Panels accepting abstracts at MAARC 2024 (CLOSED) 

 

Panel 1: "‘Just a Sprinkle?’ Theory and Mediterranean Archaeology", organised by Ewan Coopey (Macquarie University) and Ray Laurence (Macquarie University).
Whether we acknowledge it or not, theory is at the crux of what many of us do as archaeologists. Be it the simple positivism of scientific method or the agent-structure dichotomy at the heart of practice theories, theoretical frameworks influence our work from data collection to analysis. Archaeology has long adapted theories from the fields of anthropology, sociology, linguistics, and beyond, as well as developed its own frameworks (e.g. Hodder’s entanglement theory). Consequently, there are many ways to ‘do theory’ in archaeology. In the archaeology of the Mediterranean, for example, there are Renfrew’s processualist account of civilisation in the Aegean, the Peircean networks of Carl Knappett, and Hamilakis’ sensory archaeology of affect to name but a few. One of the strengths of theory is that one need not be a fully-fledged philosopher, an adept sociologist, or a well-read Marxist to engage with theory. It can be as simple as a belief in human agency, the use of the word habitus with a reference to Bourdieu, or the adaptation of a network model onto a new case study. We seek to showcase some of the diverse ways theory is deployed in contemporary Mediterranean archaeology and illuminate that from fully fledged treatises to ‘just a sprinkle’ there is no one way to ‘do theory’. In doing so we hope to foster heightened engagement with theory across the field (in whatever dose one wishes).

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To submit an abstract to this panel, send your Abstract Submission Form to Ewan Coopey (ewan.coopey@hdr.mq.edu.au) and Ray Laurence (ray.laurence@mq.edu.au).

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Panel 2: "Children in Sanctuaries, Sanctuaries for Children. Traces of the Presence of Children in Cult Places across the Hellenistic Mediterranean (late 4th – 1st Cent. BCE)", organised by Marianna Castiglione (Università della Calabria)

In the ancient Mediterranean the role of children changed over time based on the context, and this panel intends to be a benchmark for the reconstruction of their – exclusive or shared with other people – presence in cult places located in Greece and Hellenized countries, dated between the late 4th and the 1st century BCE. Despite the relevance of infancy and transitional phases in Hellenistic world and the existing literature concerning childhood and sanctuaries related to children, a broader Mediterranean perspective on their material and immaterial traces recorded in cult places is still lacking. So, the panel aims at identifying, categorizing and reconstructing contexts, activities, lifestyles and cultural behaviours, mainly exploring the following aspects: 1) cult activities by children; 2) transitional phases linked to rites of passage and education, visible in sanctuaries; 3) gender differentiation in cult places and activities there performed; 4) children’s identity, sociality (religious, economic, cultural, public and private roles) and ideology; 5) gods for children: the relation between deities and childhood.

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The multidisciplinary approach, including written sources clearly referring to cult places, topographical and archaeological data – objects (sculptures, terracotta figurines, pottery, votives and other finds) as well as traces of ritual activities –, iconographic and anthropological studies, is the key to the reading of the topic addressed by the panel. The wide geographical framework, including the Mediterranean space and conterminous countries representing pivotal case studies from different cultural areas (i.e. Anatolia, Mesopotamia...), allows comparisons among distant people and different cultures.

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To submit an abstract to this panel, send your Abstract Submission Form to Marianna Castiglione (marianna.castiglione1@gmail.com)

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Panel 3: "Global Classics", organised by Goran Đurđević (Beijing Foreign Studies University)

In recent times, the field of Classics, encompassing ancient history, archaeology, philosophy, literature, and linguistics, has undergone significant scrutiny regarding its reshaping, decolonization, and globalization. Scholars, teachers, and professors face the challenge of developing teaching methodologies and curricula introductions amidst these discussions. While research in various disciplines emphasizes different tendencies, theoretical frameworks, concepts, and methodologies, teaching Classics on a global scale presents a considerable challenge.

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This panel is dedicated to exploring pedagogy and teaching experiences worldwide. Participants will share their insights into curriculum design and the availability of teaching resources. Moreover, they will contextualize their experiences within broader national and regional frameworks. This discussion will encompass diverse approaches to Classics education from regions such as Africa (including Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Malawi), Asia (with a focus on China), South America (specifically Brazil), and Europe (encompassing Croatia, Hungary, and Poland).

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By engaging with the pedagogical practices and educational contexts of various regions, this panel aims to foster a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities in teaching Classics globally. Through sharing experiences and insights, participants will contribute to the ongoing dialogue surrounding the evolution and adaptation of Classics education in an increasingly interconnected world.

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To submit an abstract to this panel, send your Abstract Submission Form to Goran Đurđević (goran.djurdjevich@gmail.com)

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Panel 4: "Archaeological Approaches to Community Formation", organised by Matthias Hoernes (University of Vienna)

The deconstruction of ethnic identities has shattered how we understand the social landscape of the ancient Mediterranean. As cleansing as this deconstruction has been, it has left a gap in our ability to analyse social entities at an intermediate scale between households and states. In this context, the concept of communities emerges as a productive framework. Communities are social entities that are enacted through interactions and presuppose a sense of commonality, cohesion and belonging that attenuates internal social differentiation. This perspective invites archaeologists to explore complex social dynamics through a lens that can be applied to the material record, and this session hopes for papers that combine theoretical rigour with empirical analysis. 

