Aldrete chosen as ‘National Lecturer’ in archaeology

Historian and classicist Gregory S. Aldrete, professor of Humanistic Studies, has been chosen one of two Joukowsky National Lecturers for the 2014-15 academic year by the Archaeological Institute of America (the professional association of archaeologists). At various times over the next year, the AIA will send Aldrete around the country to deliver at least 14 public lectures in cities including Los Angeles, Orlando, Cincinnati, San Diego, Cleveland, Portland, Indianapolis, Tampa Bay, Ithaca, Iowa City, and Minneapolis. His topics will include “Hammers, Axes, Bulls, and Blood: Practical Aspects of Roman Animal Sacrifice,” “Floods of the Tiber in Ancient Rome: The Eternal City Goes Under,” and “Reconstructing and Testing Ancient Linen Body Armor: The Linothorax Project.” Aldrete calls the selection a major honor — the award criteria specifies that lecturers must be “distinguished archaeologists.” The AIA lecture series, part of the association’s larger outreach efforts, often draw large crowds of both professional archaeologists, classicists and historians as well as members of the general public.