arabian Peninsula and India, acƟng as a redistributor of luxury items and much sought-aŌer
spices, and its deserts contained large quarries of sand and limestone as well as more precious building materials such as porphyri and
granite. For all its resources, it is surprising how oŌen Egypt gets overlooked as a major economic center for the Roman Empire in major
scholarship on the ancient economy. Therefore, this lecture aims to bring Egypt at the front and center of the Roman economy by
invesƟgaƟng the global impact of its various industries and economies

02/08/2023

Pompeii Day 2023 is now hybrid! Lectures will be offered both in person and on Zoom.

Contact Society Contact Rosina Catalan ([email protected]) for the link to register.

02/04/2023

The AIA CIN is every excited to announce our first ever Pompeii Day, held at IU Bloomington on Feb 11th! We hope to see you there for a fun day of in person lectures!

04/21/2022

Happening Soon!!!!!!!

Lecture this month!

04/19/2022

Need a field school for this summer????

Looking for a field school this summer? We have you covered! Visit our website for more information or contact us at [email protected]! Limited spots available sign up today!