Call for Papers – Boundaries and Archaeology: Connecting Social and Physical Frontiers in the Past
Boundaries, traditionally seen as lines or edges separating one thing from another, are often approached in archaeology as static limits, dividing human groups, their territories and their actions.
Boundaries are profuse in archaeology, represented in many ways, from large-scale natural frontiers and territorial demarcations, to the divisions of painting motifs on a piece of pottery, or the markings on a fragment of bone. Boundaries are abundant in interpretation, not only separating the focus of study from its background, but distinguishing one idea and viewpoint from another.
The study of boundaries brings with it a number of empirical and theoretical questions. How are boundaries to be defined or conceptualised? Is the boundary or division universal to human experience or dependent on social and natural elements?
The wide scope provided by archaeology enables the exploration of different perceptions of separation in time and space. Ranging from the Palaeolithic to the present, ‘boundary archaeology’ offers an insight into changing concepts of social and natural divisions.
ARC invites contributions on the theme of boundaries in the past, which represent current theoretical and methodological approaches to examine notions of separation in the archaeological record. Suggested themes include, but are not limited to:
– Current approaches to boundaries in the archaeological record
– Questioning the concept of boundaries and exploring how modern ideas of division may influence archaeological interpretation
– The relevance of boundary studies in the interpretation of human societies
– The evaluation of prehistoric and historic periodisation. Should time be divided? How valuable is the separation of periods to the archaeologist?
– The effects of natural boundaries in the formation of human/hominid territories and identities. To what extent is human/hominid migration, settlement and group organisation driven by climatic and environmental factors?
Please send abstracts of not more than 500 words to Pía Spry-Marqués (vps27@cam.ac.uk) by 20th September 2009. The full article should not exceed 4000 words. Deadline for first drafts will be in early December 2009, for publication in November 2010. Style guidelines and notes for contributors can be found at http://www.societies.cam.ac.uk/arc/contribute.html
Archaeological Review from Cambridge is a journal of archaeology managed and published on a voluntary basis by postgraduate research students at the University of Cambridge. Issues are released twice a year. ARC is a non-profit making organisation. Although primarily rooted in archaeological theory and practice, ARC increasingly accommodates a wide range of perspectives with the aim of establishing a strong, inter-disciplinary journal which will be of interest to those engaged in a range of fields. http://www.societies.cam.ac.uk/arc/