March 13, 2007

World Renowned Archaeologist To Visit BCC Thursday To Discuss New
Discoveries In Long Distance Sailing in Mediterranean Sea Over 11,000 Years Ago

-Discoveries Have Led To New Methods Of Environmental Archaeology-

(TOWN OF DICKINSON, NY) Broome Community College President Dr. Laurence Spraggs today announced that world renowned archaeologist Dr. Albert Ammerman will give a lecture from 11:00 a.m. to 11:50 a.m., Thursday, March 15, 2007 in Titchener Hall, Room 101.    Dr. Ammerman will share his recent discovery of exciting new evidence for long distance traveling to the island of Cyprus more than 11,000 years ago.

“This is an excellent opportunity for students and members of the community to learn about underwater archeology, the history of long distance sailing and discoveries that have led to new methods of environmental archaeology,” said Professor Hal Koster. “These discoveries could unlock new mysteries surrounding this critical point in human history.”

Dr. Ammerman is a Professor in the Humanities in the Department of Classics at Colgate University. He and his co-researchers have found a series of campsites on the coast of Cyprus with stone tools comparable to those made at the time in Syria and Turkey. These date from the end of the last ice age before any evidence for settlement of the Mediterranean islands and argue for the increased mobility of these early groups. At a time when it was thought that most navigation was in sight of land, these voyagers were venturing more than fifty miles offshore to land on Cyprus.

These archaeologists have employed new methods of environmental archaeology successfully in their search for these sites and the research resulting from their discovery could have wide implications for understanding this critical turning point in human society because it was a time of drastic climate change.

The event is sponsored by the BCC Department of History, Philosophy and Social Science. The event is free and open to the public.