THE FUTURE OF THE PAST: FROM AMPHIPOLIS TO MOSUL
NEW APPROACHES TO CULTURAL HERITAGE PRESERVATION IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN

An interdisciplinary graduate and postgraduate conference on cultural heritage issues, presented by the University of Pennsylvania (Center for Ancient Studies), Bryn Mawr College (Department of Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Graduate Group in Archaeology, Classics, and Art History), and Temple University (Tyler School of Art, Department of Art History), and with additional support from the Penn Cultural Heritage Center, and the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (University of Pennsylvania).
April 10-11th 2015
University of Pennsylvania
Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
CALL FOR PAPERS
The objective of this meeting is to bring together graduate students and emerging scholars from various academic disciplines to present new avenues in the field of cultural heritage. Many young scholars today have an interdisciplinary background in liberal arts studies that allows them to apply novel, innovative ways in the protection and preservation of our shared cultural property. For this conference we would like to focus on case studies from the eastern Mediterranean, including the Middle East and northern Africa. These regions are of particular interest because they have been recently affected by devastating wars, political turmoil, and economic hardship. We would like to address various issues of cultural heritage including the protection, preservation, and management of archaeological sites and cultural landscapes, the introduction of new technologies for the conservation and studying of cultural artifacts, and the use of digital media in educating and sharing our cultural treasures with a broader audience. We believe that participation in this conference will promote intellectual discourse among new scholars and inspire them to continue to seek collaborations across disciplines by employing a variety of new practices in the protection of our cultural heritage.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Dr. Morag M. Kersel, Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology, DePaul University
PAPER SUBMISSIONS
Potential topics for paper submissions might include but are not limited to:

  • Methods in cultural heritage management and conservation: e.g. laser scanning, 3D modeling, remote sensing, data analysis and archaeological computing, risk assessment, vulnerability mapping
  • Theoretical issues: e.g. adapting policies to realities on the ground, preservation of heritage, cost-benefit analyses, cultural heritage in a warzone
  • Political and ethical issues: e.g. working within local legal framework, navigating local politics, use of heritage in political narratives
  • Outreach: e.g. local educational programs, raising awareness of value of archaeological heritage, dealing with contemporary role of ancient heritage within social fabric

CONFERENCE FORMAT
The conference organizers encourage young researchers (recent PhDs, post-docs, and PhD candidates at an advanced stage of their dissertation) in the fields of archaeology, art history, anthropology, history, classics, digital humanities, and cultural heritage studies, to present and discuss their work with their peers and senior scholars. Each oral presentation will be given a 30 minute time slot: 20 minutes for presenting the paper and 10 minutes for discussion. Conference language is English.
CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
We plan to publish the conference proceedings in digital format by December 2015. Participants who would like their work to be included in the conference proceedings will be expected to submit their final manuscript by May 31st 2015.
ABSTRACT SUBMISSION
Please submit an abstract of no more than 300 words to mbeeler@brynmawr.edu by December 21st 2014. Applicants will be informed about their submission status by January 25th 2015. For further information or questions regarding the conference, please contact us at the same address or visit the conference website: http://futureofthepast.wix.com/culturalheritage
FEES AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Participation in the conference is free. Travel and accommodation expenses will not be covered by the organizers.
ORGANIZERS
Konstantinos Chalikias, PhD, postdoctoral researcher, University of Athens
Maggie Beeler, PhD candidate, Bryn Mawr College
Ariel Pearce, PhD candidate, Temple University
Steve Renette, PhD candidate, University of Pennsylvania