It is with great sadness that we have learned of the passing of Diana Richardson on November 22, 2024.

Diana was an alumna of Brown University, returning to Brown just two years after graduation to become Operations and Events Coordinator at the then-recently founded Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World. Perhaps even more than her dedication, vision, and professionalism, it was her contagious warmth, energy, creativity, humor, and collaborative spirit that infused her five years at the Joukowsky Institute, and helped Brown University and the Institute to become respected as leaders in field of archaeology.

After leaving her position at the Institute, she advanced through multiple positions in the University over the following ten years, most recently becoming Assistant Director of BioMed Engagement in Brown's Division of Advancement. Diana is survived by her wife, Kirsten, and their son, Malachi.

Her passing is a profound loss to her young family, to Brown, and to all who knew her. She will be deeply missed.

The November–December 2024 issue of Brown Alumni Magazine includes an article by Megan Talikoff ’25 on Kiosk, a field recording data management system developed by the Joukowsky Institute's Professor Laurel Bestock and Lutz Klein: "Digital Dig: Archaeology’s Free Field Recording Program—Alum-created and Brown-subsidized."

The Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World is offering a free webinar on Friday, November 2, 2024 at 2:00pm. The webinar will provide an overview of the graduate application process by the faculty from Brown University’s doctoral program in Archaeology and the Ancient World. They will describe how they review applications to the Ph.D. program and will share what they look for in a promising application. They will discuss what constitutes a strong personal statement, who to ask for letters of recommendation, what courses to take to prepare yourself for graduate study in archaeology, and the range of careers that graduates of the program pursue. Panelists will also discuss Brown’s new supplemental essay on diversity and inclusion. The webinar seminar provides a rare insider’s view of the application process and graduate student life.

The webinar is intended for anyone considering applying to graduate school, including both applicants applying in the coming admission cycle as well as those considering applying in a future year. The webinar is open to all members of the public who might be considering a graduate education in archaeology, regardless of experience and academic background. We welcome participation from individuals of diverse backgrounds and experience, regardless of race, color, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, caste, disability, status as a veteran, language, socio-economic background, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, political ideology, or theoretical approach.

For more on applying to our doctoral program, please see our FAQ’s at go.brown.edu/archFAQs.

PREREGISTRATION FOR THE WEBINAR IS REQUIRED

Joukowsky Institute Postdoctoral Fellow Zachary Silvia has written an article published in October 23, 2024's News and Views section of Nature about the significance of a newly discovered urban settlement located on a mountainous Uzbekistan site: "Surprisingly High-Altitude Silk Road City Revealed." Silvia explains that the study is remarkable in that it challenges previous notions of urbanism at high altitudes, as well as prompting a reimagining of the extensive scope of the Silk Road's trade routes. This project is also the first archaeological lidar survey conducted in Central Asia.

Silvia has been featured and interviewed about the discovery in the New York Times, CNN, Scientific American, Newsweek, and multiple other news outlets.

The Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World congratulates the three winners of this year's Joukowsky Award for Student Research.