Flash Talk | In His Majesty’s Secret Service

In addition to the renowned fictional archaeologist-spy Indiana Jones, the connection between archaeology and espionage is well-founded throughout the 20th century in real figures like Gertrude Bell and John Caskey. But “the links between archaeology and espionage aren’t limited to the twentieth century,” writes Jarrett Lobel in the November/December 2025 issue of Archaeology magazine. “The professions are also linked in the tablets of ancient Mesopotamia”—and especially in Old Babylonian-period examples detailing the art of spying, extensive networks of intermediaries, and clandestine exchanges.

At this Flash Talk, hear from Sergio Alivernini, an Assyriologist at the Oriental Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, as he discusses the politics, intrigue, and espionage found in tablets originating from the Mesopotamian Kingdom of Mari (ca. 2900–1762 BCE).

To register for this Flash Talk, fill out the form at https://forms.gle/YLa4fXgc6redYExFA. Zoom log-in information will be provided upon registration. Please sign up by 9:30 AM the day of the event to ensure you receive a confirmation email containing the access code.