Canadian Institute in Greece
The Canadian Institute in Greece or Institut Canadien en Grèce ( Greek Καναδικό Ινστιτούτο στην Ελλάδα , CIG or ICG for short ) is one of 17 foreign archaeological institutes in Greece , all of which are headquartered in Athens .
History and tasks
The institute was founded in 1974 by decision of the Canadian government as the Canadian Archaeological Institute at Athens and in 1976 recognized by the Greek Ministry of Culture as a foreign archaeological school. From 1980 the institute was housed in the Canadian embassy in Athens before moving into its own premises in 1982. After the Canadian Academic Center in Italy (Rome ) and the Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities (Cairo ) closed in 1994, it was the only Canadian research institute in the Mediterranean region. This year the institute was able to move into larger rooms for its office, for lectures and events and for its library. Accommodation for two visitors to the institute could now also be offered.
In 2005, the institute was renamed to its current name in order to use this more general name to express the entire spectrum of its scientific and cultural activities. In 2006, more space was rented so that not only the library was expanded, but up to four visitors could also be accommodated. The institute is currently (2018) headed on an interim basis by Brendan Burke .
The privately financed and non-profit organization has the task of promoting research and training of Canadian scientists and students in all areas of Greek history and culture from antiquity to the present. It organizes seminars, lecture series and congresses for this purpose. It also supports Canada's cultural activities in Greece. In relation to the Greek government, it is responsible for all Canadian archaeological field research.
Institutions and research
The library of the Canadian institute comprises around 6,000 volumes, which - with a clear emphasis on Greek content - cover the entire Mediterranean region on cultural anthropology , archeology , history and literature. In addition, the institute has its own archive for field research and correspondence with international scientists.
The institute's collection of photo negatives is available in digitized form; it also owns the Frederick E. Winter collection of photo negatives, so that the collection as a whole documents a broad spectrum of archaeological sites in the Mediterranean region, with a focus on Greece.
Excavations by the institute are currently taking place in Argilos, Macedonia, and Kastro Kallithea, in Thessaly, and since 2011 after a survey from 2007 to 2009 as part of the Eastern Boeotia Archaeological Project together with the 9th Ephoria for Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities ( Boeotia ). Previous excavations and surveys have been carried out in Tanagra , Mytilene , Kamares , Stymphalos , Zaraka and Sfakia and other locations. The institute carried out larger underwater investigations in Kalamianos in the Saronic Gulf and as part of a survey of shipwrecks from the Persian Wars .
Publications
The institute publishes a semi-annual bulletin for its members, which provides information on the latest activities and excavation results and publishes scientific articles by its members. Since 1991, the series Publications of the Canadian Archaeological Institute at Athens has published monographs and conference volumes.
literature
- Elena Korka (Ed.): Foreign Archaeological Schools in Greece: 160 Years . Greek Ministry of Culture, Athens 2005, pp. 116–115.