Archaeologist awarded grant to continue excavations in Greece

In the summer of 2010, University of Missouri–St. Louis archaeologist Michael Cosmopoulos and his team uncovered the oldest written record in Europe. 

UMSL archaeologist Michael Cosmopoulos has worked with students and volunteers for more than 10 years at an excavation site near the small town of Iklaina, Greece [Credit: Iklaina Project]

The rare artifact was unearthed at an excavation site in Iklaina, Greece, where for the past 15 years Cosmopoulos has led a team of students, staff and specialists. 

Now, thanks to a generous $275,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Cosmopoulos, the Hellenic Government Karakas Family Endowed Professor of Greek Studies at UMSL, will continue his summer dig project in Greece. The project serves as a field school for UMSL and other students. 

This is the third federal grant awarded to the project. Cosmopoulos received a $130,000 grant from the National Science Foundation and a previous $200,000 grant also from the National Endowment for the Humanities.