The International Center for East Asian Archaeology and Cultural History (ICEAACH) was established as part of Boston University’s Department of Archaeology in 1999 with a grant from the Henry Luce Foundation. Since its founding, ICEAACH has come to occupy a unique position in our field as a research institution specifically dedicated to promoting East Asian archaeology and cultural heritage. ICEAACH’s facilities, such as our major East Asian archaeology library, and expert staff—paired with the resources of the Department of Archaeology, home to one of the largest archaeology programs in the US—affords students, researchers, and the public opportunities found nowhere else in the United States. With strong ties to leading research institutions across East and Southeast Asia, ICEAACH has become an important collaborative hub for Western archaeologists pursuing East Asian research, and for East and Southeast Asian scholars and institutions seeking Western resources and expertise, broadening our understanding of Asia’s place in human history. Our unique position helps archaeologists from around the globe transcend the cultural, political, and organizational barriers that have traditionally hindered research in East Asian archaeology.

The primary mission of ICEAACH is to serve an international array of scholars and students pursuing the study of East Asian archaeology, art history, anthropology, history, religion, cultural heritage management, and related fields. Another important aspect of our mission is to engage the public. We actively produce and promote outreach and teacher training programs to more broadly connect academic research on East Asia’s cultural heritage with the interested public.