Sackler Gallery Celebrates International Archaeology Day with “Unearthing Arabia” and Special Events Oct. 12‒18
The Smithsonian’s Arthur M. Sackler Gallery will celebrate International Archaeology Day and debut its new exhibition “Unearthing Arabia: The Archaeological Adventures of Wendell Phillips” with a week of special events Oct. 12‒18, including a free family archaeology event, interactive “excavatable” billboards on Washington, D.C.’s busiest streets, a live Q&A on Reddit with a working archaeologist searching for the Queen of Sheba and a lecture on discovering ancient Arabia.
During the free family event Saturday, Oct. 18, visitors can discover firsthand what it is like to work on an archaeological dig in the remote deserts of Arabia from an accomplished archaeologist while exploring “Unearthing Arabia,” a multisensory exhibition about a massive expedition to Yemen in the 1950s. A selection of excavated artifacts, handwritten notebooks and vintage film clips and photographs highlights expedition leader Wendell Phillips’ key finds, which are the most important collection of documented South Arabian artifacts in the U.S.
Beginning at 1 p.m., visitors can join experts in the galleries to read original records and see treasures from the expedition, and at 2 p.m., families are invited to the ImaginAsia classroom for “Archaeological Adventures,” a hands-on exploration activity for kids ages 6 and up. At 3:15 p.m., archaeologist Zaydoon Zaid, an advisor for the exhibition, will use the galleries as a backdrop for stories of the thrills and challenges of discovery excavating the remote desert city of Marib, reputed home of the Queen of Sheba.
Washington’s first interactive scratch-off billboards, featuring images of Yemeni sand dunes that can be “excavated” to reveal treasures and images from the exhibition, will give Washington commuters a chance to play the archaeologist in everyday life. The advertisements will go up Oct. 13 in bus shelters at 11th and E streets N.W. and Seventh and H streets N.W. and will remain on view during the initial weeks of the exhibition. A limited edition of postcard-sized versions will be available at the Sackler for budding expedition leaders to take home as a complimentary memento.
In a lecture Oct. 12 titled “The Moon Temple and the Queen of Sheba,” Zaid will reveal his discoveries at one of South Arabia’s most significant finds, a 2,000-year-old holy place and one of the largest temple complexes of its kind.
For enthusiasts online looking to satisfy their curiosities, Zaid will host a Reddit “Ask Me Anything” Q&A session online Oct. 16 at noon EDT. For a full listing of events related to “Unearthing Arabia,” including lectures and concerts, visit asia.si.edu/events.
The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, located at 1050 Independence Avenue S.W., and the adjacent Freer Gallery of Art, located at 12th Street and Independence Avenue S.W., are on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day (closed Dec. 25), and admission is free. The galleries are located near the Smithsonian Metrorail station on the Blue and Orange lines. For more information about the Freer and Sackler galleries and their exhibitions, programs and other public events, visit asia.si.edu or follow twitter.com/freersackler or facebook.com/freersackler. For general Smithsonian information, call (202) 633-1000.
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