Beacon Journal: Department of Classical Studies, Anthropology and Archaeology of the University of Akron has received a wonderful Christmas gift: a collection of artifacts from former ambassador to Saudi Arabia, James Akins. Akron native James Akins spent more than 30 years in the Middle East, including a tour of duty as ambassador to Saudi Arabia. During that time, he collected a remarkable treasury of artifacts from prehistory to early Islamic times, a collection that now has been donated to the University of Akron. The artifacts, most of which were collected in Iraq, will be made available for study by university students.