Resources
Institutions
List of the main institutions and societies based in London, with ancient Near Eastern interests. Check for events, projects, and opportunities. Compiled by Angela Vargas
1
Anglo-Israel Archaeological Society (AIAS)
The Anglo-Israel Archaeological Society is a non-political charitable organisation designed to raise awareness of the rich and fascinating archaeology of Israel and the Middle East. Throughout the AIAS supports and raises awareness of research and excavation in this region with a busy programme of illustrated lectures and events; the publication of original research in our flagship journal Strata; and grants to help students of Middle Eastern archaeology develop their careers. AIAS also regularly holds joint events with other institutions and organisations that share its interests, and arranges museum visits and outings for our members. Non-members may attend lectures
2
British Institute at Ankara (BIAA)
BIAA is internationally renowned for over 60 years’ work supporting, enabling and encouraging world-class research in Turkey and the Black Sea region in the fields of history, archaeology and related social sciences. The BIAA is one of the British Academy’s overseas Institutes. It has offices in Ankara and London, and a dedicated staff of experts from a wide variety of academic and cultural backgrounds.
3
British Institute of Persian Studies (BIPS)
https://www.bips.ac.uk/events/
The British Institute of Persian Studies is dedicated to promoting and supporting scholarship, research excellence and understanding on all aspects of Iran and the wider Persianate world.
4
British Institute for the Study of Iraq (BISI)
The British Institute for the Study of Iraq is a UK charity which fundd and carries out research and public education on Iraq and neighbouring countries. BISI’s academic coverage includes anthropology, archaeology, history, geography, language and other fields in the arts, humanities and social sciences, from the earliest times until the present.
5
British Museum:
Department of the Middle East
https://www.britishmuseum.org/our-work/departments
The British Museum’s Department of the Middle East covers the ancient and contemporary civilisations and cultures of the Middle East from the Neolithic period until the present. There is a wide range of archaeological material and ancient art from Mesopotamia (Iraq); Iran; the Levant (Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Israel); Anatolia (Turkey); Arabia; Central Asia and the Caucasus. Highlights of the collection include Assyrian reliefs, treasure from the Royal Cemetery of Ur, the Oxus Treasure, Phoenician ivories and the library of cuneiform tablets from Nineveh.
6
British Museum:
Department of Ancient Egypt and Sudan
https://www.britishmuseum.org/our-work/departments
The British Museum’s Department of Ancient Egypt and Sudan at the British Museum houses an important collection of objects which illustrate every aspect of the cultures of the Nile Valley, from the Neolithic period (about 10,000 BC) until the twelfth century AD.
7
Council for British Research in the Levant (CBRL)
The Council for British Research in the Levant is the British Academy sponsored society for research into the humanities and social sciences in the Levant.
8
Egypt Exploration Society (EES)
The Egypt Exploration Society funds and supports archaeological fieldwork and research in Egypt. The Society is the UK’s oldest independent funding body in the field of Egyptology, and continues to carry out ground-breaking research in Egypt at sites including Kom el-Daba, Quesna and Tell Basta and the ancient capitals of Memphis and Thebes. With over 125 years’ of experience, the Society today is a vibrant organisation with an international membership. We run a dynamic and extensive programme of educational events, organised both in Egypt, and throughout the UK, as well as publishing a broad range of Egyptological books.
9
International Association
for the Study of Arabia (IASA)
https://iasarabia.org/lectures/
Formerly the British Foundation for the Study of Arabia (BFSA) the International Association for the Study of Arabia was created in 2010 by the merger of the organizing committees of the Seminar for Arabian Studies and the Society for Arabian Studies and has carried out the functions of both with an even wider remit. IASA exists to promote research relating to the Arabian Peninsula and, in particular, its archaeology, history, epigraphy, languages, literature, art, culture, ethnography, geography, geology and natural history. It does this by awarding research grants; producing its own publications and supporting others; disseminating news of new research and events connected with Arabia; and organizing lectures and conferences, in particular the annual Seminar for Arabian Studies.
10
Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/museums-collections
The Petrie Museum houses an estimated 80,000 objects, making it one of the greatest collections of Egyptian and Sudanese archaeology in the world. It illustrates life in the Nile Valley from prehistory through the time of the pharaohs, the Ptolemaic, Roman and Coptic periods to the Islamic period. See also Friends of the Petrie Museum
11
Palestine Exploration Fund (PEF)
The Palestine Exploration Fund was founded in 1865 and is the oldest organisation in the world created specifically for the study of the Levant, the southern portion of which was conventionally known as ‘Palestine’. The PEF houses unique and diverse collections of artefacts, natural history specimens, documents, maps, paintings, drawings, and photographs from our numerous expeditions and excavations in the Levant in the 19th and 20th centuries. In addition, the PEF curates archival material donated by individuals and organisations. The result is a unique resource used by scholars and researchers from around the world from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds.