School abroad

Cyprus American Archaeological Research Institute

Nicosia, Cyprus · founded 1978

School abroad in Nicosia, founded 1978; part of American Society of Overseas Research. 28 people in the register connected with it.

History

1974
G. Ernest Wright, director of the ASOR Idalion expedition, proposed an American school in Cyprus; the plan, modelled on ACOR in Amman and provisionally named the Eastern Mediterranean Institute of Archaeological Research, was approved in principle by ASOR trustees in May 1974, which named Sophocles M. Sophocles first director. He could not take the post, and Wright's death in August 1974 and the events of that summer put the idea into abeyance.
NicosiaGeorge Ernest Wright Davis 1989, pp. 6-7 Meyers 1997
1978
With the election of Philip J. King as ASOR president, the proposal was revived, backed by the US ambassador William Crawford and by Vassos Karageorghis; the Cyprus government gave approval in principle through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, asked for a broader remit than a publications office and for 'American' in the name. The Institute was established as the Cyprus American Archaeological Research Institute.
NicosiaPhilip J. King William Rex Crawford Jr.Vassos Karageorghis Davis 1989, p. 8 Stewart et al. 2014 Meyers 1997
1978
Board of trustees under Norma Kershaw appointed Anita Walker first director; Ian A. Todd followed in 1979 and Stuart Swiny from 1980.
NicosiaNorma Kershaw Anita Walker Ian A. Todd Stuart Swiny Meyers 1997 Davis 1989
1984
A turning point: yearly Fulbright fellowships created, Schaeffer's research library purchased (in memory of John I. Wylde), and the board reorganised under Charles U. Harris as president.
NicosiaCharles Upchurch Harris Claude Frédéric-Armand Schaeffer Meyers 1997 Davis 1989, p. 8
1984–1986
Polis tis Chrysokou work listed by Davis under Stuart Swiny / CAARI.
PolisStuart Swiny Davis 1989
1986
Eve Stewart gave proceeds of the sale of her family house Tjiklos (Powell: in the Turkish-occupied side, on which Egyptian-linked property aside) towards a CAARI building; the later residence is called the J. R. Stewart residence. The 1989 CAARI account says an anonymous former resident of Cyprus sold her house in the north and gave the proceeds; Powell names Eve Stewart as the donor of the Tjiklos proceeds.
NicosiaDorothy Evelyn Stewart (née Dray)Stuart Swiny Powell 2013, p. 249 CAARI headquarters purchase account, p. 5
17 November 1986
Board signed an agreement to buy a villa at 11 Andreas Demetriou Street, Nicosia, across from the proposed new national museum; the Council of Ministers approved on 9 October 1988 and title was taken in the name of ASOR and CAARI; the house and land, valued at $296,500, were paid for in cash. Attorney Lellos P. Demetriades, mayor of Nicosia.
NicosiaCAARI headquarters purchase account, p. 5
June 1991
The President of the Republic of Cyprus formally inaugurated the new premises (library, laboratory, hostel).
NicosiaMeyers 1997 Herscher 1995
1995
Nancy Serwint became Director (to 30 June 1999); Robert Merrillees followed from 1 July 1999.
NicosiaNancy Serwint Robert Stuart Merrillees
2003–2011
Thomas W. Davis Director; he conceived the January 2011 conference 'Cyprus in the Balance of Empires' at CAARI (published 2014).
NicosiaThomas W. Davis Stewart et al. 2014
2011
Andrew McCarthy Director (from about 2011), succeeded by Lindy Crewe (dates not read).
NicosiaAndrew McCarthy Lindy Crewe Kiely 2017

People

28 people

Staff and members · 25

Sophocles M. Sophoclesother (1974–1974)Davis 1989, p. 71974
William Rex Crawford Jr.official (c. 1974–1978) · supported the ASOR proposal for the institute as ambassadorStewart et al. 20141974
Anita Walkerdirector (1978–1979) · first director · worked for itDavis 19891978–1979
Norma Kershawpresident (from 1978) · president of the first board of trusteesMeyers 19971978
Philip J. Kingpresident (1978–1978)Meyers 19971978
Vassos Karageorghisother (1978–1978)Meyers 19971978
Vathoulla Moustoukkistaff (from 1978) · phone answerer, then Secretary, Administrative Assistant, de facto Director in the Director's absence, later Administrator · worked for itCAARI News No. 29,… 2005, p. 61978
Ian A. Todddirector (1979–1980) · director (second, after Anita Walker; succeeded by Stuart Swiny in 1980) · worked for itMeyers 19971979–1980
Helena Wylde Swinyresident as wife of the Director (Stuart Swiny, 1980-1995); trustee from 20061980
George Rappsponsor of the Sotira-Kaminoudhia research project he directed (1983)1983
Claude Frédéric-Armand SchaefferotherMeyers 19971984
Danielle A. Parkssponsor of the 1995 Kourion necropolis excavation1995
Nancy Serwintdirector (1995 – 30 June 1999) · Director1995
Boldizsár Csornay-Caprezreceived scientific and technical help (not a member)1996
Thomas W. Davisdirector (2003–2011) · Director · worked for itStewart et al. 20142003–2011
Charles Anthony Stewartpre-doctoral Fulbright Fellow and O'Donovan Fellow2005
Gisela WalbergTrustee2005
Andrew McCarthydirector (from c. 2011) · DirectorKiely 20172011
A. Bernard Knappresearch appointment; Honorary Research Fellow
Alicia Marie Dissingersupported her research; she names CAARI as her base while writing chapters
George Ernest Wrightfounder (1974–1974)Davis 1989, p. 6-7
Lellos Demetriadesother (1986–1988)CAARI headquarters purchase account, p. 5
Lindy Crewedirector · Director (Executive Director)Kiely 2017
Robert Stuart Merrilleesdirector (from 1 July 1999)Powell 2013, p. 2921 area

1 more

Sophocles M. Sophoclesdirector (1974–1974)Davis 1989, p. 7

Fieldwork · 1

Stuart Swinydirector (1980–1995) · Director · dug for it · worked for itMeyers 1997 Herscher 19951980–1997

Donors and lenders · 2

Charles Upchurch Harrispresident (1984–1991) · proposer of its founding resolution (1978); Board President 1984-1991; Board Chairman 1991-2001; main benefactor · funded itMeyers 19971978–2001
Dorothy Evelyn Stewart (née Dray)donor (1985–1986) · benefactor (J. R. Stewart residence, Nicosia) · funded itPowell 2013, p. 2491978–1986

On Ancient Cyprus

3 pages

Bernard Knapp and the Cyprus He Keeps RewritingArticle
Returning or Donating Cypriot Antiquities: How It WorksArticle
Birds in Ancient CyprusCompendium

Sources

1.Eric M. Meyers (ed.) (1997). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Archaeology in the Near East. New York, Oxford University Press.
2.Thomas W. Davis (1989). “A History of American Archaeology on Cyprus”. The Biblical Archaeologist 52, 163-169. Online
3.Ellen Herscher (1995). “Archaeology in Cyprus”. American Journal of Archaeology 99, 257-294.
4.“CAARI headquarters purchase account”. p. 5.
5.C. A. Stewart (ed.), T. W. Davis (ed.), A. Weyl Carr (ed.) (2014). Cyprus and the Balance of Empires: Art and Archaeology from Justinian I to the Coeur de Lion. CAARI / ASOR.
6.Judy Powell (2013). Love's Obsession: The Lives and Archaeology of Jim and Eve Stewart. Kent Town, South Australia, Wakefield Press.
7.T. Kiely (2017). “Britain and the archaeology of Cyprus II: 1914 to the present day”. Cahiers du Centre d'Études Chypriotes 47, 253-310. Online
8. (2005). “CAARI News No. 29, Winter 2005”. CAARI News. CAARI.
9.“Cyprus American Archaeological Research Institute”. Wikipedia. Online