Dr. Ben Thomas (center), education and outreach coordinator for the Archaeological Society of America, is flanked by Monmouth College student Lisa Adams (McHenry, Ill.) and MC professor Tom Sienkewicz as the trio display the Golden Trowel award Wednesday at Monmouth College. The AIA recognized the Monmouth-based Western Illinois Society for outstanding increases in their membership.

MONMOUTH, Ill. – A Monmouth-based archaeology group picked up a prestigious award from the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) during the AIA’s annual meeting held last month in Montreal.

The Western Illinois Society was given the Golden Trowel award for increasing their membership by a larger percentage than any other AIA society over a 12-month period. Tom Sienkewicz, Minnie Billings Capron Professor of Classics at Monmouth College, accepted the award on the society’s behalf.

Founded in 1984, the Western Illinois Society received its charter in 1999 and is composed of Monmouth College students and faculty and members of the community.

The society sponsors free lectures annually, most of which are held on the Monmouth College campus.

Ben Thomas, assistant professor of art and archaeology at the Berklee College of Music, was on the campus this week lecturing on Mayan archeology. Upcoming lectures will be held March 20 and April 27.

The March lecture will be presented by Benton Kidd, associate curator at the University of Missouri. His presentation will focus on ancient marble trade. In April, William Peck, former curator at the Detroit Institute of Arts, will speak on Egyptian excavations.

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Barry McNamara, Associate Director of College Communications
Phone: 309-457-2117
Fax: 309-457-2330