Institute News

Mr. Cotsen receives UCLA Medal

Mr. Lloyd Cotsen was one recipient of the UCLA Medal, the university's highest honor, this commencement season in recognition of his leadership in the field of archaeology.

Mr. Cotsen, former chair and CEO of Neutrogena Corp. and current president of the Cotsen Management Corp., received his medal May 27 at 6:30 p.m. at a special ceremony at the UCLA Chancellor's Residence.

Cotsen, who has been supporting archaeology at UCLA for more than 40 years, began by donating $10 in 1996 to UCLA's Friends of Archaeology after joining several field trips sponsored by the group. In 1999, UCLA renamed its archaeological institution in honor of Cotsen for his contributions, which included a $7 million gift in support of faculty, students, publications, laboratories, academic programs and public outreach. In 2006, he donated an additional $10 million to support graduate fellowships, undergraduate research, publications and a field prize. Cotsen's generosity has established him as the largest individual donor in the history of UCLA's College of Letters and Science.

Cotsen is also president of the Cotsen Family Foundation and has served on the boards of numerous educational and cultural organizations, including the Huntington Library, the Getty Trust, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Los Angeles Public Library and the Music Center of Los Angeles County.

A graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Business School, Cotsen worked in Greece as a field architect on archaeological digs for the University of Cincinnati and the American School of Classical Studies at Athens for more than 20 seasons. He is also a fellow of the American School of Classical Studies and a premier collector of folk art from around the globe.

For more information, please visit:
http://www.newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/2008-ucla-medals-to-be-awarded-50337.aspx

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Open House
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Conservation Program
Daily Bruin

To celebrate the rich culture and heritage of Perú, the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology hosted “Perú: Reviving the Past & Celebrating the Present” on Monday, February 26, 2007.

The event exposed guests to documentaries, cultural and archaeological lectures, Peruvian textiles, music, dance and food.

The first speaker, Nilda Callañaupa (Founder and Director of the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco [CTTC]), discussed the past, present and future of weaving in Perú – highlighting the Culture XPlorers Weavers Awards, an event that honors indigenous weavers and their textiles.

Jim Kane (Founder and President of Culture XPlorers) discussed the collaboration between CTTC and Culture XPlorers in more depth and also showed a short documentary about the CX Weavers Awards and its beneficial impact on the local communities.

Charles Stanish (Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Cotsen Institute) and Christopher B. Donnan (Professor of Anthropology) gave short lectures discussing the great civilizations of Highland Perú, and Moche art masterpieces, respectively.

After the presentations, Raices Peruanas (Peruvian Roots) performed traditional dances and played live music.

Following the performance, a reception was held in the Fowler Amphitheater with Peruvian inspired food, pisco sours and other drinks. Various cultural and informational booths were open for the attendees to visit, and Ayeda Quispe, recent CX Weavers Award winner, demonstrated intricate weaving styles.

The Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, Culture XPlorers, Department of Anthropology, Latin American Center, and Prom Perú sponsored the event.

On February 5, 2007, Dr. Ernestine S. Elster received the Marshalltown trowel - the highest honor bestowed on individuals by the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology for their accomplishments and support of the Institute. The trowel was a surprise event, with Mr. Lloyd Cotsen and Professor Charles Stanish performing the presentation, in the presence of all faculty, staff and students at the Institute. It took some devious footwork and cooperation from Mr. Cotsen, to keep this event a surprise!

Dr. Elster has been involved with the Institute for many years. She received her Ph.D. from Interdepartmental Graduate Archaeology Program and was the first Director of Publications at the Institute. Since her retirement, she has taken on the formidable task of publishing the final excavation report of the excavation at Sitagroi, Greece, and is presently preparing the excavated data from Scaloria Cave in Italy for publication in collaboration with her colleagues in Genoa, Italy.

Congratulations Ernie!!

To celebrate the production of Chinese Society in the Age of Confucius (1000 – 250 BC): The Archaeological Evidence, by Lothar von Falkenhausen (Professor of Art History), the Publications Unit of the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology hosted a book signing and reception on Monday, November 27, 2006.

The book launch was held at the Courtyard in the Fowler Museum of Cultural History.

Banners for the book adorned the doors of the Fowler Courtyard

Charles Stanish, Director of the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, introduces Lothar von Falkenhausen, Professor of Art History.

Professor Falkenhausen speaks at the event about the book

Elizabeth Wueste, Publications work-study assistant, is busy with customers eager to get their own copy of the book while Shauna Mecartea prepares the Chinese Society tote bag gift.

Professor Falkenhausen signs a book for Susanna Lam, one of his graduate students
in the Archaeology Program.

Mrs. and Mr. Lloyd E. Cotsen along with Ms. Tamar Daniel show off their Chinese Society
tote bag.

Executive Editor Shauna Mecartea and Director of the Cotsen Institute Charles Stanish
toast the event that they co-hosted.

On August 19, 2006, a bright day in Rauma, Finland, Minna Haapanen, Ph.D. (she received her doctorate from the Archaeology Graduate Program in June 2005) married Pekka Franck, midst her family, friends, and representatives from UCLA's Cotsen Institute. The wedding ceremony was held in the 14th century ruins of the Church of the Holy Trinity in the historic town of Rauma, Finland. The Cotsen Institute of Archaeology was represented by Professor Lothar von Falkenhausen (Minna's committee chair in Chinese archaeology), Helle Girey (Graduate Student Advisor), Sara Palaskas and Marianna Petti (Archaeology Program graduate students).

The wedding ceremony had traditional accordian players, and the couple parted for the reception in a horse drawn cart. The wedding festivities were held by the bay at Pursikasino, accompanied by dancing, drinking and partaking in Finnish delicacies.

The Wedding Invitation

Minna Haapenen (now Minna Franck) and Peter Franck after the wedding ceremony

The Attendees: Sara Palaskas, Prof. Lothar von Falkenhausen and Helle Girey.

The wedding cake, with a chocolate soccer ball (Pekka is a sports writer)

Lord Colin Renfrew and Lady Jane Renfrew were the honored guests of Cotsen Institute of Archaeology for Winter quarter 2006 (see Backdirt 2006).

To welcome the Renfrews, the Institute hosted a party on January 16 for the members of the Director’s Council (support group of the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology), at the beautiful seaside home of Dr. Ernestine Elster, Research Associate of the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology.

Prof. Marilyn Buccellati, Dr. Ernestine Elster & Prof. Giorgio Buccellati

Lord Colin Renfrew, Lady Jane Renfrew & Helle Girey

Prof. James Sackett, Roger Civalleri, Debby Arnold & Mary Sackett

Society for American Archaeology meetings were held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, April 26-30, 2006. Faculty, students, staff and volunteers from the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology attended the meeting, taking part of the presentations and enjoying the old town of San Juan and their wonderful restaurants.

It has now become a tradition to have a Cotsen reception at the SAA meetings on Saturday night. This is an opportunity for faculty, present students and previous graduates to mix and mingle. It is very gratifying to see our graduates come to the party as successful academics all over North America. Next year Austin, Texas!

Dr. Don Corbett, Dr. Marilyn Beaudry-Corbett, Marillyn Holmes, Judy Porcasi, Prof. Jeanne Arnold, Kay Hullett & Mercedes Duque

Abigail Levine, Jamie Aprile & Shauna Mecartea

Prof. Stuart Smith, Prof. Cameron Monroe, Bryan Miller & Helle Girey

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Click the above image to view the PDF article.

"Early Farming Communities Often Ate Weeds, Other Wild Plants, UCLA Archaeologist Finds"

Click the above image to view the PDF article.