Call For Papers
New Approaches to Medical Archaeology and Anthropology: Practitioners and
Practices
Magdalene College, Cambridge
18th and 19th of November 2000*
* Date subject to confirmation
The purpose of this conference is to encourage interdisciplinary
communication between archaeologists and anthropologists in the field of
medical practitioners, practices and patients. By moving beyond the
traditional text-based scholarship, the aim is to focus upon the role and
practices of the medical healer or ritual specialist in guises such as
midwife or shaman. Because of the nature of the disciplines with which we
are dealing, a concentration upon the material culture of healing will be
the forefront of the conference. However, it is intended that the potential
authors take a broader definition of the material culture of healing beyond
just medicaments, their preparatory tools and western ideas of medical
implements. Artefacts such as amulets, body art and divination tools might
also be included.
Particularly welcome would be contextual studies of material culture as a
means of determining attitudes towards objects relating to disease, healing
and medicine. We would also welcome papers which consider narratives of
healing through song, dance, divination and ritual. Other topics could
include age- and gender-related differential medical treatment. Discussions
of the cultural constructions of disability and differential treatment of
the disabled, both in life and death, may also be considered. Also
important are issues relating to the cultural construction of the body and
its care, along with ideas about embodiment and medicine.
Abstracts should be sent via a-mail to Patricia Baker, Dept. of Classics,
University of Newcastle ([log in to unmask])
Or to Gillian Carr St. John's College Cambridge ([log in to unmask])
or by post to Dr. Gillian Carr,
St. John's College,
Cambridge,
CB2 1TP
The abstracts should be submitted by 1st of October
The dates of the conference may change as it is such short notice.
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