Gender transformations in prehistoric archaic societies

Kiel, 8-10 March 2018



General information
Interdisciplinary investigations about the processes of transformation in a crucial period of human history, 15.000 till 1 BCE, are the task of the CRC 1266 “Scales of Transformation: Human-Environmental Interaction in Prehistoric and Archaic Societies” (funding by DFG 2016-2020). The long-term perspective from late Pleistocene hunter-gatherers to early state societies allows the project team to confront transformational processes in a wide array of societal formations and environmental settings. Here, transformations will be defined primarily as processes leading to a substantial and enduring re-organisation of socio-environmental interaction patterns. Inside the network of components determining the social behaviour, gender adopts a dominant role in many societies. Therefore, a strong interaction between gender identities, social diversity and transformation processes can also be expected for prehistoric and archaic societies. With the workshop we want to provide a platform to stimulate discussions on a) gender transformations in the past and b) the effects of gender inequality on scientific discourses in our research community.

Issues of the workshop sessions
The workshop is organized along three sessions addressing specific issues of “Gender Transformations”. We kindly invite papers for the following topics:

  • Tracing Gender Transformations
Focus of this session is the influence of transformation processes on gender relations and roles and also the active and passive impact of social groups on transformation processes. Topics might be case studies about Neolithic transition, technological transfers and metallurgy, urbanisation, migration and mobility, economic change or social inequalities. We invite contributions that address questions such as: In how far is it possible to trace gender aspects in the archaeological records? Which effect might gender roles and identities have had on crucial developments of humankind, or vice versa? What are the tools and methods to trace gender aspects in the field of archaeological studies? How could social categories in prehistoric and archaic societies like gender and age be uncovered for example in chronological studies, space or agent-based modelling, past economic activities or bioarchaeological analysis?

  • Gendering shaping environment
Based on the assumption that different social groups interact with the environment in dissimilar ways, we will ask for the gender relevance of environmental behaviour in prehistoric and archaic societies. Subjects of discussion could be spatial differences, mobility patterns, admission regulation to resources or gender typical landscape management. It could be asked which effects gender roles and identities might have in shaping the environment, or vice versa.

  • Gendering fieldwork
Research about the past is always influenced by the societal frame in which it is carried out. Thus, the focus of this block is on the gendered situation at fieldworks. Questions for discussions are gender sensitive field methods, differences in the approach and field equipment by female, male and queer researchers, structural (in)equality at fieldwork or child care problems. We especially ask for contributions from archaeology and geosciences.

Presentations
We welcome podium and poster presentations. The talks should have a length of about 20 min (+ 10 min discussion). The organisers reserve the right to suggest a change from announced talks to posters if there are too many proposals for a session. Workshop language is English. Application Deadline for talk and poster registration is 30 September. Abstract submission deadline is 31 October, 2017. The invitation including programme and registration form will be available from November 2017, registration will be open until 10 February, 2018. Costs Conference fees include book of abstracts, a conference bag and refreshments during the breaks. The CRC offers financial support for young scientist as presenting authors (students, PhD students and PostDocs; talk or poster). Childcare can be provided for free with advance notice. 

Venue & further information
The workshop will take place at Kiel University. Further information and relevant updates will be provided on the CRC website. Publication of the conference proceedings is envisaged.

Organising institution CRC 1266 “Scales of Transformation: Human-Environmental Interaction in Prehistoric and Archaic Societies” Kiel University, Germany Speakers: Prof. Dr. Johannes Müller, Prof. Dr. Wiebke Kirleis Scientific Coordinator: Katharina Fuchs, Dipl.-Prehist.

Contact and coordination of the workshop:
Dr. Julia Katharina Koch (jkoch@sfb1266.uni-kiel.de), SFB 1266, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, 24098 Kiel, Germany

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7th Postgraduate ZooArchaeology Forum

27-29 June 2018, Palermo, Italy
Call for abstracts
The PZAF is an ICAZ affiliated group run by and for postgraduate/graduate students and early-career professionals in the field of zooarchaeology, and provides the opportunity for young researchers to present their project in an informal environment.

Abstracts from any field of zooarchaeology will be considered. We invite contributions in the form of oral or poster presentations. The deadline for submission is on 31st March 2018. For more detailed information on the conference, submissions and registration please visit https://www.pzaf.org/. Updates and useful information are also on the PZAF 2018 Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pzaf2018/.

For any doubts feel free to email pzaf2018@gmail.com.

When: 27th-29th June 2018, deadline for abstracts 31st March 2018

Where: Palazzo Ajutamicristo, Palermo (Sicily), Italy

Logistic support has been provided by the Soprintendenza BB.CC.AA. of the Palermo Province (http://www.regione.sicilia.it/beniculturali/), the University of Sheffield (https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/archaeology), Ludwig (https://ludwig.guru/), and ICAZ (https://www.alexandriaarchive.org/icaz/).

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Radiocarbon dating and protection of cultural heritage

16-17 November 2017, ETH Zurich
organized by ETH Zurich and University of Geneva, with a support of the Swiss National Science Foundation and the Swiss Commission for UNESCO, Bern

Organizing committee: Dr. Irka Hajdas, Prof. Hans Arno Synal, Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics ETHZ, Prof. Eric Huysecom and Dr. Anne Mayor Laboratory Archaeology and Population in Africa, University of Geneva, Prof. Marc-André Renold Art-Law Centre, University of Geneva

Huysecom et al., 2017 proposed a unified approach of all radiocarbon laboratories to analysis on objects, which are of value to cultural heritage. The first discussions with representatives of some AMS laboratories show a great interest in addressing this issue as well as sharing experience and ideas.

