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Sunday 5 June 2022

International conference Athens, 8–11 December, 2022

Athens and Attica in the Early Iron Age and the Archaic Period

International conference Athens, 8–11 December, 2022

Although Attica stands out as the best-documented region of the Greek World, the earlier phases of its history and development are less well-represented in the archaeological record. As a result, our knowledge of early Athens and Attica remains highly fragmented.

Rescue excavations had mostly followed Athens’ dramatic urban expansion in the 20th century. However, starting in the 1990s, the Greek Archaeological Service has explored other regions of Attica, as part of the major works related to the 2004 Olympic Games and other large infrastructure projects. These rescue excavations have changed our knowledge of the ancient landscape and the occupational history of Attica dramatically. At the same time, excavation and survey projects conducted by other institutions (the Archaeological Society at Athens, the University of Athens, and various foreign Archaeological Schools), as well as a re-examination of old material, have broadened our understanding of long-term developments, topography, the exploitation of natural resources, and social complexity.

Topics

Building upon the recent publication of the colloquium “Athens and Attica in Prehistory” (ed. N. Papadimitriou, J. Wright, S. Fachard, N. Polychronakou-Sgouritsa, and E. Andrikou, Archaeopress, Oxford, 2021) this conference is devoted to the archaeology of Early Iron Age and Archaic period in Athens and Attica, focusing on the publication of the latest discoveries. The primary goal of the conference is to provide a new archaeological synthesis for the first half of the first millennium (down to 480 BC), including an up-to-date gazetteer of sites and distribution maps.

Researchers will focus on new finds and contextualize them by adopting a regional and microregional perspective (e.g. the Mesogeia, Marathon, Athens or Eleusis plains, the Laurion region, Vari, etc.). Papers will include presentations of excavations and surveys, as well as specialized studies and re-examination of old material focusing on the following topics:

  • the nature of the ancient economy and the role of metallurgy
  • land use and settlement patterns
    contacts with other areas in mainland Greece, the Aegean, and beyond
  • funerary architecture and burial practices
  • cult practices
  • social and cultural complexity

 

Organizing and scientific committee

  • Dr Eleni Andrikou, Director, Ephorate of Antiquities of East Attica
  • Professor John Papadopoulos, The University of California at Los Angeles
  • Professor Alexandros Mazarakis Ainian, University of Thessaly, Volos
  • Professor Sylvian Fachard, University of Lausanne, Director of the Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece
  • Dr Nikolas Papadimitriou, Director, Paul and Alexandra Canellopoulos Museum

 

 

Organizational Support

  • Dr Daphne Vlanti, Swiss School of Archaeology

Honorary Committee

  • Dr Elena Kountouri, Director, Directorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, Deputy Director, Ephorate of Antiquities of the City of Athens
  • Dr Stella Chryssoulaki, Director, Ephorate of Antiquities of Piraeus and the Islands
  • Christina Merkouri, Director, Ephorate of Antiquities of West Attica
  • Dr Andreas Darlas, Director, Ephorate of Palaeoanthropology – Speleology
  • Dr Eleni Banou, Director, Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities
  • Dr Vasileios Petrakos, Secretary-General, Archaeological Society at Athens
  • Professor Bonna Wescoat, Director, American School of Classical Studies at Athens
  • Professor Katja Sporn, Director, German Archaeological Institute, Athens
  • Professor Athena Tsingarida, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Director, Belgian School at Athens
  • Professor Dimitris Plantzos, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
  • Professor Jennifer Neils, Former Director, American School of Classical Studies at Athens

 

Venues

Cotsen Hall
Αmerican School of Classical Studies
Anapiron Polemou 9
106 76, Athens
Greece

&

Poster session (Friday 9 December, 16.30-18.30)
Paul and Alexandra Canellopoulos Museum
12 Theorias Street
105 55 Athens, Greece
www.camu.gr

Note: the posters will remain at the Canellopoulos Museum until Monday 12 December and can be visited during the Museum’s opening hours, 09.00-16.00)

 

Conference Guidelines

Papers will be strictly limited to 15 minutes.
For posters, see the detailed guidelines (pdf).