A new President of the School’s Foundation: Pascal Couchepin

Former President of the Swiss Confederation, Pascal Couchepin, was elected President of the School’s Foundation on the last meeting of the Board (Bern, 09.11.2009). He replaces Pierre Ducrey, who was appointed Vice President on the same occasion.

With a long interest for Greece and its cultural Heritage, Pascal Couchepin has been following the scientific activities of the Swiss School for a long time. He has travelled to the country on several occasions visiting the antiquities of Eretria, Delos, Athens and Attica. More recently, he represented the Swiss Government at the opening of the new Acropolis Museum in Athens (21.05.2009).

The Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece is the single permanent mission of Swiss archaeologists abroad. Thanks to the support of the Swiss National Fund, Swiss Academies as well as private donors, it has been active since 1964, exploring the archaeological Heritage of the ancient city of Eretria, on the island of Euboea.

The next few years promise to be challenging ones for the School with several ambitious projects to be started. An exhibition presenting the main discoveries from Eretria is in preparation and will take place next year in Athens and Basel. Future excavations are planned in a central sector of the ancient city that will contribute to uncover Eretria’s past.