This year, the Montreal's Archaeologiacl Institute of America Society is proud to host the Jo Anne Van Tilburg Lecture, a permanant AIA annual event.  

The Jo Anne Van Tilburg Lecture reflects Dr. Van Tilburg’s professional interests and expertise by focusing on Oceanic history and culture.  The Van Tilburg Lecture is given annually at an active AIA society, and the lecturer is chosen by the AIA Lecture Program Committee.  

Alice Ann Storey (University of Auckland, New Zealand) has been chosen as the 2009-2010 lecturer.

Her talk 'The Man-Eaters of the South Seas' will focus on fact and fiction of cannibalism in the Pacific: "There is a popular view of tropical islands as isolated patches of land surrounded by luxurious white sand beaches which are on the outskirts of mysterious jungles inhabited by cannibals and headhunters. In this talk we’ll explore ethnographic and historical accounts of cannibalism as well as archaeological evidence for cannibalism in the Pacific. Specific reports of cannibalism will be evaluated and when authenticated explored in their cultural and environmental context. Is the reality of cannibalism in the Pacific equal to its reputation and is it substantially different from other parts of the world?"