Session: #40

Theme & Session Format

Theme:
5. Theories and methods in archaeology: interactions between disciplines
Session format:
Regular session

Title & Content

Title:
Invisible Excavation: Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Science of Organic Materials for Reconstructing Ritual Practices and Diet
Content:
Organic materials of plant and animal origin are a great source of information for the detection of changes in dietary habits, rituals, technological practices, trades, and past environmental conditions in different archaeological contexts. Since they are more susceptible to decay and biological oxidation, organic materials are not always preserved in their integral state and can be overlooked during archaeological excavation. However, this knowledge is not lost, being “hidden” as micro-remains, organic residues, ancient DNA, chemical structures or isotopic ratios. Developing new technologies, cultural heritage science and interdisciplinary approaches, allow the well of information to be unearthed in laboratories, museums and conservation centers. This potential should not be ignored, but encouraged to build a comprehensive mosaic of human diet in the past, as well as to shed a light on the organic materials employed in sacred rituals.
A wide spectrum of subjects with a particular emphasis on methodologies and the use of advanced techniques for the analysis and reconstruction of diet and ritualistic behavior, as well as case studies are welcomed. Talks can address but are not limited to the following topics:
- Best strategies and practices employed for sampling, collection, preservation and conservation of organic materials in different archaeological contexts
- Existing methodologies and techniques applied to the study of archaeological organic materials as well as pioneer lines of research
- The challenges of the recognition and value of organic materials in the archaeological record
- The preventive aspects for organic materials and their identification in the archaeological record
- Reconstruction of human dietary habits in Europe from Prehistory to Modern Times
- Organic materials as evidence for ritualistic behavior
- The social and spiritual aspects mirrored in archaeological materials of organic sources
Keywords:
cultural heritage science, organic materials in archaeology, reconstruction of diet, ritual practices
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:
Ana Fundurulic (Italy) 1,2
Co-organisers:
Rebecca MacRoberts (Portugal) 2
Željka Bedić (Croatia) 3
Affiliations:
1. Sapienza University of Rome
2. University of Évora, HERCULES Laboratory
3. Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts