Humanist Discussion Group, Vol. 16, No. 564.
Centre for Computing in the Humanities, King's College London
www.kcl.ac.uk/humanities/cch/humanist/
Submit to: humanist@princeton.edu
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2003 06:41:58 +0000
From: Constanze Witt <constanze@mail.utexas.edu>
Subject: CFP: "Closed Context" in Context deadline extended
Annual Meeting of the EAA [European Association of Archaeologists] in St.
Petersburg , Russia, 10-14 September 2003
http://www.eaa2003am.spb.ru/
Session: The "Closed Context" in Context
What is a "closed context," a "closed find," or a "closed deposit"? These
are terms with which we work every day. The phrases have entered the
vernacular and are used in a wide range of contexts. In archaeology,
systems of relative and absolute chronology are based on confidently
declared "closed" finds. The arts of stratigraphic analysis, art historical
and stylistic analysis, historical and cultural interpretation, even the
discoveries of entire peoples have been profoundly impacted by certain key
"closed" finds. Yet there does not appear to be a clear terminological
consensus on the identity of a "closed find" -- is it the same as a "closed
context"? a "geschlosssener Befund"? How exactly does one determine the
precise degree of closedness of a context? What is the history of the use
of the terms, and what theoretical underpinnings can we ascribe to them,
then and now? what are the temporal and spatial aspects of a "closed"
context? How do we go about the interpretation of a "closed" find -- what
are the special considerations? What of "heirlooms," residual finds,
multiple-use objects? What different types of contexts can be considered
"closed," and why?
Papers exploring the theoretical ramifications of a closer analysis of the
terms and their attendant phenomena are welcomed, as well as individual
case studies illuminating salient characteristics of the concepts.
Abstract deadline is MARCH 31. Please e-mail abstracts to
constanze@mail.utexas.edu
Many thanks
Constanze Witt
--[Note also Thematic block 1: Theory and Interpretation of Material Culture, a very important topic for us; see http://www.eaa2003am.spb.ru/program.html --WM]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Constanze Witt, PhD UT Austin Classics Dept. 1 University Station C3400 Austin, TX 78712-0308 512 471 8684 fax 512 471 4111 http://www.utexas.edu/depts/classics/
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