Potential topics include, but are not limited to, different forms of communities – e.g. ritual communities or communities of practice – and their relationships with other entities such as families, groups or the state. Papers may explore how “practices of affiliation” (W.H. Isbell), such as drawing cultural boundaries, referring to a common past, and sharing experiences from everyday encounters to festive events, fostered communities. Similarly, the role of emotions and the senses, for example in feasts and funerals, but also the significance of space and place, provide rich avenues for exploration. Other themes include community cohesion, resilience or transformation in scenarios of intercultural contact, as well as moments when community identity and membership were contested from within the community, but papers could also challenge humanist notions by exploring “more-than-human communities” (O.J.T. Harris) that bring together people, animals and things.

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To submit an abstract to this panel, send your Abstract Submission Form to Matthias Hoernes (matthias.hoernes@univie.ac.at)

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Panel 5 [All day museum-themed session]: "Museums and Collections in Australasia: The Legacy of Mediterranean Antiquity", organised by Alina Kozlovski (University of New England), James Donaldson (University of Queensland), Candace Richards (University of Sydney), Alessandra Schultz (Queensland Museum Network) and Lincoln Morse (Queensland Museum Network).

 

Navigating the field of Mediterranean Archaeology in the modern post-colonial context of the Australasian region presents unique challenges that museums must acknowledge and seek to address. Museum professionals are faced with the legacy of colonial-era collecting and collections; how antiquity collections fit into this history and that of museums as institutions, is often confronting. It inevitably begs the question: Why does Mediterranean archaeology matter in the Australasian context and what role do the region’s museums play in examining its connection to our side of the world?

 

This set of panels seeks to explore the diverse and cross-disciplinary legacies left by Mediterranean antiquity in museum collections held across public and private institutions, including university museums. It invites industry professionals and researchers to broach and share the challenges of curating, researching, and/or managing antiquities collections and collections with classical archaeological themes.

 

All sessions 1.5 hours each:

 

Sessions 1 and 2: 3 x 20 minute papers (in each session) with accompanying discussion responding to the following themes:

 

Ethics, Provenance, Restitution and Return – What are the current ethical considerations in the ongoing management and care for Mediterranean collections, and how are they being addressed? How are collections engaging with the challenges of colonial legacies, due diligence, provenance research, restitution and return, particularly in the context of small collections with limited resources and historical collections?

 

Caretakers as Specialists – How are collections working together in a post-acquisition world? How are collections and communities collaborating at different levels to support knowledge generation and communicating the significance and value of our collections?

 

Working with Students –  How are collections, both at universities and at state and national levels, working with students as partners? This might include working with students in classes, as volunteers or researchers, but also consider what role archaeological collections can play in training the next generation of museum professionals.

 

Intersection with First Nations communities – How are collections of traditionally imported cultural heritage engaging with and learning from First Nations communities to inform their research and curatorial practices?

 

Papers dealing with issues outside of these broad areas will also be considered.

 

Session 3: Lightning round of case studies of novel ways of widening impact and participation with Mediterranean archaeological collections – 3-5 x 10 min presentations + roundtable discussion  

How are museum and collections approaching collections engagement and stewardship in new and novel ways to widening impact and participation with collections outside of traditional subject areas such as Archaeology and Classics and Ancient History? We invite proposals for short case study reports on an exhibition, public program, collaboration, or other initiative.

 

To submit an abstract to this panel, send your Abstract Submission Form clearly stating which session you are applying for to all of the organisers: Alina Kozlovski (Alina.Kozlovski@une.edu.au), James Donaldson (j.donaldson@uq.edu.au), Candace Richards (candace.richards@sydney.edu.au), Alessandra Schultz (alessandra.schultz@qm.qld.gov.au) and Lincoln Morse (lincoln.morse@qm.qld.gov.au).

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Panel 6: "The Archaeology of Music in the Mediterranean: recent achievements and future prospects", organised by Manolis Mikrakis (National Technical University of Athens).

Since the pioneering publication of the musical instruments in the Berlin Egyptian Museum by Curt Sachs (1921), the study of ancient music through material remains has evolved into a vibrant field of interdisciplinary research, marked by distinct study groups, international conferences and peer-reviewed journals. Embracing an inclusive notion of music that encompasses any cultural behaviour related to sensible or imagined sound, music archaeology (or archaeomusicology) has made significant contributions to the archaeology of the senses, archaeoacoustics, digital heritage studies and other pursuits at the forefront of its parent disciplines of archaeology, anthropology and musicology. Considering that a substantial portion of these developments has come from research on ancient Mediterranean artefacts and sites, the present panel is aimed at demonstrating the current diversity of theoretical perspectives, methods and achievements in the Mediterranean archaeology of music from the prehistory to late antiquity. A special focus will be on the following questions: How can archaeomusicological emphasis on the sonic aspects of culture generate fresh approaches to material culture, landscape, cult, sociο-political dynamics, interregional exchanges and other established themes in Mediterranean archaeology? How can the same emphasis alter the way we understand certain groups of artefacts beyond the traditional categories of musical instruments and sound objects? How do material remains change the picture of musical culture we get from textual sources? And how do recent and contemporary intellectual, cultural and even political currents impact the practice of archaeomusicology and the perception of its research outcomes in academia, the heritage sector or the cultural scene?

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To submit an abstract to this panel, send your Abstract Submission Form to Manolis Mikrakis (emikrakis@arch.ntua.gr)

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