“Hot Pots, Museum Raids, and the Race to Uncover Asia’s Archaeological Past”
A Special Address by Dr. Joyce C. White highlighting Asian archaeology at the Association for Asian Studies (AAS) Annual Conference
WHEN: Saturday, March 29th, 5-7 PM
WHERE: Grand Ballroom, Salon H, Marriott Hotel- Downtown,
1201 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Free and open to the public.
Join Dr. White, Director of the Ban Chiang Project at the University of Pennsylvania Museum, for a talk about current investigations of Southeast Asia’s rich cultural heritage and threats to its preservation. This event promises much food for thought, for scholars and non-scholars alike.
Following an outline of trends in Asian archaeology and a more in-depth discussion of recent archaeology in Laos, Dr. White will share her personal experience with a US Justice Department case against smuggling of looted antiquities, one of the largest legal cases to date of this kind.
Dr. White’s talk will be followed by a conversation with Dr. Thongchai Winichakul, President of the AAS, on the themes explored in Dr. White’s talk, approached from the perspective of a non-archaeologist. Dr. Winichakul will discuss the importance of scholarly work as it connects to modern Asia as well as its past, proving that everyone loses when archaeological evidence is destroyed.
Join in the audience Q&A after the talk and stay for the reception that follows for more opportunity to continue the discussion informally.
Sponsored by the Henry Luce Foundation and the American Council of Learned Societies. Dr. Michael Gilligan, president of the Henry Luce Foundation,and Dr. Pauline Yu, president of the American Council of Learned Societies, will introduce this event.