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Please consider submitting a paper or poster for a session at ICAZ 2010 on Empires, which genuinely seeks to compare experiences from as many countries and time periods as possible. I am also happy to consider refining the scope of this session, which was originally conceived as ‘empires and armies’ Session proposal for ICAZ 2010 in Paris: Empires Co-ordinator: Dr Sue Stallibrass, English Heritage and University of Liverpool, U.K. [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Empires have risen and fallen in many parts of the world, from prehistoric times to the modern world. Are empires simply particularly large or complex trading networks, or is there something special about how their faunal resources were utilised and produced? For instance, do systems of production and supply have to change significantly in order to accommodate developments in scale and complexity? Relevant factors include the employment of armies and slaves: the former can be a drain on resources that peaceful trading does not incur, but the latter can be exploited to increase production. Are empires inevitably unsustainable in the long term? The spread of an empire can also impact on people’s cultural and religious practices. Are they homogenised or do regional/local differences survive? Does access to resources become more hierarchical? This session will investigate whether or not there are common aspects to empires and invites contributions from all parts of the world and a range of archaeological periods. Two major themes are: (1) What makes an empire special in terms of production, supply and use of faunal resources? (2) How does an empire impact upon indigenous patterns of animal exploitation? We particularly encourage papers and posters that integrate different lines of evidence, especially with regard to economic, cultural and political perspectives. Here is an initial list of suggestions for consideration: others are welcome. Intensification of production: increased quantities, new products (eg fleece, dairy), changed emphases Development of preservation, storage and transport facilities: cheese, salted meat, barrels and ships Spread/suppression of religious practices: patterns of deposition of species, body parts, ages, locations Importation of live animals (intentional or non-intentional): new species, new phenotypes The use of slave labour: production, processing and manufacturing sites Supplies to the military: local, regional and long-distance supply systems The impact of empires: comparisons of local resource use before, during and after empire rule Sustainability of empires: economic modelling of the viability of resource production and distribution Best wishes Sue Dr Sue Stallibrass direct phone: 0151 794 5046 English Heritage Archaeological Science Adviser for North West England Department of Archaeology, SACE, Hartley Building, Brownlow street, University of Liverpool LIVERPOOL L69 3GS [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: Analysis of animal remains from archaeological sites [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Megan Caldwell Sent: 05 April 2009 05:27 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [ZOOARCH] ICAZ 2010 - Mass Harvesting Session Hello All, I am soliciting interest in conducting a session at ICAZ 2010 on mass harvesting technologies through zooarchaeological, technological and theoretical lines of evidence. It is my hope to bring together researchers working on a variety of topics, including considerations of the use of these technologies beyond traditional faunal analyses, and to publish papers from this session. If you are interested in this session, please contact me directly. Please also pass this on to any non-zooarch colleagues who might be interested. Megan Caldwell PhD Student Department of Anthropology University of Alberta [log in to unmask] Mass harvesting of fauna was practiced in prehistory by a wide array of cultures. Archaeologists have often sought to understand the roles of mass harvesting in past societies, and now commonly do so through zooarchaeological analyses. However, reconstructing the social, economic, and technological intricacies of mass harvesting from archaeological evidence can be less than straightforward. Some such technologies were significant material investments and required considerable labour and organization to be used effectively. Other mass harvesting technologies were more humble affairs but nonetheless were quite productive. The papers in this session will explore the archaeology of mass harvesting technologies from zooarchaeological, technological, and theoretical lines of evidence. Papers are solicited on the topics below, and any others related to the use of mass harvesting technologies. • zooarchaeological signatures of mass harvesting technologies • analyses of the technologies themselves • comparative studies of use of mass harvesting technologies • theoretical considerations of the role of mass harvesting technologies • comparisons of intensive and non-intensive harvesting practices • impacts of the use of mass harvesting technologies on fauna