American School of Classical Studies at Athens

The American School of Classical Studies at Athens (ASCSA) ( _el. Αμερικανική Σχολή Κλασικών Σπουδών στην Αθήνα) is one of 17 foreign archaeological institutes in Athens, Greece.

General information

The ASCSA was the third foreign archaeological institute to be founded in Greece (in 1881); today it is affiliated with 168 North American colleges and universities. The School's mission is the promotion and facilitation of American scholarship in all areas of Greek Studies. Its activities towards this aim include an annual year-long introductory course on Greek history and archaeology for American graduate students, an extensive programme of lectures, seminars and conferences and the organisation of multiple archaeological projects (see below).

Resources, services

The ASCSA's facilities include the Blegen Library (with 85,000 volumes one of the major Classical and archaeological libraries in the world), the Gennadios library (focusing on modern Greek history, currently over 125,000 volumes), and the Wiener laboratory, specialising in archaeometry. These resources make the ASCSA one of the most important global centres for Hellenic Studies.

Archaeological fieldwork

Current

Throughout its existence, the ASCSA has been involved in a large number of archaeological projects, as well as a major programme of primary archaeological publications. It is responsible for two of the most important archaeological sites in Greece, the Athenian Agora and Ancient Corinth. At both sites, the ASCSA operates important museums and extensive facilities for the study of artefacts.

Past

Other archaeological projects with ASCSA involvement, past and present, include surveys in the Southern Argolid, in Messenia and at Vrokastro (Crete) and excavations at Olynthus (Greek Macedonia), Samothrace (North Aegean), the islet of Mitrou (Central Greece), Halai (Phthiotis), Isthmia, Kenchreai, Nemea, Sicyon (all in Corinthia), Lerna, Argos, Franchthi cave and Halieis (Argolid),
Nichoria and the "Palace of Nestor" at Pylos (Messenia), Hagia Irini (Keos), as well as Mochlos, Gournia, Kavousi and Kommos on Crete.

Publications

ASCSA publishes the peer-reviewed journal Hesperia quarterly.

Bibliography

*E. Korka et al. (eds.): Foreign Archaeological Schools in Greece, 160 Years, Athens, Hellenic Ministry of Culture, 2006, p. 18-29.

External links

* [http://www.ascsa.edu.gr/ ASCSA website]
* [http://193.92.187.46:8990/F AMBROSIA] The Union Catalogue of the Blegen and Gennadius Libraries of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens and the Libraries of the British School at Athens
* [http://www.ascsa.edu.gr/publications/publications.htm ASCSA Publications]