Dear All,
Could I please ask you to circulate this call for papers for the forthcoming EAA Meeting in Valetta
within your respective departments. As you can see from the abstract below the theme is based
upon 'Island Archaeology' (broadly construed); presentations from a zooarchaeological
perspective are very welcome although the session itself is not restricted to zooarchaeological research. I should also stress that there is a fairly tight deadline for abstracts of the 31st of May.
Very best regards
Krish
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The European Association of Archaeologists
14th Annual General Meeting
Valetta, Malta: 16 – 21 September 2008
Session Proposal
Island Archaeologies – Themes and Challenges
Organisers:
Part 1: Island Archaeologies
Krish Seetah (McDonald Institute, Cambridge)
Aleks Pluskowski (Dept. of Archaeology, Reading)
and
Part 2: Challenges for Island Archaeology
Helen Dawson (Dept. of Archaeology, Canterbury, University of Kent –
Forum for Island Research and Experience, F.I.R.E. coordinator)
Reuben Grima (Heritage Malta, Valletta)
Rebecca Rennell (Institute of Archaeology, UCL, London –
Forum for Island Research and Experience, F.I.R.E. coordinator)
Island Archaeology is a fascinating yet often under-represented aspect of archaeological
investigation. Nonetheless, the last decade has brought islands into focus as a promising field for
the development of archaeological theory and method. A key strength of the island approach is
that it encourages productive comparisons between data and models derived from different
geographical areas and periods. As Rainbird (2007) suggests, although “archaeologists have
traditionally considered islands as distinct physical and social entities” is it accurate for us to view
islands as (physically or culturally) ‘isolated’? Island archaeologies resonate both of isolation and
interaction.
In keeping with the location of the conference, the overall aim of the session is to provide a forum
for archaeologists working on islands, exploring the particular methodological issues that
working on islands raises, as well as their unique interpretive value. The first part of the session
(“Island Archaeologies”) will highlight how they can potentially act as a microcosm for addressing
much broader questions, particularly with regard to early seafaring, colonisation, migration,
abandonment, resettlement, trade and exchange. The second part of the session (“Challenges for
Island Archaeology”) will move the discussion forward, by assessing the field’s achievements to
date and potential for development, generating discussion over its strengths and weaknesses. We
will ask whether “it really does matter that it’s on an island” or, in other words, whether island
settings affect cultural development and, if so, how.
“Island Archaeologies” abstracts to:
Krish Seetah
McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research
Department of Archaeology
Downing St. Cambridge CB2 3DZ. UK.
Tel: 01223 339 349
Email: [log in to unmask] / [log in to unmask]
“Challenges to Island Archaeology” abstracts to:
Helen Dawson, Reuben Grima, and Rebecca Rennell
Forum for Island Research and Experience (F.I.R.E.)
Institute of Archaeology
34-36 Gordon Square
London WC1HOPY
Tel: 0207 6794762
Email: [log in to unmask]
Website: www.fireonline.org
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