Theme:
5. Assembling archaeological theory and the archaeological sciences
Session format:
Discussion session (with formal abstracts)
Title:
Mediterranean Archaeology: from Interconnected Patchworks to Overarching Inter- and Transdisciplinary Frameworks
Content:
The Mediterranean has historically been a patchwork of regions connected by trade networks and ancient civilisations.
Nowadays, there are significant variations in the archaeological research traditions in the area, influencing the methodological approaches and the potential future research. In the past decades, archaeological research has become an increasingly interdisciplinary field, applying and combining knowledge from several scientific disciplines. While the compatibility of the approaches brought forth by these disciplines is not always obvious, these multifaceted approaches enable to “think outside the box” and create innovative methodologies. Regardless of the numerous advantages of this approach, a well-defined goal is frequently lacking in interdisciplinary studies.
This session intends to continue the fruitful discussion brought forth during the EAA2020 session “How to promote inter- and transdisciplinarity in Mediterranean Archaeology?” by exploring previously identified issues and working towards the establishment of more inter- and transdisciplinarity in training and research.
Papers discussing projects and case studies related to Mediterranean Archaeology that involve the combination of various disciplines are encouraged. Contributors are invited to share their experiences, obstacles, and solutions. The session will aim to address questions along the following lines:
- What are the best practices employed to study materials and cultures in an inter- or transdisciplinary way?
- What are the questions we can and need to ask, depending on the material?
- How to advocate for a specific approach within the project, especially when budget and time are limited?
- Who formulates the main goal? (Different fields have different questions to ask and different approaches)
- What is the professional identity of the inter- or transdisciplinary researcher?
Keywords:
Mediterranean Archaeology, interdisciplinarity, transdisciplinarity, archaeometry, archaeological materials science
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:
Main organiser:
Manuel J.H. Peters (Italy) 1,2
Co-organisers:
Ana Fundurulic (Italy) 3,2
Sriradha Bhattacharya (France) 4,2
Affiliations:
1. Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Italy
2. HERCULES Laboratory, Universidade de Évora, Portugal
3. Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
4. Université Bordeaux Montaigne, France
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