Μake us preferred on Google Charles K. Williams II, the emeritus director of the Corinth excavations of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens (ASCSA), was remembered this week for his decades of teaching, archaeological research and support for the School and its work at the ancient site.
Williams died recently at the age of 96.
He regularly led students on autumn field trips to the Corinth and Argolida regions in the northwest Peloponnese, while he provided specialized training in excavation techniques in the spring. His teaching extended beyond aspiring field archaeologists to classicists and ancient historians, giving them practical experience in understanding and evaluating archaeological evidence. The ASCSA has described the formalization of the Corinth training program as one of his major legacies.
Williams also supported researchers from around the world who conducted studies at Corinth and played a major role in the development of the excavation’s facilities and collections. An architect by training, Williams designed buildings at the excavation headquarters and was closely involved in the organization of archaeological records, storage and conservation. He became full-time field director of the Corinth excavations in 1966 and remained in the post until his retirement in 1997.
A view of the snow-covered site of ancient Corinth.
His work combined architecture and archaeology, and his long tenure helped establish Corinth as an important center for the practical training of generations of students. His interests ranged from the Iron Age through the Frankish period, while his work also contributed to the systematic conservation and publication of the site.
Williams also played a significant role in the wider administration of the ASCSA. He joined its board of trustees in 1997 and later served as its chair, while also contributing his architectural expertise to major School building projects, including the Blegen Library and Loring Hall. He received the ASCSA Alumni Association’s Aristeia Award in 2016 in recognition of his contribution to the institution.
