Step into the fascinating world of prehistoric art and archaeology with the virtual Summer Travel Series. Join us on June 22 and July 12 to explore off-the-beaten-path field research sites in Indonesia and India with leading scientists as your online tour guides.
This exclusive opportunity is only available to the first five Young Professionals Group (YPG) members who register. One lucky registrant will win a curated gift box with a book about Indian rock art and chocolate from Indonesia. Program details and registration form are below.
Destination: Indonesia
Thursday, June 22
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm PT
Dr. Adam Brumm
Professor of archaeology at Griffith University in Queensland, Australia
Member of the Australian Research Council College of Experts
Known to science since the 1950s, the rock art of southern Sulawesi only revealed its surprisingly deep antiquity in 2014. Among the recent findings are a 45,500-year-old painting of a Sulawesi warty pig, now recognized as the earliest known rock painting attributed to our species, and a spectacular ‘hunting scene’ depicting part-human, part-animal figures.
Dr. Brumm will take you behind the scenes of these discoveries, offering an exclusive look at the world’s most ancient art. He will reflect on the profound importance of these images and their influence on our understanding of early human art and culture.
Destination: India
Wednesday, July 12
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm PT
Dr. Meenakshi Dubey-Pathak
Independent rock art researcher
Rock Art Expert Member with the International Scientific Committee on Rock Art
Rock art has been found in thousands of rock shelters across India. These paintings and carvings represent a cultural tradition that stretches back as far as the Stone Age and is still alive today.
Dr. Dubey-Pathak takes you to sites across three states in Central India, exploring painted shelters and boulders engraved with petroglyphs. In these places, tribal art traditions and ritual practices continue to thrive among the local communities. These diverse forms of tribal art and ritual may have had their sources in ancient rock art and the beliefs that inspired its creation.
Dr. Shanti Pappu
Archaeologist
Founder of The Sharma Centre for Heritage Education
Buried deep beneath ancient sediments and scattered over vast landscapes lie large numbers of Paleolithic stone artifacts, testifying to the earliest occupation of South Asia.
Dr. Pappu leads you to some of these iconic sites in India, including Attirampakkam, while sharing long-term research and evidence that reconstructs past environments and hominin behavioral changes. This research allows for a better understanding of cultural evolution and technological changes, with implications for the nature and timing of population migrations. Along the way, she will also share her personal experiences outside of research that form important components of her life, including conservation and educational outreach.
No donation is necessary to attend, but donations of any amount are appreciated. 100% of the proceeds from the Summer Travel Series support The Leakey Foundation’s Baldwin Fellowship program and all donations will be doubled.* The Baldwin Fellowship helps students from countries with limited educational opportunities attend graduate school and achieve their dreams of becoming a scientist.
Register to attend the 2023 virtual Summer Travel Series
FAQ
Join us from the comfort of your own home for our virtual Summer Travel Series. Virtual “tours” are 60 minutes and will be hosted online, so you can join us from anywhere in the world!
When do I receive login details? Link to watch?
You will receive the link before the virtual tour. You will also receive reminder links on the day of the event. If you do not see the link in your inbox, be sure to check your spam/junk folder.
Am I able to ask questions or interact with the scientists?
Yes! Our virtual tours are interactive, and we hope you will participate. There is always a Q&A portion.
What is the cost?
These are donation-based programs. All donations will be matched, and your gift is tax-deductible. (See the ticket section below for other ways to participate.)
Will the Summer Travel Series tours be recorded?
Yes. (See the ticket section below for details on accessing the tour videos.)
