About

The GW Capitol Archaeological Institute (CAI) brings together archaeologists from academic departments across the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences. They currently direct or contribute to excavations in Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico and the United States.

Network

Located in the heart of Washington, D.C., the institute offers unparalleled access to resources in archaeology and related fields. The institute benefits from connections and proximity to a variety of organizations, including:

• Foreign embassies
• National government agencies and departments such as the National Park Service, the FBI, the Department of the Navy and the State Department
• International development agencies and NGOs such as the World Bank
• Cultural institutions and museums including the Smithsonian, Dumbarton Oaks and the Library of Congress
• Headquarters for major exploratory bodies like the National Geographical Society
• National and international TV and radio stations with broadcast studios

Mission

Supporting archaeological research initiatives and cultural heritage development in the Middle East (including both Israel and Jordan), Greece, Italy, Egypt, China, Africa and Mexico, in addition to elsewhere in the world, both on land and underwater;

Advocating for policies that will help preserve world heritage and promote heritage tourism;

Facilitating a global community of academics, politicians, diplomats, businesses and the general public through lecture programs, field schools, museum exhibitions, visiting scholars and other relevant initiatives;

Creating unique opportunities for students, faculty and patrons through relations and programs with universities and institutions in key countries worldwide;

Advancing the field through studies of the role of cultural and archaeological heritage in sustainable development and by practicing “green” archaeology on the Institute’s excavations;

Providing guided tours by the world’s leading archaeologists to domestic and international sites which link current affairs to past places and events;

Welcoming visiting scholars from prestigious universities and institutions, both domestic and international, for periods of several days to several months, including the possibility of a semester- or year-long fellowship;

Making a space for exhibitions concerned with archaeology, including cutting-edge technology; and

Serving as a clearing house for notices of archaeological lectures and events in the greater Washington, D.C. area.