Ray Creely (right), BSBA 1979, and Kevin Creely, his son, studied archaeology in Greece through the study abroad program at UMSL.

Ray Creely retired from IBM and came back to the University of Missouri–St. Louis to pursue a certificate in archaeology. This summer, Creely, BSBA 1979, joined his son Kevin in Greece to participate in the Pylos-Iklaina Archaeological Project, an interdisciplinary research project in the area of Messenia, Greece. The project is carried out through the Athens Archaeological Society and under the direction of Michael Cosmopoulos, the Hellenic Government Karakas Family Endowed Professor of Greek Studies at UMSL and director of the Iklaina Archaeological Project.

The Creelys spent four weeks in Greece participating in extensive field and lab work, as well as evening lectures and tours of historic sites.

“What a rewarding experience this has been for me to explore one of my earliest interests, archaeology. And to do it with my son was an extraordinary opportunity,” said Ray Creely, a past president of the information systems department advisory board at UMSL. “Whether it was uncovering a 3,400-year-old artifact or exploring one of the ancient sites of this early civilization, we were both amazed. I was very impressed by the professional staff of archaeologists assigned to the program and with the students attending the program. You could see the passion in their eyes every day, and fortunately, they did not view me as an ancient artifact.”

In preparation for the dig, the Creelys completed two anthropology courses at St. Louis Community College’s Wildwood campus. They also participated in a St. Louis-area dig through the community college’s Meramec campus.

While his father continues at UMSL, Kevin will attend college in Olympia, Wa., this fall with an interest in history and geo science.

More information:
iklaina.org/