Arrival in the old stomping grounds mid day on Thursday the 8th. Big cities do have positive aspects beyond culture and food/beverages – a civilized transport system! After acquiring my suitcase I took the SEPTA train into Center City and then the underground walkway into my hotel – I did not have to brave the elements – thank goodness.

Following checking in and settling in I headed back through the walkway to Reading Terminal Market; a feast for the eyes, stomach and more. I always enjoyed going to the Market when I worked at the University of Pennsylvania’s Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in the mid-1990s. I did a quick spin through the market trying to decide from all the diversity of food types and levels of preparation – now, what to have for lunch.

Decided on a deli like place and picked up more than I needed for lunch but knew it would be good for later. I had salmon bisque soup and for later a ½ of a fresh salmon wrap with cucumber, spinach, and spicy lemon ginger mayo and also a slice of brushetta with roasted veggies, feta, and capers.

I could not resist walking about and just enjoying the sounds, smells, hustle and bustle. Visiting the Amish and their fresh baked and canned goods – talk about comfort food! But for me what was more exciting was watching the fish mongers and seeing all the beautiful fresh fish including huge lobster tails, monk fish cheaper per pound than we can acquire at Whole Foods in Orlando, and the largest shrimp I have seen in my life – a couple of those guys and that is all one needs for a whole meal – YUM!

Time to attend the AIA/APA opening reception hosted at the University Museum during the early evening hours. Busses shipped us across the Schuykill river to West Philly. So wonderful to be in my old home and see “old friends.”

The reception was swarmed with Archaeologists and Philologists – certainly a different lot than those attending Art Basel in South Beach. Many familiar faces, friends, and colleagues including Drs. William and Jane Biers - he my Ph.D. advisor and she my curator of Ancient Art mentor at University of Missouri – Columbia. Many more floating about FSU, USF profs and many from U of Penn as well as many more. I did have the honor to speak with Mr. Charles K. Williams –past director of the American School excavations at Ancient Corinth – a special exhibition of his personal art collection Adventures in Modern Art: The Charles K. Williams II Collectionwill go on view at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in July. Returning to the hotel – yes, I did watch the national championship football game.

Friday

The first session I attended was “The Art of Art History in Greco-Roman Antiquity;” it was standing room only. The talks of most interest to me were “The Art of Signing” by prolific scholar Robin Osborn of the University of Cambridge and “Repatriation in Classical Antiquity” by Getty Villa Curator Kenneth Lapatin. Osborn discussed the chronological distribution of the signatures of Greek potters and sculptors and what this tells us about where and how an artist identifies them. Lapatin’s talk while addressing the movement, steeling, and returning f monuments during ancient times is quite apropos because the spoils of wars and their occasional return is often used for “calculated strategies for political success;” proving yet again there is nothing new under the sun.

The early afternoon session was incredibly intriguing and thought provoking. “Crimes Against Culture: Perspectives on Archaeological Site Looting and Illicit Antiquities Trade” was a colloquium hosted almost entirely by non-archaeologists. Participants came from the world of the Art Law, the FBI, and Criminal Justice. Also in attendance was Marine Col. Matthew Bogdanos author of Thieves of Bagdad and Bagdad Museum Director Dr. Nawala al-Mutwali.

Theirs was a call to action to impress upon the archaeological community to raise awareness, be involved, and assist all levels of law enforcement. The disparity between what is assumed or even known from the ability of law enforcement or the judicial system in actually brining actions against these cultural crimes is often quite difficult due to resources, current laws, and ethical concerns of the academic community. The discussions and realities of these topics are fascinating!

Blood sugar crashing, I headed back to Reading Terminal for sustenance today it was Middle Eastern - continuing the theme - platter of tabouli, hummus, baba ghanouj, falafel, and pita – yummy!

The late afternoon session I jumped into for a couple of papers was “In The Shadow of Vesuvius.” I was interested in the two presentations on the recent work at Stabiae since I presented a mini lecture about the site to the group of travelers with the Appleton Museum’s Trips N’ Tours group in January 2008 to The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens in Jacksonville, FL where they hosted a special exhibit about this excavation project in the bay of Naples. Quite the extensive project and their web site is as well. Most interesting and new was their discovery of a garden within the great peristyle of the Villa Arianna. Dr. Gleason of Cornell University is taking samples from the root holes which are currently being analyzed to determine the plants cultivated. Very Cool!

I spent the remainder of the afternoon in the Exhibit Hall and Poster Session having glorious time reviewing the recent publications – what fun - BOOKS GLORIOUS BOOKS!

Later that evening the contingency of Mt. Lykaion affiliates gathered at Lowe Hotel for a beverage. Great to see all and especially to hear the exciting news that the Greek Archaeological Service approved our project to continue excavating through the summer of 2010!