*COLONIZATION AND NAVIGATION: HOW DID IT HAPPEN? *



Dear Colleague and Friend,

   Volume 13 of EXPRESSION e-magazine is now available. In the framework of
the project ‘*Understanding what is defined abstract’*, authors from
different scientific, cultural and geographical areas, are contributing
papers on “*Abstract signs in prehistoric and tribal art: meaning and
problems of interpretation”.*  Should you wish to receive a free copy, just
ask for it at *[log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>*.  Provide your
name, mailing address and e-mail, and the free copy will be sent to you.

We are now preparing an issue of EXPRESSION facing another fascinating
topic:



*COLONIZATION*

*HOW DID HUMANS REACH ALL THE LANDS OF THE PLANET?     **MANY DIFFERENT
STORIES CAN BE LIKE STONES IN A MOSAIC, PIECING TOGETHER AN OVERVIEW*

Colleagues are welcome to propose their contribution: papers illustrating a
case, a trend, an idea or a detail, of such immense process that gave to
most (not yet all) peoples and cultures of the planet their homeland.
Papers may concern art, archaeology, anthropology, history, myths, beliefs,
traditions or popular tales.

From an original land of origins, likely to have been in Africa, the
ancestors of humankind colonized all corners of the globe: they reached far
away islands in the oceans and remote highlands in the mountains,
territories in the desert and in the deep forest. Other primates still
survive in their limited habitat; humans live in the equatorial regions as
well as near the Arctic pole. How did colonization take place? What are the
traces of human expansion? How did present day populations reach their
“homelands”? Each case is a special case: the first inhabitants of Easter
Island and those of the Falklands, both reached far away islands, but for
different reasons and have different stories.

The first inhabitants of America and those of Australia have different
stories. But also the quality and size of our knowledge differs on each one
of these events. Processes of cultural diffusion concerning art and
material culture reveal relations between continents, expansions of certain
cultural trends and restrictions of others. The entire story of humankind
is made of bits and pieces of colonization.

Many open questions are awakening interest and concern. How and why did
human beings expand from their land of origin? How did they reach and
colonize Australia or America, or an island like Iceland, or the top of a
mountain like Machu Picchu? How did people penetrate and occupy the forest,
in central India, Borneo, the Congo or Amazonia? How was New Zealand in the
Pacific or Malta in the Mediterranean first inhabited?

How did various human waves colonize Europe? From the early hominids that
reached Europe two million years ago, to the Neanderthals who evolved and
spread over Europe, to the early waves of *Homo sapiens*, to the Neolithic
colonizers, to recent arrivals, the secret of European success is likely to
be due to the overlapping and encounter of different people and cultures.
The same can be said for America or Australia. And what about Japan or
Madagascar, or Sri-Lanka, or Tasmania? No one, not even the local natives
of five continents, was originally born in their land, though some believe
they were. Even the Pygmies of the Congo basin have their myth of origin
concerning their early exodus. From a primary core humanity reached
everywhere. Each culture, like each village or clan, has a story or a myth
regarding their “Garden of Eden” their primordial land of origin.

Following the traditions of EXPRESSION magazine, papers should concern
specific topics or sites. Short papers of 1,500–3,000 words are suggested,
preferably with good illustrations. The deadline for presenting papers for
next issue is 15 November 2016.

EXPRESSION magazine is published by *Atelier Research Center* in
cooperation with *UISPP-CISNEP*, the “*International Scientific Commission
on the Intellectual and Spiritual Expressions of Non-literate Peoples”.*
The goal of EXPRESSION is to promote knowledge and ideas concerning *the
intellectual and spiritual expressions of non-literate societies.* It is an
open forum in conceptual anthropology welcoming contributions. Colleagues
having something to say will find their space in this e-magazine, which is
reaching people of culture and academic institutions in over 60 countries.

For further information or for submitting papers contact:
<*[log in to unmask]
<[log in to unmask]>*>.

Best wishes and cordial regards,

*Emmanuel Anati*



[image: Description:
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*Prof. Emmanuel Anati*

*President, Atelier Research Center for Conceptual Anthropology*

*Director, CISPE, Centro Internazionale di Studi Preistorici ed Etnologici*

*President UISPP-CISNEP International Commission*


*Honorary President, Centro Camuno di Studi Preistorici *      office
email: <*[log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>*>



*Atelier*

*Research Center for Conceptual Anthropology*

Città della Cultura

Via Marconi 7, Capodiponte, 25044, Italy