MIT Reports to the President 1994-95

Center for Archaeological Materials/
Center for Materials Research in Archaeology and Ethnology

The Center for Archaeological Materials (CAM) is MIT's component of the eight-member Boston area consortium, the Center for Materials Research in Archaeology and Ethnology (CMRAE). During AY 1994-1995, CAM emerged as the new administrative unit that will carry forward MIT's graduate and undergraduate research and education programs in archaeological science. CAM is administered by the Department of Materials Science and Engineering; Joseph Dhosi is its Administrative Officer. Professor Heather Lechtman (DMSE) is director of both CAM and CMRAE. Professor Dorothy Hosler (DMSE) is the CAM representative to CMRAE's policy making Program Committee.

The establishment of CAM provides a mechanism for strengthening MIT's commitment to and role in the archaeological sciences. It affirms the Institute's guiding participation in CMRAE.

Professor Lechtman received a generous gift of $300,000 from a private donor in support of CAM/CMRAE activities for a three-year period, beginning 1 July 1995. A main thrust of those activities will be development of new MIT undergraduate and graduate subjects in archaeological science. During AY 1994-1995, CMRAE offered two one-semester graduate subjects: Regional Archaeology and Geographical Imaging Systems, and Remote Sensing. Both were taught by Professor Kenneth Kvamme at Boston University.

The highlight of the year was the 1994 publication of Professor Hosler's book The Sounds and Colors of Power by The MIT Press. Professor Hosler received an appointment as Invited Director of Studies in Mesoamerican Archaeology at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, in Paris. She taught a one-month graduate seminar there from 8 May to 2 June 1995.

Heather Lechtman

MIT Reports to the President 1994-95