Excavating the roots of classic Greek culture

By Karen Herland

The ancient Greeks drew scholars to Concordia Sept, 23 and 24 for this year’s Canadian Academic Institute Student Conference.

Jane Francis, the only archeologist in the Department of Classics, Modern Languages and Linguistics, put the event together. She is on the board of the Canadian Academic Insititute in Athens, who encouraged her to host the event and co-sponsored the event.

The conference as been held at the University of Toronto and Sir Wilfrid Laurier University, butthis was the first time in Quebec.

The keynote speaker was Shelley Wachsmann, of Texas A&M University.

He has been excavating the remains of a Persian fleet that sank off Greece in the 5th century BC.

His video clips of excavations, including one ship under 3,000 metres of water off the coast of Cyprus, showed how difficult it is to retrieve information and artifacts buried under the sea.

Several Concordia current andpast students presented papers on subjects ranging from vase painting to sculpture and archeology.

Among those who attended were Gerry Schaus, of Sir Wilfrid Laurier University, who is the president of the board of the Institute.

The Institute facilitates the work of Canadian scholars in Greece, helping with administrative problems, like permits, and practical issues like hostels for visiting students.