Archaeology 2015: Ancient Cultures in the Lands of the Bible – Call For Papers

Archaeology 2015: Ancient Cultures in the Lands of the Bible
Jerusalem
21-23 June 2015
(Pre-Conference Tours: 19-20 June 2015; 24 Jun 2015 – Departure to 2-3-4 days of After-Conference Tours)

Conference Website

The International Conference on Archaeology in Israel and the Ancient Near East is a unique celebration of 50 years of scientific archaeological excavation and research. We invite all interested parties to participate, to hear first hand of the latest, most exciting discoveries, to actually see the finds and meet the archaeologists who are excavating sites throughout the Lands of the Bible, and to visit and explore these sites in specially organized, professional tours: from “King David’s palace” in Jerusalem to the “tomb of Herod”, from biblical battlefields to Crusader fortresses, from ancient monasteries in the isolated Judean Desert to fascinating seaports and ancient agricultural villages that have been miraculously preserved.

The Land of the Bible, this tiny strip of land located in the center of all the major ancient cultures of the Near East, from Babylon, Assyria and the Land of the Hittites in the north, to Egypt in the south, is literally built upon layers of history. Wherever you scratch the surface, you unearth ancient ruins where historical events took place. At the same time, Israel of today is a modern society of scientific technology and high-tech entrepreneurs, offering incredible archaeological potential and ability. This combination of archaeological finds literally popping out of the earth, and the capabilities to scientifically analyze the finds and their context, has led to remarkable achievements, and will continue to do so in the future. However, there still remains much to be uncovered, as the Lands of the Bible have not yet revealed to us all their secrets.

Please consider this message as a personal invitation to participation in a fascinating professional encounter on an international level, integrating a wide range of fields, including education, religion, history, art, conservation, environmental studies, etc. The conference is designed to be an intellectually unforgettable experience for all who love archaeology, history and culture, and is open to applicants and participants from fields other than archaeology.

We call upon researchers from all over the world to present their studies relating to the history, culture and archaeology of the Lands of the Bible, and topics that shed light on interrelations within the region and with other parts of the ancient world

The scientific committee of the conference invites participants to submit abstracts on the topics outlined in the accompanying list presented on this web site. Additional subjects related to the main topics of the conference are also welcome.

Abstracts (in English) for individual paper presentations or symposiums should not exceed 200–300 words and must include the name of the presenter, his/her affiliation and the type of presentation (paper or symposium). Proposed posters can be submitted as text or PDF file. A short biography or C.V. can be added together with the abstract in a separate file. Please submit your abstract directly to the scientific committee by email: desk@archaeologyisrael.com

The deadline for abstract`s submission is 15 September 2014.

This is a list of suggested topics for which the Scientific Committee would like to receive abstracts. Of course, other topics related to the cultures and archaeology of the region are welcome:

  • Prehistory: the formation of the earliest human societies in the ancient Near East; migrations; burial customs; tool production; the transition to permanent settlements.
  • Interrelationships: between empires and empires, or empires and provinces in antiquity; artistic, architectural, religious, economic, and linguistic influences; imposition of legal systems; transfer of technologies; clashes of ideas, religions and concepts.
  • Markets and Trade: the ancient Near East as a gateway to Europe, as a bridge to Asia; the Land of Israel as a commercial junction between East and West; local and international trade.
  • The Great Battlefields: ancient weapons and military technologies; battle strategies of the Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Muslims, Crusaders, etc.
  • Clash of Civilizations: for example, the Islamic-Crusader encounter.
  • Rome and the Ancient Near East: archeological evidence from Europe of Near Eastern influences on the Roman Empire.
  • Ancient Near Eastern Art: art and its role in society in the cultures of the ancient Near East; royal art vs. common art; local artists between east and west.
  • Marine and Underwater Archaeology: harbors and ancient port cities; naval encounters in the Mediterranean; warships and fishing boats in the Mediterranean, Red Sea and Sea of ​​Galilee; King Solomon’s fleet; “Jesus’ boat”.
  • Pleasures of the Ancient Kitchen; Oriental and Mediterranean diet in antiquity; preserved food; royal cuisine vs. nutrition of the masses.
  • Archaeological Science: archaeometric methodologies such as isotopic and radiometric analyses, X-ray diffraction, remote sensing, analytical site mapping, analyses of sediments, materials, artifacts, etc.

Questions concerning the conference or abstract submission can be addressed to our main office: desk@archaeologyisrael.com