This workshop considers some of the big questions currently confronting archaeological research in Greece, and aims to discuss some potential ways forward. Greek archaeology has undergone major changes in the past few decades. Theory, method, publication, and heritage management have all advanced considerably through the initiatives of Greeks and foreigners alike, yet simple questions concerning how or why are likely to elicit a wide variety of responses.
This workshop does not seek to define the field or prescribe its future. We do, however, hope to bring together a diverse group of scholars in order to discuss some of the key issues being grappled with in various aspects of Greek archaeology. Recognizing that some of these questions will be cultural/historical and some more disciplinary in character, the conference will be split into two parts, each with five short papers, each followed by an extended general discussion.
The first session will address currently vibrant and long-unresolved research questions, as well as problems specific to certain phases of the Greek past. While this certainly cannot be comprehensive, we will aim to be representative, with speakers talking about sub-disciplines ranging from Aegean Prehistory to Byzantine Archaeology, and participants in the discussion filling in the gaps.
The second session confronts issues of relevance to all archaeologists working in Greece. It is well beyond the capacity of most archaeologists to alter the structures of funding agencies, permit systems, and academic institutions. Yet, working within our current disciplinary parameters, there are countless ways forward in terms of both fieldwork and interrogating the vast quantities of information that already exist. From digital archives to online GIS to advances in archaeological science, the landscape of Greek archaeology is changing faster than ever before. This session asks how we are dealing with such change and where we might go from here.
Free and open to the public. No registration required.Follow this conference on Twitter, using #sofgreece.
Program
Friday, 15 March 2013
5:30 pm Welcome by Susan E. Alcock (Brown University)
Introduction by Sylvian Fachard, Alex Knodell and Fotini Kondyli (Brown University)
Keynote lecture by Vassilis Aravantinos (Ephor Emeritus of Boeotian Antiquities, Thebes)
“Archaeologies of Greece: Past, Present and Future. The Case of Thebes“
Reception to follow
Saturday, 16 March 2013
Session I
9:00 – 10:40 Five talks (15-20 min. each) on key issues or historical problems in the archaeology of different periods of the Greek past, Prehistoric through Byzantine
Speakers
Bryan Burns (Wellesley College): Bronze Age Greece
Anthony M. Snodgrass (University of Cambridge): Early Iron Age Greece
Kathleen Lynch (University of Cincinnati): Classical Greece
Stavros Vlizos (Benaki Museum): Roman Greece
William Caraher (University of North Dakota): Byzantine Greece
10:40 – 11:00 Coffee Break
11:00 – 12:30 Group discussion
12:30 – 2:00 Lunch
Session II
2:00 – 3:40 Five talks (15-20 min. each) on thematic issues that concern all types of archaeology in Greece
Speakers
Sarah Morris (University of California, Los Angeles): Greek archaeology across disciplines
Sturt Manning (Cornell University): Climate, environment, chronology
Michael MacKinnon (University of Winnipeg): Animals, bones, laboratory studies
Yannis Hamilakis (University of Southampton): Archaeology, heritage, politics
Jack Davis (University of Cincinnati): Curation
3:40 – 4:00 Coffee Break
4:00 – 5:30 Group discussion, led by John F. Cherry and Susan E. Alcock (Brown University)
All talks will be held at the Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World
Brown University, Rhode Island Hall, 60 George Street, Providence, RI
Directions can be found on the Joukowsky Institute website (www.brown.edu/go/archaeology)