Theme:
4. Persisting with Change: Theory and Archaeological Scrutiny
Session format:
Regular session
Title:
Continuity in Change: Environmental, Cultural, Social and Material Evolution in Ancient Arabia
Content:
The archaeological record of the Arabian Peninsula is marked by a convoluted interplay of continuity and change. This session seeks to delve into the intricate narratives of the region's prehistory and early history. As we reflect on the persistence and endurance of ancient human communities populating the Peninsula and how they have contributed to ongoing transformations, we will examine the profound effects of climate and environmental changes (including those caused by humans), shifts in population density, interactions, mobility and migrations. We will also examine the evolving relationships between human groups and the material culture they conceptualized, produced and exchanged, and the fluctuating dynamics of settlement patterns and resources exploitation, from mobile to sedentary and conversely, exploring instances of collapse, resilience, persistence and evolution.
Archaeological evidence will also make it possible to go beyond the material expressions of human cultures and explore the evolution of the religious, spiritual and ritual spheres that were created and lived by the different communities. Our discussion will consider insights from archaeological projects and research spanning different time periods and regions, evidencing medium- to long-term transformations in subsistence strategies, settlement patterns, exchange modes, and ritualistic behavior.
We, therefore, encourage communications from a wide range of subjects adopting a variety of methodological/theoretical approaches, including landscape archaeology and paleoenvironment, bioarchaeology, material culture and ancient technologies, architectural and building techniques, behavioral evolution, cultural transmission, ancient written sources, etc. Helpful proxies will eventually emerge to enable refinement of our comprehension of the subtle interface between continuity and change in the cultural evolution of the Arabian Peninsula and the transformative forces that have shaped the region’s history.
Keywords:
Arabian Peninsula, Climate Change, Cultural Transmission, Population Patterns, Trade and Exchange, Mortuary Archaeology
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:
International Association of Mediterranean and Oriental Studies (ISMEO)
Main organiser:
Elena Maini (Italy) 1
Co-organisers:
Carlos Fernández Rodríguez (Spain) 2
Maria Pia Maiorano (Germany) 3
Paula Gómez Sanz (Spain) 2
Affiliations:
1. Sapienza University of Rome
2. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
3. Goethe University Frankfurt
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