ONLINE LECTURES

Hi - this is Michael Birrell, the owner/manager of BC Archaeology Travel. I'm an Australian archaeologist and historian who has travelled widely in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. I completed my PhD in 1999 and have excavated at many sites in Egypt and Israel. I've been teaching courses and giving lectures on archaeology and history since 1992.

TUESDAY:

I'm going to give the following four online lecture series on Tuesday afternoons looking at the archaeology of ancient Greece:

GREEK ARCHAEOLOGY - a 4-week lecture series - A$110 incl GST
We examine the archaeology of ancient Greece from the Minoans to the end of the Classical Period (1900-400 BC). We'll study the architecture and artifacts from each period
Greek archaeology I: the Minoans Tues 16th June 3-5pm AEST
Greek archaeology II: the Mycenaeans Tues 23rd June 3-5pm AEST
Greek archaeology III: the Archaic Period Tues 30th June 3-5pm AEST
Greek archaeology IV: the Classical Period Tues 7th July 3-5pm AEST

GREEK EXCAVATIONS - a 4-week lecture series - A$110 incl GST
We examine four archaeological sites in Greece. We will look at the history of excavation, the finds, and the scholarly debate about the interpretation of the finds
Excavations I: Anemospilia - Minoan human sacrifice? Tues 21st July 3-5pm AEST
Excavations II: Akrotiri and the eruption of Thera volcano Tues 28th July 3-5pm AEST
Excavations III: Vergina - the Macedonian royal tombs Tues 4th Aug 3-5pm AEST
Excavations IV: Antikythera - shipwreck and computer Tues 11th Aug 3-5pm AEST

LOST KINGDOMS OF ANATOLIA - a 4-week lecture series - A$110 incl GST
We explore four different ancient Kingdoms in Anatolia (Turkey). We will explore the origins of each state, their history and culture, and the archaeological remains.
Kingdoms I: Phrygia - Iron Age Kingdom centred on Gordion Tues 15th Sept 3-5pm AEST
Kingdoms II: Urartu - Iron Age kingdom centred on Lake Van Tues 22nd Sept 3-5pm AEST
Kingdoms III: Pergamon - Hellenistic Kingdom in NW Anatolia Tues 13th Oct 3-5pm AEST
Kingdom IV: Commagene - Hellenistic Kingdom on Euphrates Tues 20th Oct 3-5pm AEST

ANCIENT DELPHI - a 4-week lecture series - A$110 incl GST
We examine the archaeology and history of the site of Delphi in central Greece. We will explore the origins of the cult of Apollo, the history of the oracle, and the development of the cult place down into Roman times.
Delphi I: the cult of Apollo and its Oracle Tues 3rd Nov 3-5pm AEST AEST
Delphi II: the site in its early days Tues 10th Nov 3-5pm AEST
Delphi III: the Pythian Games Tues 17th Nov 3-5pm AEST
Delphi IV: the site in Roman times Tues 24th Nov 3-5pm AEST

THURSDAY:

I'm going to give the following four online lecture series on Thursday afternoons looking at the archaeology of The Near East and Africa:

HUMAN EVOLUTION - a 4-week lecture series - A$110 incl GST
We examine the archaeological evidence for human evolution. Every year new finds are changing our ideas about our ancestors
Evolution I: Early hominins Thurs 18th June 3-5pm AEST
Evolution II: Australopithecus and Homo habilis Thurs 25th June 3-5 pm AEST
Evolution III: Homo erectus and Homo heidelbergensis Thurs 2nd July 3-5pm AEST
Evolution IV: Homo neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens Thurs 9th July 3-5pm AEST

THE AMARNA PERIOD - a 4-week lecture series - A$110 incl GST
We examine the controversial reign of King Akhenaten and his wife Queen Nefertiti during the late 18th Dynasty. They introduced a new religion, constructed a new capital and destroyed the images of earlier gods
Amarna I: Amenhotep III and his era Thurs 23rd July 3-5pm AEST
Amarna II: Akhenaten and Amarna Thurs 30th July 3-5pm AEST
Amarna III: The city of Amarna Thurs 6th Aug 3-5pm AEST
Amarna IV: The end of the Amarna Period Thurs 13th Aug 3-5pm AEST

IDENTIFYING EGYPTIAN GODS - a 4-week lecture series - A$110 incl GST
We examine the representation of the Egyptian gods, identify their names and titles (as written in hieroglyphs) and explore their temples.
Gods I: the gods of Memphis and Lower Egypt Thurs 17th Sept 3-5pm AEST
Gods II: the gods of Middle Egypt Thurs 24th Sept 3-5pm AEST
Gods III: the gods of Upper Egypt Thurs 15th Oct 3-5pm AEST
Gods IV: the gods of Aswan and Nubia Thurs 22nd Oct 3-5pm AEST

TEL MEGIDDO: ANCIENT CITY IN ISRAEL - a 4-week lecture series - A$110 incl GST
We examine the archaeology of the site of Tel Megiddo (northern Israel) and by doing so explore the archaeology and culture of the ancient Levant. I excavated at this site for two seasons and will discuss my work at the site and the most recent finds.
Megiddo I: from the Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age Thurs 5th Nov 3-5pm AEST
Megiddo II: the Early and Middle Bronze Age Thurs 12th Nov 3-5pm AEST
Megiddo III: the Late Bronze Age Thurs 19th Nov 3-5pm AEST
Megiddo IV: the Iron Age Thurs 26th Nov 3-5pm AEST

The lectures will be held online using ZOOM. Lectures will start at 3pm and finish at 5pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST - Sydney time), with a short break in the middle. If this time is not convenient, I am recording the lectures and can email them to you afterwards to listen to at any time.

The cost of each series (4 lectures) is A$110 - this includes A$10 GST. Ideally you would send me an email (to either [email protected] or [email protected]) with your name, address, phone number, and email address, and statement of which series you are interested in. Payment (with name clearly stated) can be made either by direct deposit into our account: B.C. Archaeology, Westpac BSB 032082, account number 285359 or by cheque sent to 'B.C. Archaeology', PO Box 1236, Mittagong, NSW, 2575 (please include your name, address, phone number and email address with the cheque). After payment, a receipt will be mailed out, with meeting ID and password emailed to participants 2 days before each class.

Download the application form

CONTACT ME:
Phone: (+61) 0405 492946
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]