                 |
|
The
EAA Conferences
EAA
4th Annual Meeting
The EAA 4th Annual Meeting
took place in Göteborg, Sweden 23-27 September
1998.
Introduction
Over five hundred archaeologists
converged on the charming campus of the University
of Göteborg (Gothenburg) in Sweden at the end of September
for the Association’s 4th Annual Conference. The Conference was generously
sponsored by the Swedish National Heritage Board (Riksantikvarieämbetet),
the University of Göteborg (Faculty of Arts and Humanities and Department
of Archaeology), and the City of Göteborg, with the assistance of
the County of Västra and a number of Swedish institutions, foundations,
museums, and other bodies, including the Wenner Gren Foundation.
The 4th Annual Meeting was
an important event for both Swedish and European archaeology. Not since
1874 when the World Archaeology Congress was held in Stockholm has Sweden
hosted such a comprehensive archaeological meeting. The Göteborg Meeting
1998 thus served its intended role by contributing to the important and
continuing discussions of the results, aims, identities and standards of
European archaeology.
The opening
ceremony on the afternoon of 23 September heard speeches of
welcome from Erik Wegraeus (General Director of the National Heritage Board),
Göte Bernhardsson (County Governor), Bo Samuelsson (Vice-Chancellor
of the University), and Vivi-Ann Nilsson (Deputy Mayor and Chair of the
City Cultural Board). Professor Jarl Nordbladh of the University’s Department
of Archaeology delivered the EAA Annual Lecture on the theme of “Imagine
archaeology: on the importance of images in archaeological presentation”
and Dr Ulf Bertilsson of the National Heritage Board brought the ceremony
to an end with a succinct account of Swedish archaeology and its organization.
A wine reception offered by the City gave participants the opportunity
to renew old and make new friendships, an opportunity that was eagerly
seized.
The Academic
Sessions
The three
main themes of the Conference proper (Managing the Archaeological
Record and the Cultural Heritage; Archaeology of Today - Theoretical and
Methodological Perspectives; and Archaeology and Material Culture - Interpreting
the Archaeological Record) attracted more than 360 papers, which were presented
and discussed at well attended sessions and 50 posters were on display.
Among the subjects included were: archaeological heritage and tourism;
gender studies in archaeology; the archaeology of childhood; maritime and
aerial archaeology; Interpreting cultural identities in the archaeological
record as well as specific sessions on Baltic, Scandinavian and Mediterranean
archaeology. Various selected papers from the Meeting will be published
in future issues of the Association’s journal, the European Journal of
Archaeology (EJA).
The equally invaluableround
tables discussed the following subjects: archaeology and the
Internet; the education of archaeologists at all levels; archaeology as
a profession and the future of EAA Meetings. Reports on these can be found
on the latest edition of the newsletter, The European Archaeologists (TEA).
The EAA Working Party on Commercial Archaeology also organised a round
table and the EAA Principles of Conduct for Contract
Archaeology they drew up were approved at the Annual Business Meeting
held on 27 September (see TEA 10). A number of Directors of European archaeological
heritage management once again took the opportunity to adopt the EAA Annual
Meeting as an umbrella for their own meeting. Discussions proved fruitful
and the intention to create their own organisation is as result transforming
into a reality.
Complimentary
Services
The well stocked bookshop,
with books and reports from several European countries on display, attracted
a steady stream of browsers and buyers. Despite the well known chronic
poverty of archaeologists, the booksellers and publishers reported brisk
business. In addition number of exhibitors
displayed their wares to participants. Amongst them were ABEM Geophysical
Instruments, the Göteborg City Museum, the Malmö Museum and the
Swedish Institute at Athens.
The conference fee covered
the cost of the entrance fee to the Göteborg City Museum which many
delegates took advantage of and at the end of the meeting there was a series
of half- and full-day visits to see
something of the rich archaeological heritage of this part of Sweden, including
the World Heritage rock art of Tanum, the Southern Uplands and the Iron
Age sites at Halland.
The programme included the
now traditional EAA Party which this
year featured one of Sweden’s best sould bands, Soul Attraction, and the
Conference
Dinner, where exuberant delegates tasted the delights of fine
Swedish cuisine and live jazz music in the assembly rooms of one of the
more famous and oldest restaurants in Göteborg, Väland.
The Participants
The final tally of those who
registered and attended the EAA 4th Annual Meeting was 508.
Once again they came from a large number of countries in Europe and elsewhere
in the world; in total 37 different nationalities were represented
which is an increase from 1997. The Swedes understandably constituted the
largest number, but in addition there were large groups from the United
Kingdom, Russia, Norway, and Germany. Both old and new members alike took
part in the Annual Meeting the EAA held its Annual Business Meeting
(ABM), on the penultimate day of the conference and had a chance to
take part in the voting process.
The
quality of the Annual Meetings has also been assessed as was agreed, and
will continue to be discussed in future years in order to ensure that the
members receive the best possible service and forum for archaeological
discussion possible. The results of the Round table on the Annual Meetings
can be read in TEA 10.
In
Göteborg the Co-ordinating Conference Organizer from the Department
of Archaeology brought together a splendid team of colleagues and students
whose efficiency and good humour ensured that the whole operation ran like
clockwork. The standing ovation that they received at the Closing
Dinner testified to the splendid job that they had done and the gratitude
of all those who took part in a truly memorable Conference.
  
|
