Annual Graduate Tour

The Center aims to organize an annual graduate student educational tour in a Mediterranean region or specific country, led by professors from Columbia University and elsewhere. Through on-site presentations by graduate students and faculty members, the tour seeks to give Columbia graduate students whose studies focus on the ancient Mediterranean world the opportunity to visit archaeological sites and museums that might otherwise be inaccessible, to expose them to the material culture, topography, and environment of a particular ancient Mediterranean culture, and finally, to foster the research and training of PhD students across a number of departments at Columbia. Prior to the trip, a series of preparatory seminar sessions will be led by the trip leaders in order to provide any necessary background and allow for the discussion of broader themes and any relevant literature. Following the completion of the trip, participants will be required to write a short paper, on a topic to be determined in consultation with the trip leaders. The tours have been made possible through the generous funding from outside donors, including the Arete Foundation.

The 2024 graduate tour was Cyprus, where the group traveled extensively to archaeological sites and museums across the country, including the Leventis Museum and Gallery, Amiantos mines, Kolossi castle, and Tombs of the Kings. Nicosia, Salamis, Famagusta, Troodos, and Paphos were among the places included in the excursion. The trip was led by Columbia faculty member Prof. Holger Klein, and Prof. Nikolas Bakirtzis from the Cyprus Institute.