Eta Sigma Phi Hosts Workshop on Surveillance Cultures April 12

Eta Sigma Phi

Eta Sigma Phi will host Joey Williams, an archaeologist who focuses on Roman material culture, ancient colonialism and landscapes of conflict and surveillance, for the second of two workshops from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, April 12, in the Cordia Harrington Center for Excellence, room 234, with free lunch. A dinner at Tim's Pizza on the Fayetteville Square will also be held. 

Williams has published a monograph on The Archaeology of Roman Surveillance in the Central Alentejo, Portugal (2017), which investigates the role of vision and (in)visibility in the organization of the Roman province of Lusitania. His new book project focuses on espionage in the Roman world. He has directed excavations of Roman sites in Portugal, on which many U of A alumni have worked, and is currently co-directing the Romans in Umbria Archaeological Project in Ficulle, Italy.  

The workshop, "Surveillance to Visibility: A Symposium on the Global History, Culture, and Technology of Watching and Being Watched," is open to students. This workshop will showcase Williams' research in a panel consisting of esteemed scholars such as Sue Alcock, professor of classics from the University of Oklahoma. The workshop will explore topics of surveillance across ancient and modern cultures. The workshop allows students to engage with authentic ancient Roman voices preserved through epigraphic inscriptions, while the panel offers students an opportunity to explore the theme of surveillance across cultures and time periods.

Williams and Alcock will be speaking in the first panel (11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) about colonial landscapes in Roman Iberia and Spartan and the helots — so something for the Romanists and Hellenists! Join us for all or part of the symposium. Panel 2 includes speakers talking about German surveillance of refugee camps, AI surveillance technology, and FBI surveillance of the Black Panther Party. Everyone is welcome to join us for pizza at Tim's Friday evening. 

Williams is an archaeologist who focuses on Roman material culture, ancient colonialism and landscapes of conflict and surveillance. He holds a Ph.D. in Mediterranean archaeology from the University at Buffalo, an M.A. in classical archaeology from the University of Arizona and a B.A. in anthropology and history from Hendrix College. He has taught in schools, colleges and museums around the world. Williams regularly leads archaeological projects in Italy and Portugal, such as the archaeological excavation of a tower enclosure near Redondo, Portugal, and the survey and excavation of Santa Susana. He is also involved in the ongoing analysis of legacy data from the DAI-AAR excavation in Ostia Antica. 

This event is supported by the Student Activities Fee as a funded event by the Associated Student Government and is free to all currently enrolled University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, students who pay the student activities fee. This event is held in a venue that meets ADA standards. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend this event. If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this event, please contact Katherine Schlagel, schlagel@uark.edu, by five business days prior to the event.