Thematic Reading and Discussion Groups

Faculty and graduate students at Brown University frequently convene discussion groups around topics of mutual interest. Some of these groups are finite in duration, focused around a particular conference or event, while others may continue for years or even decades. Currently, the Brown campus is host to the following groups meeting to read and discuss topics relevant to early cultures:


Egyptian gold pendant, ca. 1070-712 B.C.
Museum of Fine Arts Boston

  • Digital Archaeology Group
    The Brown Digital Archaeology Group (DAG) wants to bring people together who are working or are interested in working with computer applications in archaeology and want to discuss all things related to the digital side of archaeology. DAG organizes hands-on courses, discussion of articles, critically approaching the use of computer applications for archaeological research, exploring software and hardware, and ongoing research.
    Contact Parker VanValkenburgh
  • East Asian Colloquium
    The East Asia Colloquium invites scholars working across a wide range of disciplines to present talks or lead seminars on the latest research on East Asia and on transregional “crossings” to East Asia.​​
    Contact Beverly Bossler

  • The Brown Late Antiquity Group
    The Brown Late Antiquity Group (BLAG) meets monthly for interdisciplinary discussion of scholarship related to the late antique Mediterranean, both east and west.
    Contact Isabella Grunberger-Kirsh
     
  • Classics & Political Theory Reading Group
    The Classics & Political Theory Reading Group meets monthly for discussion of work in political theory that is potentially of interest in classics and/or work in classics with a strong political theory component. This year (2021/2022) our point of departure is Slavoj Zizek’s Mapping Ideology anthology. For further details please contact Johanna Hanink; all are welcome to subscribe to the Classics & Political Theory email list by clicking this link (in the “Options” box to the right, click “Subscribe or Unsubscribe”).

The Program in Early Cultures asks scholars who know of additional relevant groups meeting on campus to bring these to our attention by sending a message to [email protected].

Cultures and Religions of the Ancient Mediterranean (CRAM)

The goal of the Cultures and Religions in the Ancient Mediterranean Colloquium is to promote high-level, interdisciplinary dialogue among faculty and graduate students who deal with religion and culture in antiquity in the Mediterranean basin and west Asia, all rather loosely defined.

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