NOTE: Due date for abstracts extended to Oct. 11
SECOND CALL FOR PAPERS
The Archaeology of Work:
An Open Forum For Graduate Students
Boston University
November 9,1996
The Graduate Student Association of the Department of
Archaeology at Boston University is pleased to announce its Second Annual Open
Forum, entitled "The Archaeology of Work." The goal of the conference is to
bring together graduate students in the fields of archaeology, anthropology,
history, art history and classics to discuss their current research as well
as issues of concern in the field. The question of "work", broadly defined to
include such issues as food gathering, and artifact production as well as
larger questions of labor and economic organization, has long been of interest
to the archaeological community. Recent theoretical and technical
developments have brought both new data and new perspectives to these issues.
The sessions are loosely defined around three topics, the social aspects of
the production and labor, technical aspects of production, and modern
approaches to the study of these issues. Each session will conclude with a
moderated discussion. Attendees may also submit posters for display
throughout the day.
The fourth session will bring together distinguished scholars in a
moderated panel discussion of the role of economic, labor and subsistence
issues in archaeology. The panelists are Dr. Norman Hammond from Boston
University, Dr. Heather Lechtman of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
Dr. Curtis Runnels of Boston University, and Dr. Sheila Bonde of Brown
University. The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Clemency C. Coggins of
Boston University, who will invite comments and questions from the audience.
The conference is sponsored jointly by the Archaeology Graduate
Student Association and the Department of Archaeology at Boston
University. Funding for the conference has been provided by The Humanities
Foundation of Boston University. There is no registration fee for the
conference.
Session I
The Social Aspects of Labor and Production
Dr. Mary C. Beaudry, Moderator
Scientific techniques have illuminated our understanding of past tool
production and usage, bringing forth new avenues of archaeological study. At
the same time, more critical theoretical approaches, such as
post-processualism and feminism, have called into question long held
assumptions regarding both the social divisions of labor and the cultural
implications of work. This session is intended to explore both scientific and
theoretical approaches and their use in interpreting the impact of social,
political, and ideological systems on work.
Session II
Technical Aspects of Production
Dr. Julie Hansen, Moderator
While social relations have a crucial impact upon work, the reverse is
also true, that work and its products can have a tremendous impact upon the
creation and transformation of cultures. While looking at the material
remains of production, larger social issues can be examined. New tool
technology enabled early humans to migrate into new environments. Iron plows
revolutionized agriculture. The development of factories and interchangeable
parts radically altered social relations during the industrial revolution.
This session is designed to present new research in areas such as tool
typologies, organization of production, and technological methods, and to
place this information in a larger social context.
Session III
Techniques of Archaeology
Dr. Kenneth Kvamme
The nineteenth century is gone, and the excavation techniques of men
like Pitt-Rivers have matured into a scientifically rigorous discipline. New
applications of computer technology, chemistry, physics, and geology have had
massive repercussions on our understanding of the archaeology of work. The
purpose of this session is to explore the interface between archaeology and
its allied disciplines. Papers should focus on current research using
innovative techniques and explain how this interdisciplinary approach affects
their results.
Session IV
Rethinking the Role of Work: A Panel Discussion
Dr. Norman Hammond, Dr. Heather Lechtman,
Dr. Curtis Runnels, Dr. Sheila Bonde
Dr. Clemency C. Coggins, Moderator
The panelists for this session are professional archaeologists drawn
from a variety of academic backgrounds, each bringing to the discussion their
own views of the role of work in past societies. The moderator will pose
questions to the panel and invite the audience to comment.
Abstracts may be submitted on any of the first three session
topics. Papers should not exceed 20 minutes in length. Slide and overhead
projectors will be available. Abstracts should be typed and no longer than 150
words. Submissions on diskette or via email are encouraged. Deadline for
submission of abstracts is October 11, 1996. Abstracts will be reviewed and
based on their suitability for the sessions as described above. Students will
be notified of their acceptance by October 15, 1996.
Mail abstracts to Lee Payne, Graduate Conference Committee, Department of
Archaeology, Boston University, 675 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215
(email: [log in to unmask]). Limited housing willl be available on a first come,
first serve basis. Questions? Call (617) 353-3415. There is no registration
fee for this conference.
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