The Kolb Fall event began with the 19th Annual Kolb Senior Scholars Colloquium organized and moderated by Senior Fellow Richard M. Leventhal around the theme “Cultural Heritage and Archaeology: The Intersection of the Past and the Present.”
Dr. Richard M. Leventhal opened the colloquium with a general introduction of the topic, discussing the definition and place of Cultural Heritage in the intellectual discourse in current archaeological and anthropological research. He was followed by Dr. Brian I. Daniels of Penn Cultural Heritage Center providing an overview of the talks in the colloquium and introducing the keynote speaker, Dr. Matthew Reilly, Associate Professor at City College of New York. Dr. Reilly’s talk “Archaeologies of Black Sovereignty: (Un)Making Archaeology and its Many Pasts” focused on his current research in Liberia and archival study of nineteenth-century excavations in the American South. His work investigated impacts on the early discipline of American archaeology, nation-building myths, community, and bodily autonomy in sites that were built and excavated by enslaved workers and simultaneously advocated for the place of cultural heritage in “ethical, inclusive, just, and restorative” archaeology and contemporary communities.
The project “Traveling Treasures” undertaken by Junior Fellow Chrislyn Laurore and Craig Stevens was featured in Dr. Reilly’s discussion of his research. Chrislyn and Craig are digitizing the “country pots” produced by the indigenous population of the Pepper Coast of Liberia prior to and during the early Liberian state, now housed in US museums—including those in the Penn Museum—and making these treasures virtually available to the Liberian public and, in particular, to their schools.
The question and answer period after the keynote address took up the themes of Dr. Reilly’s talk, specifically referencing his archival research and providing additional examples of nineteenth century imperialistic attitudes and exploitation within archaeological research.
After a short break, presentations by Kolb Society Fellows provided case studies from their research in diverse areas of expertise:
Dr. Robert Vigar discussed “Looting Nubia: Archaeological Practice, Coloniality and Cultural Heritage Destruction in Southern Egypt,” focusing on supply-side archaeological site looting in the area around Aswan historically referred to as Nubia. He examined the relationship between archaeological fieldwork and persistent archaeological site looting, and the consequent ethical, legal, and moral responsibilities assumed by archaeologists for the mitigation of archaeological site looting. He looked at the judicial model applied to site looting and advocated for local community centered models to better address looting incidents.
Dr. Justin Leidwanger delivered “A Heritage of Connectivity in Southeast Sicily,” looking at the coast of southeast Sicily and its millennia of maritime activity. He offered fascinating insight into “a series of different boats as material markers—some viewed as ancient treasure, others as timeless historical tradition, and still others as politicized debris” and explored a archaeological multivalent approach to mobilize a heritage of ‘connectivity.’
Dr. Stephennie Mulder’s talk “Gaming and Critical Heritage” gave a poignant example of the engagement of a Syrian community in the creation of The White Banner, a game based on the 1998–2010 excavation of an early Islamic palatial mansion in Syria by a Syrian-American team and the subsequent (2015) damage and looting of the site by the militant group ISIS. The game, created as a demo in the summer of 2024 and collaboratively produced in consultation with Syrian colleagues, including many who worked for years at the site, provides a virtual revisiting of the site and its heritage.
Dr. Tiffany Fryer finished out the colloquium talks with “Embracing Archaeology as a Substantive Anchor for Heritage Work,” examining the politics of archaeological practice and theorizing in heritage studies. She stressed that archaeology and heritage should aspire to aid the associated communities and asked the question: “What’s the point of Heritage?” offering examples from heritage work in a Maya community in Quintana Roo, Mexico.
These talks were followed by a spirited question and answer session involving all the speakers, fielding questions and handing the microphone back and forth as they provided their perspective from the various geographic locations and points in time that their research represents.
After the colloquium and a brief Kolb Society meeting, the fellows took photos in the Sphinx Gallery and on the steps leading up to Pepper Hall in the museum.
Front (l. to r.): Hakimah Abdul-Fattah, James Gross, Moriah McKenna, Chrislyn Laurore; Back (l. to r.): Marc Marin Webb, Charles Ro, Arielle Hardy, Chelsea Cohen, Robyn Barrow, David Mulder; not pictured: Matthew Capps, Bryce Heatherly, Eric Hubbard, Cianna Jackson, Brigitte Keslinke, Autumn Melby, Mark van Horn
36th Annual Kolb Society Dinner attendees gathered for a photo on the steps leading up to Pepper Hall.
Conversation and a congenial atmosphere continued throughout cocktails in Pepper Hall and dinner in the Sphinx Gallery. Newly elected Junior Fellows Arielle Hardy, Moriah McKenna, and Cianna Jackson (absent) were introduced at dinner. Junior Fellows who have graduated and are now Kolb Fellows—Kasey Diserens Morgan, Justin Reamer (absent), Samantha Seyler, John Sigmier, and Robert Vigar—were celebrated. Fellow Stephennie Mulder was introduced as a newly appointed Kolb Foundation board member, taking over for Matt Waters, who has served for five years and was thanked for his service. Recently retired Senior Fellow Ralph Rosen (now Emeritus) and Senior Fellow Emerita Renata Holod were both acknowledged. And Senior Fellow and Faculty Coordinator Holly Pittman read out a brief description of the highlights of the Accomplishments of Kolb Fellows in 2024, announcing newly acquired jobs, book publications, fellowships, honors, and Junior Fellow Matthew Capps wedding!
