Session: #288

Theme & Session Format

Theme:
1. Networks, networking, communication: archaeology of interactions
Session format:
Regular session

Title & Content

Title:
Archaeologists, Sites and Methodologies: Professional and Personal Networks in mid 20th-Century Europe
Content:
The decades either side of World War 2 saw considerable professional and academic exchange through collaborative excavations, conferences, and cross-border projects such as that researching the Roman Imperial frontier. Diffusionist models encouraged a European perspective, and scholars became exposed to different excavation techniques being employed across the continent. They also became increasingly aware of the socio-political implications of archaeological interpretations, and they became embroiled in or resisted the use of their archaeological results for political ends. This session explores the networks archaeologists constructed and maintained during the middle of the last century, sometimes across political and military conflicts. It confronts issues of nationalism, class and race that shaped these networks, and encouraged or hindered mutual understanding. Much of the data we still use today was created in these contexts; understanding the motivations, connections and methodologies of those involved is essential to appreciate the development of European archaeology. The session moves from individual biography through to institutional level networks, and from within particular countries to trans-continental connections.
Keywords:
History, Networks, Methodology, Biography
Session associated with MERC:
no
Session associated with CIfA:
no
Session associated with SAfA:
no
Session associated with CAA:
no
Session associated with DGUF:
no
Session associated with other:

Organisers

Main organiser:
Harold Mytum (United Kingdom) 1
Co-organisers:
Alexander Gramsch (Germany) 2
Affiliations:
1. University of Liverpool, UK
2. Römisch-Germanische Kommission