25th Annual Meeting of the EAA

Beyond paradigms

Grüessech! Bonjour! Buongiorno! Allegra!

Welcome to Bern! The greetings above represent the four official languages of Switzerland: German (or more precisely the Alemannic dialects spoken in the German-speaking parts of Switzerland), French, Italian and Rhaeto-Romanic. As reflected in its languages, Switzerland is a diverse and multicultural country which is divided into 26 largely independent cantons. The canton of Bern with its main city and the de facto Swiss capital is located on the Swiss Plateau in close proximity to the Alps.

We are pleased to welcome you in Bern where the 25th Annual Meeting of the European Association of Archaeologists (EAA) will take place from September 4-7, 2019. The event will be organised by the Institute of Archaeological Sciences at the University of Bern which offers the facilities and support for the meeting.

Bern is located in the heart of Switzerland which makes it easily reachable from all major European cities, either by public or private transportation. In the past, Bern has gained a lot of experience in hosting international congresses and events and is therefore well prepared for the demands of the venue.

Due to its interesting history, Bern is the perfect place to host an international archaeological conference. Archaeological findings go back to the Neolithic period and can still be experienced at different pile dwelling sites in the region, protected by the UNESCO World Heritage. The Old Town which is located on a spur of land in a loop of the Aare river with its medieval covered arcades and the Cathedral has been declared UNESCO World Heritage in 1983. While Bern is proud of its cultural history, there is even more offer, for example world-renowned historical and art museums. In addition, Albert Einstein´s former apartment may be visited in the city center where he has laid the foundations to his General Theory of Relativity.

Thanks to the historic charm of Bern and because of its proximity to the Swiss Alps, an attractive social program with exciting leisure activities will complement the Annual meeting.

We are looking forward to welcoming you in Bern!

Albert Hafner, Amelie Alterauge & Corinne Staeheli

Bern video

Logo

The logo of the EAA 2019 is a composition of defining elements of Switzerland´s identity.

Located on the Swiss plateau, Bern, this year´s location of the Annual Meeting, offers a great view of the Alps on a clear day. The graphic representation in the logo shows the iconic landscape of the Bernese Alps as seen from Bern, including the ridge crest of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, which is one of the most emblematic sights of the Swiss Alps and a popular tourist attraction. The mountain chain should recall Switzerland´s environmental conditions as well as how people in the past have coped with the alpine landscape, such as through peopling of intermontane valleys, alpine farming, and trade and communication over the Alps.

The colours of the mountains are different shades of white, grey, blue and orange, representing the Alps covered in snow and ice during winter, the clear water of Alpine rivers and lakes during summer and their glowing silhouette at sunset. On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of EAA Annual Meeting, the words »25 years« have been added to the logo. It appears in »Swiss red«, as does the year 2019, when we celebrate this important event of 25 years of scientific exchange in archaeology. The »Swiss red« is best-known as the colour of the Swiss flag and is used in different shades by a variety of Swiss brands.

Motto "Beyond paradigms"

The motto of the EAA 2019 »beyond paradigms« reflects the way in which archaeology has evolved in the last decades and how it has overcome traditional ways of thinking. There is also a strong connection between the motto and the logo since mountains might be seen as barriers but as the archaeological and historical record are showing, it is always possible to go beyond.

The motto also celebrates the 25th anniversary of the EAA, an association that acts across borders, continents, and disciplines. The EAA Annual meeting offers scientists from universities, museums, heritage agencies and the private sector opportunities of exchange, debate and reflection, allowing them to go beyond their own paradigms and to stimulate others.

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