In order to make the first step we propose a meeting that would gather representatives from AMS 14C and archaeologists involved in programs of protection cultural heritage. In course of the meeting, we would like to discuss the following points:
  • Present situation at AMS laboratories i.e., exchange information about the practices for accepting antique samples
  • Cooperation with organizations such as ICOM, UNESCO
  • Dialog with organization of antiquity market (auction houses)

The meeting will be held at ETH Zurich, Campus Zentrum (PDF, 180 KB). Invited speakers will introduce the problems around the antiquities and ilicite art trade. We foresee a round of short presentations by representatives of AMS laboratories for sharing experience and practice in dating antiquities. Please register via email until Friday, 09.11.2017: Lindita Abazi, labazi@phys.ethz.ch    

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Discount offer on books from JAS Arqueología

by Jaime Almansa Sánchez (jasarqueologia@gmail.com)



After over seven years in the publishing sector, JAS Arqueología are now giving a step forward with a larger catalogue and a new online shop. The offer in English is still short, but will slowly increase. Meanwhile, we have some of the most engaging titles in Spanish with a focus on theory and public archaeology (understood in a very broad sense). You can also access our journals in Open Access. To celebrate, we are offering on a permanent basis a 25% discount for EAA members, so log in your account and check ‘My Benefits’ section to access it.

Dr. Jaime Almansa Sánchez, CEO - JAS Arqueología S.L.U.,
Plaza de Mondariz 6, 12º 4, 28029 – Madrid, España

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Speed up research and promote a culture of openness: "Archäologische Quellen" (Archaeological Sources) – a new series of monographs from the DGUF

by Diane Scherzler, President of the German Society for Pre- and Protohistory (DGUF; diane.scherzler@dguf.de) and Frank Siegmund, Vice-President and Editor-in-Chief of the German Society for Pre- and Protohistory (DGUF; frank.siegmund@dguf.de)

In 2013, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ur- und Frühgeschichte (German Society for Pre- and Protohistory; www.dguf.de) began to systematically transfer its "Archäologische Informationen" (www.archaeologische-informationen.de) scientific journal and its "Archäologische Berichte" (www.archaeologische-berichte.de) series of monographs into (Platinum) Open Access, thus making the DGUF a pioneer of Open Access in the archaeologies in Germany and beyond. All editions since 1972 and 1987 respectively are meanwhile available in both forms: as printed volumes and as freely accessible online editions. Journals as well as monographs are published without a term of copyright protection; quite the reverse, in fact: the journal operates with Early Views, which are published immediately the contributions are completed (http://www.dguf.de/index.php?id=9). Manuscripts can be submitted in German or English; as of 2017 the contributions are normally published with a CC BY licence. With a new series established in July 2017 and entitled "Archäologische Quellen" (Archaeological Sources), the DGUF now facilitates the publication of excavation reports without the need for detailed scientific evaluation.

Why there is a need for "Archäologische Quellen”

Countless emergency excavations are well documented but are not evaluated scientifically before they find their way into the archives of the heritage management authorities, in the hope that at some time somebody will make the effort required for scientific evaluation and publication. But the number of Master and doctoral students and the number of research projects which could undertake this work is finite and much, much smaller than the number of emergency excavations ‒ at least in Germany. Hence, many archaeological finds and large amounts of material enter into archaeological research decades later, if at all. The results usually remain inaccessible to members of the public who sometimes witnessed these excavations in their neighbourhood and are therefore understandably curious about their findings. In addition, the excavation leaders are practically denied a publicly visible link between their important work and its results, and the possibility to reference them. An anomaly which is damaging to the discipline. How are we to make the politicians, the investors and the public understand that a professional archaeology is absolutely imperative and must be financed, when at the same time the archives are overflowing? How are we to communicate the fact that archaeological finds must be in archives and in the possession of the federal state, when decades go by without them even being evaluated? The DGUF wants to change this, and has hence established this monographic series. The first volume was published in summer 2017 and documents the excavation of an Iron Age and Roman settlement at Tönisvorst-Vorst (North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany; http://books.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/propylaeum/catalog/book/276); volume 2 is to be published by the end of 2017.

Excavation reports in their ‘as-is’ state: "Archäologische Quellen"



In the future, we will offer all our colleagues the opportunity to publish their excavation reports in their ‘as-is’ state without detailed scientific evaluation in "Archäologische Quellen", our new monographic series. The offer is tied neither to a DGUF membership nor a particular nationality. We are also open to manuscripts not written in German, the only requirement is an abstract in German or English; the communication language with the editors is German or English. “Archäologische Quellen” is a non-commercial project produced by the DGUF on a voluntary basis. The DGUF publisher receives a fixed, flat-rate fee per volume to cover the prime costs and in particular the costs for the deposit copies required for the libraries and for review copies; special costs incurred by the DGUF are negotiated individually, where necessary. No further fees are levied on the author. Archäologische Quellen is published in a print edition and ‒ in cooperation with Heidelberg university library (Propylaeum portal) ‒ online in Golden Open Access and with the standard licence CC BY (http://books.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/propylaeum/series/info/archquell). Supplementary materials, such as large-format excavation maps, additional photos and Open Data are included in the online edition of the sources, if required. Each volume has an ISBN and full bibliographic recording. The publications can therefore easily be found by anyone anywhere in the world, can be taken into account in ongoing research projects, and any member of the public who cannot afford to pay to read reports is able to participate in their archaeology and history. The new series stimulates further research and archaeology provides a public account of its day-to-day activities.

  • The editors can be contacted at: editor@dguf.de
  • The editorial guidelines and layout instructions for Archäologische Quellen and information on the financial aspects and how the work is divided between DGUF publisher and authors can be found at www.archaeologische-quellen.de (available only in German at the moment). 

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