Asimov&Archaeology

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* * The First Martians? * *
- Archaeology on Mars -

Have you ever wondered what it might be like to literally jump into the
pages of your favorite science-fiction book? Or perhaps to walk among
the ruins of Tikal or Cahokia and suddenly find yourself back in time
when these famous sites were inhabited by their prehistoric occupants?
Mayhap you've pondered what archaeology in the year 2055 may be like? If
you have ever played such "mind games" have we got a special event for
you! Please join with a group of bright and imaginative people for the
Isaac Asimov Seminar this summer... and bring life to the archaeology of
a dead planet - Mars (an added bonus - you get to hang out with famous
archaeologists and science-fiction authors). Sound interesting? Please
read on...

THE 1996 ASIMOV SEMINAR - Archaeology on Mars

The 1996 Asimov Seminar will be held July 27-31 at the White Eagle
Conference Center in Hamilton, NY, and will feature the future of
archaeology - on Mars. Weinbaum Base on Mars in 2055 has just announced
the discovery of what appears to be traces of a past civilization. The
Seminar participants will represent the experts called upon to establish
Schliemann Base Camp and to help excavate and study this remarkable
discovery. The big questions are: what exactly do these ruins represent,
and who, or what, created them?
The first session of the Seminar will include an actual excavation of a
"Martian site" (built at the Conference Center's grounds). Later
sessions will be devoted to the interpretation of what the teams, and
previous work, recovered and recorded. Along with the strange and exotic
artifacts that the exploration team may uncover, will we find the
creatures themselves who left behind these ruins? But beware - Mars is a
treacherous place and your task a formidable one.
The scenario will be constructed and deliberations will be guided by Dr.
Bradley Lepper, Archaeological Curator of the Ohio Historical Society
(Brad has an article on some of his research in this recent issue of
-Archaeology-), L. Sprague de Camp, well-known author of works on
history, science, science-fiction, and technology (yes...that de Camp);
and Dr. Stanley Schmidt, former assistant professor of physics and
astronomy at Heidelberg Collge in Ohio, and currently editor of -Analog
Science Fiction/Fact - magazine.

* * The Asimov Seminars * *

In 1972 Isaac Asimov was invited to speak at a public program held at The
Rensselaerville Institute. Charmed by the surroundings, he returned
yearly. This lecture series evolved into what is today the Asimov
Seminar. The Asimov Seminar spans four days late in the summer. The
character of the programs is typically speculative or futurist (this past
summer's, for example, included the solving of an unusual murder on the
lunar Moonbase).
During the Asimov Seminar you don't merely attend - you participate.
Every topic poses both a technical challenge and an important social
problem. These are broken up into manageable tasks, each handled by a
small group of participants, usually playing loosely defined assigned
roles. Often, there are no right or wrong answers to these questions.
If it is thought out well and convincingly presented, a group's proposal
can alter the course of the entire seminar.
Early evenings are reserved for formal lectures. As experts in relevant
fields, the Seminar advisors provide these lectures, which supply a
background for the participants about aspects of the Seminar. Typically,
the Seminar ends on the last day in the evening with a "grand finale"
(last year's included a mock trial that was rather hilarious, to say the
least). Also, participants will have free time to enjoy the beautiful
surroundings and lake at White Eagle.

* * Whether you are an expert or novice, join us for four days of fun,
conversation, and debate.

For more information please contact Doug Loss, The Asimov Seminar, P.O.
Box 54, Rensselaerville NY 12147; Fax 71-389-3846; phone:
717-389-4797; Email: loss@planetx.bloomu.edu* * The First Martians?
* *
- Archaeology on Mars -

Have you ever wondered what it might be like to literally jump into the
pages of your favorite science-fiction book? Or perhaps to walk among
the ruins of Tikal or Cahokia and suddenly find yourself back in time
when these famous sites were inhabited by their prehistoric occupants?
Mayhap you've pondered what archaeology in the year 2055 may be like? If
you have ever played such "mind games" have we got a special event for
you! Please join with a group of bright and imaginative people for the
Isaac Asimov Seminar this summer... and bring life to the archaeology of
a dead planet - Mars (an added bonus - you get to hang out with famous
archaeologists and science-fiction authors). Sound interesting? Please
read on...

THE 1996 ASIMOV SEMINAR - Archaeology on Mars

The 1996 Asimov Seminar will be held July 27-31 at the White Eagle
Conference Center in Hamilton, NY, and will feature the future of
archaeology - on Mars. Weinbaum Base on Mars in 2055 has just announced
the discovery of what appears to be traces of a past civilization. The
Seminar participants will represent the experts called upon to establish
Schliemann Base Camp and to help excavate and study this remarkable
discovery. The big questions are: what exactly do these ruins represent,
and who, or what, created them?
The first session of the Seminar will include an actual excavation of a
"Martian site" (built at the Conference Center's grounds). Later
sessions will be devoted to the interpretation of what the teams, and
previous work, recovered and recorded. Along with the strange and exotic
artifacts that the exploration team may uncover, will we find the
creatures themselves who left behind these ruins? But beware - Mars is a
treacherous place and your task a formidable one.
The scenario will be constructed and deliberations will be guided by Dr.
Bradley Lepper, Archaeological Curator of the Ohio Historical Society
(Brad has an article on some of his research in this recent issue of
-Archaeology-), L. Sprague de Camp, well-known author of works on
history, science, science-fiction, and technology (yes...that de Camp);
and Dr. Stanley Schmidt, former assistant professor of physics and
astronomy at Heidelberg Collge in Ohio, and currently editor of -Analog
Science Fiction/Fact - magazine.

* * The Asimov Seminars * *

In 1972 Isaac Asimov was invited to speak at a public program held at The
Rensselaerville Institute. Charmed by the surroundings, he returned
yearly. This lecture series evolved into what is today the Asimov
Seminar. The Asimov Seminar spans four days late in the summer. The
character of the programs is typically speculative or futurist (this past
summer's, for example, included the solving of an unusual murder on the
lunar Moonbase).
During the Asimov Seminar you don't merely attend - you participate.
Every topic poses both a technical challenge and an important social
problem. These are broken up into manageable tasks, each handled by a
small group of participants, usually playing loosely defined assigned
roles. Often, there are no right or wrong answers to these questions.
If it is thought out well and convincingly presented, a group's proposal
can alter the course of the entire seminar.
Early evenings are reserved for formal lectures. As experts in relevant
fields, the Seminar advisors provide these lectures, which supply a
background for the participants about aspects of the Seminar. Typically,
the Seminar ends on the last day in the evening with a "grand finale"
(last year's included a mock trial that was rather hilarious, to say the
least). Also, participants will have free time to enjoy the beautiful
surroundings and lake at White Eagle.

* * Whether you are an expert or novice, join us for four days of fun,
conversation, and debate.

For more information please contact Doug Loss, The Asimov Seminar, P.O.
Box 54, Rensselaerville NY 12147; Fax 71-389-3846; phone:
717-389-4797; Email: loss@planetx.bloomu.edu

*******************************

Dr. DeeAnne Wymer
Dept. of Anthropology
Bloomsburg University
Bloomsburg PA 17815
(717) 389-4860

*******************************

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