Bridging the Gap Between Past and Present

Bridging the Gap Between Past and Present: Fostering a Sustainable, Global Approach to Cultural Heritage in Diverse Communities

A Hybrid Conference at Montclair State University, April 28 – 29, 2022
In-person: Schmitt Hall, Room 327, Montclair State University (campus map)
Via Zoom: https://montclair.zoom.us/j/82876533271?pwd=L3N2TkxZRU4yOWtGNk85OXZjWitvZz09

This two-day, interdisciplinary event is aimed at exploring how cultural heritage studies can bring practitioners from different backgrounds and geographical regions–in this case, the Caribbean, North America, and the Mediterranean–to investigate and preserve the architectural, spatial, and artistic heritage of different and diverse communities through conventional methods as well as the incorporation of advanced technologies.

The organizing committee is composed by six faculty MSU members from two different colleges and four different departments: Deborah Chatr Aryamontri and Timothy Renner (both in the Dept. of Classics & General Humanities), Dawn Hayes (Dept. of History), Peter Siegel (Dept. of Anthropology), Greg Pope and Danlin Yu (both in the Dept. of Earth & Environmental Studies). Over the years, they have developed collegiality and exchanged knowledge fostered by common interests. This conference is the first official venue in which they collaborate altogether and gives them the opportunity to strengthen and deepen their present collaborations. They aim with this event to also foster further inclusiveness, as well as affordable access to education that promotes a globally-engaging community.

View a PDF of the Conference Program

9:00 – 9:05 a.m.

Opening Remarks: Deborah Chatr Aryamontri (Classics and General Humanities), and Timothy Renner (Classics and General Humanities)

Session I: Technologies for Documenting, Managing and Engaging with Cultural Heritage (9:05-10:45 a.m.)

Chair: Greg Pope (Dept. of Earth and Environmental Studies, Montclair State University)

9:05 – 9:45 a.m.

Tom Paradise (Department of Geosciences and the King Fahd Center for Middle East Studies, University of Arkansas)
Solving Mysteries in Petra, Jordan: 30 Years of Research Using Geospatial Technologies in Cultural Heritage Management.

9:45 – 10:10 a.m.

Greg Pope (Department of Earth & Environmental Studies, Montclair State University)
Tools in environmental assessment of Cultural Heritage.

10:10 – 10:30 a.m.

Laying Wu (Director, Microscopy and Microanalysis Research Laboratory, Montclair State University)
Application of Electron Microscopy Techniques in Assessing Cultural Material.

10:30 – 10:45 a.m.

Discussion

10:45 – 11:00 a.m.

Coffee Break

Session II: Stewardship of Cultural Heritage: Challenges in Management and Conservation of Cultural Property in Italy (11:00 – 12:45 p.m.)

Co-Chairs: Deborah Chatr Aryamontri (Dept. of Classics & General Humanities, Montclair State University); Dawn Hayes (Dept. of History, Montclair State University)

11:00 – 12:45 p.m.

Roundtable

Timothy Renner (Classics & General Humanities, Montclair State University)
Investigating a Roman Imperial Villa in Genzano di Roma: The Villa of the Antonines Project.
Dawn Hayes (History, Montclair State University)
Documenting the Cultural Heritage of the Medieval Mezzogiorno: The Norman Sicily Project.
Gemma Carafa Jacobini (Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle arti e Paesaggio per l’area metropolitana di Roma e la provincia di Rieti)
Giuseppina Ghini (Emerita, Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle arti e Paesaggio per l’area metropolitana di Roma e la provincia di Rieti)
Laura Maniscalco (Emerita, Soprintendenza per i Beni Culturali e Ambientali di Catania)

1:00 – 2:30 p.m.

Lunch Break

Session III: Research and Issues in Caribbean Cultural Heritage (2:00 -5:00 p.m.)

Co-Chairs: Peter Siegel (Anthropology, Montclair State University); Ainsley Henriques (Jamaica Heritage Trust and Jamaica Archaeological Society)

2:30 – 3:10 p.m.

Reg Murphy (Antigua & Barbuda Ministry of Education)
Cultural Heritage on Antigua Barbuda: Preservation, Conservation, Education and Economic Development on the Rapidly Developing Islands of Antigua and Barbuda.

3:10 – 3:50 p.m.

Richard Veit (Dept. of History and Anthropology, Monmouth University, New Jersey)
“Not Unmindful of the Unfortunate”: Giving Voice to the Forgotten Through Archaeology at the Orange Valley Slave Hospital, Trelawney, Jamaica

3:50 – 4:30 p.m.

Andrea Richards (Leiden University)
(Re) Visioning Adaptation to Climate Change and Natural Hazards in the Caribbean: The Role of Heritage.

4:30 – 5:00 pm.

Discussion

Session IV: Preserving and Transmitting Cultural Heritage (9:00 – 10:45 a.m.)

Chair: Timothy Renner (Classics & General Humanities, Montclair State University)

9:00 – 9:30 a.m.

Diego Baldi (Institute of Heritage Science – National Research Council (CNR – ISPC), Italy)
The Cultural Heritage of Libraries and Libraries for Cultural Heritage

9:30 – 9:50 a.m.

Deborah Chatr Aryamontri (Classics & General Humanities, Montclair State University)
Verba Volant, Scripta Manent: Archives for Cultural Heritage Management and Conservation

9:50 – 10:30 a.m.

Laura Allen (Curator of Native American Art, Montclair Art Museum)
From Reciprocity to Relationality: Changing Institutional Practice for Indigenous Community Relationships with Settler Museums.

10:30 – 10:45 a.m.

Discussion

10:45 – 11:00 a.m.

Coffee Break

Session V: Shaping Cultural Heritage in Diverse Communities (11:00 – 12:45 p.m.)

Chair: Timothy Renner (Classics & General Humanities, Montclair State University)

11:00 – 11:40 a.m.

Eric Ivison (Dept. of History, College of Staten Island, CUNY)
The Cultural Heritage of East Rome: Reception and Historic Preservation

11:40 – 12:15 p.m.

Sophia Hudzik (Project Manager, IMPACTS Experience)
Archaeological Ethnography: Blending Methodologies to See the Bigger Picture

12:15 – 12:45 p.m.

Discussion

12:45 – 1:00 p.m.

Final Remarks