A joint meeting of the St. Louis Society of the Archaeological
Institute of American and the Royal University of Scir Hafoc was a great success. A day long
symposium on the topic of the Archaeology of Crusader Sites was held in the student center of
St. Louis Community College - Florissant Valley. At the same time, over two dozen excellent classes
were taught by members of the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) in the Social Science Building of
SLCC-FV. The two groups shared a common lunch and many individual attended lectures given in both
buildings. Event autocrats were Neathery of Safita and Michael of Safita; they wish a thousand and
one thanks to the Baronry of Three Rivers for their support of the event.
Professor Michael Fuller (President of St. Louis AIA
and also Michael of Safita in SCA) introduces Ali M. Khwaileh (University of Arkansas)
who began the afternoon lectures in the Crusader Archaeology conference.
Professor Michael Fuller and Ali M. Khwaileh discussing
the evidence for malnutrition among Crusader burials at al-Wu'ayra Castle in Jordan.
Archaeologists participating in the symposium
gathered in the library of
Professor Fuller for drinks and dinner after a good day of slides and discussion of Medieval
sites in Turkey, Jordan, Syria, and Israel.
Charles of Westermark discusses Medieval wooden carts.
A very excellent duplication of a Medieval wooden cart
built by Charles of Westermark
Mistress Catherine Anne Applebee lectures on
Period and Period-Style Event Foods.
A soapstone mold and tokens manufactured by His
Excellency Fernando Rodriguez de Falcon.
A beautiful token manufactured out of pewter by
His Excellency Fernando Rodriguez de Falcon.
This cast pewter pilgrimage badge depicts Saint Dunstan, a 10th Century Anglo-Saxon saint - the
patron saint of goldsmiths, blacksmiths and metalworkers.
Asa Eger (University of Chicago) presented two
papers in the symposium on Crusader Archaeological sites. His papers were entitled
"Early Islamic Settlement in the Plain of Antioch" and "Reconstructing Mamluk
Military Architecture: Qal'at al-Subeibah and the Rebuilding Program of Baybars."
Asa Eger and Dr. Diane Everman (St. Louis AIA) discuss
archaeology and the Crusaders in the after symposium party.
Professor Ralph Rowlett (University of Missouri - Columbia),
lectured in the AIA symposium on "Crusader remains at el Sela' in Jordan."
Professor Jack Lee (St. Johns Fisher College)
lectured at the AIA sympoisum on the topic of "Kerak and Shaubak Castles in Jordan."