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From: Stéphanie THIEBAULT [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, 30 July 2010 3:38 PM
Subject: Invitation to Society for American Archaeology symposium


Dear colleague,

We are writing to invite you to participate in a symposium titled “Wood in archaeology: Latest developments for past societies” that we are organizing for the 76th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology (SAA), in Sacramento, California, USA (March 30-April 3, 2010). You will find below an abstract that describes the goals and focus of the symposium. We seek to assemble a diverse group of researchers who share a common interest in wood studies in archaeological contexts, yet from a wide variety of approaches and perspectives. Please feel free to forward this invitation to other colleagues who may be interested.

If you wish to participate, please contact us as soon as possible and send us an abstract (100 words, maximum) no later than September 1, because the final submission of the symposium will be due on September 9. The SAA permits 15 minutes for the presentation, and the language of the symposium will be English. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you want additional information on the conference, we provide the web link below.

We look forward to your participation.

Kind regards,

Michelle Elliott
School of Human Evolution and Social Change
Arizona State University

Claire Alix
Chaire CNRS/Université de Paris 1 - Panthéon Sorbonne
Archéologie des Amériques, UMR 8096

SAA annual meeting information:  http://saa.org/AbouttheSociety/AnnualMeeting/tabid/138/Default.aspx


Wood in archaeology: Latest developments for past societies:

Wood has always been one of the most crucial raw materials used by human. Paradoxically, while it does not preserve well over time, wood is nonetheless, in its charred form, one of the most ubiquitous and durable remains recovered in archaeological excavations. Yet, in North America, this class of remains tends to be under-analyzed, despite the ever-growing development of methods and theory in anthracology and wood studies in Europe and other regions. Analyses of charred wood remains often focus on paleoenvironmental reconstructions and may not always set the role of wood resources into the wider context of human ecology and economy. In sites where wood is preserved not just as charcoal, archaeologist are then reminded of the range of human activities in which wood plays a part, even in areas where trees are rare and wood is thought to have been disregarded. Unfortunately, these are fragile remains that become quickly overwhelming for those who are not prepared for their stabilization.

Recent research demonstrates the nuanced and multi-faceted potential of wood remain analysis and encourages archaeologists to go beyond simply identifying fuel and construction taxa. In this symposium, papers will present and discuss the current status of wood studies in archaeology, highlighting the range and diversity of the methods and approaches being used by wood specialists around the world to enrich our understanding of what wood can teach us about ancient societies. We especially welcome papers that combine various types of wood analysis such as anthracology, dendrochronology, chemical analysis, technological analysis, ethno-archaeology to answer questions about human relationship to their woody environment and wood resources.



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Michelle Elliott, PhD

Adjunct Professor of Anthropology
School of Human Evolution & Social Change
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ 85287-2402

http://www.public.asu.edu/~melliott/<http://www.public.asu.edu/%7Emelliott/>
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