Archaeology Magazine - April 1971 - 69

ARCHAEOLOGICAL

AIA General Meeting, 1970: Resolution on the Plundering of Sites
More than 1600 archaeologists and legitimateexport, import and exchange
philologistsregistered at the seventy- of archaeologicalmaterialsand antiquisecond general meeting of the ties. The Archaeological Institute of
ARCHAEOLOGICAL
INSTITUTE
OF AMER- America applauds the efforts of local
ICAand the AmericanPhilologicalAsso- authorities, both in the United States
ciation held in New York City at the and abroad, to prevent the despoliation
CommodoreHotel December28-30.On of archaeologicalsites and the illicit
the afternoonof December30 the Coun- export and import of antiquities and
cil of the AIA convenedand discussed archaeological materials, and pledges
at length the problemsof illegalexcava- its support in such efforts."
December28-30 were filled with five
tion and export of antiquities which is
causingthe destructionof manyarchaeo- open sessionsdevoted to the reading
logical sites. To help in correcting this of ninety-twopapers and excavationredeplorablesituation,the counciladopted ports, many of which will appear in
abstract form in aja. Four of these
the followingresolution:
"The AIA condemnsthe destruction sessions had two concurrent sections,
of the material and historicalrecords of thus accommodatingthe large number
the past by the plundering of archaeo- of papers. In addition, there were
logical sites both in the United States meetingsof various committees,school
and abroad and by the illicit export and councils and special groups, including
the American Society of Papyrologists,
import of antiquities.
"The AIA supports wholeheartedly where three additional papers were
the Unesco Draft Convention on the read, the newly founded Petronian SoMeans of Prohibiting and Preventing ciety,devoted to the study of Petronius'
the Illicit Import, Export and Trans- work and the Association for Field
fer of Ownershipof Cultural Property, Archaeology,which issued the followand urges ratificationof the Draft Con- ing statement of purpose: "The afa
vention by the United States Govern- is devoted to the promotion of the
ment at the earliest practicable interests of field archaeologyand the
moment. It further urges its members, field archaeologist. Its purpose is to
individuallyand through the local so- serve as an instrument for the discuscieties of the Institute, to make their ion of and action concerning the resupport of the Draft Convention felt covery, restoration and primary interby communicationsto the appropriate pretation of excavation material and
the protection of antiquities. The afa
Governmentalauthorities.
"The AIA calls upon its members,as will draw its membership primarily
well as educational institutions (universitiesand museums) in the United
States and Canada, to refrain from
purchasing and accepting donations of Obituary: Nelson Glueck dies
antiquities exported from their coun- With deep regret we announce the
tries of origin in contravention to the death of Dr. Nelson Glueck, eminent
terms of the Unesco Draft Conven- Biblical archaeologistand president of
Hebrew Union College- Jewish Instition.
"The AIA urges that, in accordance tute of Religion, on Feb. 12, 1971 of
with the provisions of the Unesco cancer at Holmes Hospital, Cincinnati,
Draft Convention,concerned countries Ohio. Dr. Glueck was 70 years old.
take practical steps to facilitate the Throughout his long career, he discov-

NEWS

from those engaged actively in Excavation, in the developmentand study
of field techniques,and in the publication of primary reports of excavation
results."
During the eveningof December28,
MalcolmMcGregordeliveredthe presidential address at the Metropolitan
Museumof Art, wheremembersof both
societieswere invited to view the current exhibition.Masterpieces Of Fifty
Centuries, and attend a reception.Receptionswere also held on December29
at the Institute of Fine Arts and at
ColumbiaUniversitywherea finedisplay
ol Greek Papyri and Greek and Latin
inscriptions,manuscriptsand earlyprinted bookshad been especiallyset up for
this occasionin the Rotunda of the Low
MemorialLibrary.
At the traditional joint annual banquet, held on the eveningof December
29, Rodney S. Young, Presidentof the
AIA, greeted both societies and presented the sixth annual award for Distinguished ArchaeologicalAchievement
in the form of a gold medal to George
E. Mylonas,an Honorary President of
the AIA. The citation and Professor
Mylonas' gracious acceptance appear
on page 100 of this issue. Professor
Mylonas also delivered the evening's
address entitled "The Rise and Fall
of Mycenae."
The 1971 general meeting is scheduled to take place in Cincinnati.

ered more than 500 ancient sites in the
Negev and over 1000 in Transjordan,
the most famousof which is the site of
copper minesworkedduring the time of
King Solomon,at Khirbet Nabis. In his
explorations he often used the Old
Testamentas his guide and thus proved
the great historical accuracy of that
document.
165
Archaeology Magazine - April 1971

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