Metal Ages in Europe and the Mediterranean / Âges des métaux en Europe et en Méditerranée
The scientific commission “Metal Ages in Europe and the Mediterranean” is part of the UISPP domain “Archaeology and Society” (specific periods, diachronic themes, regional peculiarities), and its objectives are the exchange of information between scholars of all institutions working on the Bronze and Iron Ages in Europe and the Mediterranean. From a geographical point of view, the area covered comprises the whole of Europe and the countries of the Mediterranean and Black Sea basins, from North Africa to Scandinavia and from Ireland to the Levant, Anatolia, the Caucasus and the Urals. From a chronological point of view, the main focus is on the last three millennia BC, but both earlier Chalcolithic societis as well as protohistoric societies of the early AD period may also be considered as falling under the commission's remit. Concerning specific subject matters, the commission's work covers all aspects of Bronze and Iron Age research, including chronology, material culture, settlements, burials, landscapes, techniques, technology, etc. Limitations of its remit arise where specific fields of research are covered by the work of other commissions, e.g. Mortuary Practices in Prehistory and Protohistory or the commissions operating under the domain of Historiography, Methods and Theory. Such overlap evidently does not preclude cooperation between commissions. On the contrary, any form of scientific partnership is strongly encouraged. The commission organizes at least one scientific meeting per year focusing on a transversal theme that addresses current debates in Metal Ages research in Europe.
La commission scientifique « Âges des métaux en Europe » entre dans le domaine « Archéologie et Société » (périodes spécifiques, thèmes diachroniques, particularités régionales) de l’UISPP et a pour objectif l’échange d’informations entre chercheurs de toute institution engagés dans la recherche sur l’âge du Bronze et l’âge du Fer en Europe et en Méditerranée. D’un point de vue géographique, l’ensemble de l’Europe et des pays des bassins méditerranéen et de la mer Noire sont prises en considération, de l’Afrique du Nord à la Scandinavie et de l’Irlande au Levant, l’Anatolie, le Caucase et l’Oural. D’un point de vue chronologique, ce sont surtout les trois derniers millénaires av. J.-C. qui forment le centre d’intérêt, mais les sociétés chalcolithiques plus anciennes ainsi que les sociétés protohistoriques du 1er millénaire après J.-C. peuvent également être considérées comme relevant de la compétence de la commission. En ce qui concerne des sujets spécifiques, les travaux de la commission couvrent tous les aspects de la recherche sur l’âge du Bronze et l’âge du Fer, y compris la chronologie, la culture matérielle, les habitats, les nécropoles, les paysages, la technologie, etc. La seule considération qui limiterait la compétence de la commission est celle du chevauchement thématique avec d’autres commissions. Lorsqu’un tel chevauchement existe, les collaborations avec d’autres commissions sont fortement encouragées. La commission organise au moins une réunion scientifique par an autour d’un thème transversal qui aborde les débats actuels dans la recherche sur les âges des métaux en Europe.
PRESIDENT : Dirk BRANDHERM, Queen's University Belfast, d.brandherm@qub.ac.uk SECRETARY: Davide DELFINO, Instituto Terra e Memória, Institut Politechique de Tomar, davdelfino@gmail.com VICE PRESIDENT: Luís BERROCAL RANGEL, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, luis.berrocal@uam.es
How to apply to become a member of the commission?
To apply to become a member of the commission please contact directly by email either Dirk Brandherm, Luís Berrocal Rangel or Davide Delfino.
Comment devenir membre de la commission?
Pour devenir membre de la commission, merci de contacter Dirk Brandherm, Luís Berrocal Rangel ou Davide Delfino directement par mail.
Report of the commission June 5th, 2018
**CONFERENCES AND EVENTS**
International conference “Scanning the hidden. LiDAR and 3D technologies applied to architecture research in the archaeology of the Metal Ages” 5–8 June 2021 – Ávila (Spain)
Digital technologies are giving impressive results in museographic interpretations of archaeological remains, thanks to 3D models of buildings and artefacts. Without demeaning old-style wooden and cardboard models, e.g. of the wall of the Heuneburg IV, the newest 3D information platforms provide very stunning results, fuller of colours, complex in details, and deeper in three-dimensional discourses than never before. Compared with the amount of time, ability, raw material and research invested in conventional models, 3D printers can produce physical models more cleanly, faster and cheaper. However, such attractive discourses are usually developed over weak probative knowledge bases, where stratigraphy and archaeological context play only a minor role. Although museographic illustrations should never be used without publishing their research-based principles, these are generally not relevant to business or political interests. Because of this, 3D information displays have become a very useful tool to enrich past realities, despite a complexity that often makes archaeologist wonder if they have to be prehistorians or software specialists.Thus, we believe that virtual 3D reconstructions are a valuable research tool, as long as they are used with enough detail and a sound methodological base.
At this conference, we aim to approach the variety of methods and protocols for a scientific use of 3D technologies applied to the study of later prehistoric architecture from the European Metal Ages, beyond mere illustration. Orthophotographs obtained by satellite or drone, as well as LiDAR scanning and ground-penetrating radar provide consistent results that combined with the use of 3D software, architecture, ethnography, stratigraphy and chronology will allow us to develop more solid and innovative research.
Conférence internationale « Le caché dévoilé. Technologies LiDAR et 3D appliquées à la recherche architecturale dans l’archéologie des âges des metaux » 5–8 juin 2021 – Ávila (Espagne)
De nos jours, grâce aux modèles 3D des bâtiments et des objets, les technologies infographiques livrent des résultats surprenants en termes de valorisation. Sans vouloir minimiser l’importance de ces grandes « vieilles » maquettes architecturales en bois et carton, comme celle du rempart de la Heuneburg IV, par exemple, les nouvelles plateformes infographiques fournissent des résultats plus accessibles et plus simples, pleins de couleurs, de détails et de ressources, maintenant plus que jamais. Par rapport à l’investissement en temps, en talent et en matières premières de qualité sur ces anciennes maquettes « physiques », les nouvelles imprimantes 3D peuvent produire des maquettes plus propres, plus rapidement et à moindre coût. Cependant, ces discours attractifs se basent souvent sur des connaissances très faibles, avec une présence minime de la stratigraphie et des contextes archéologiques. Mais les illustrations muséographiques ne devraient pas être utilisées sans la publication des données de base, qui sont rarement valorisées par les entreprises et les élus qui choisissent. Pour ces raisons, l’infographie est devenue un outil très pertinent pour la restitution du passé, même si leur complexité peut mener l’archéologue à se demander s’il est un préhistorien ou un technicien informatique. Donc, nous croyons fermement que les logiciels de restitution virtuelle sont un outil inestimable pour la recherche archéologique, à condition de ne pas les dissocier des données d’origine.
A l’occasion de cette réunion, nous proposons une discussion sur des méthodes et des protocoles pour l’usage scientifique des technologies 3D appliquées à la recherche de l’architecture des âges de métaux en Europe. L’orthophotographie par satellite et par drones, combinée aux relevés LiDAR et par géo-radar, fournissent des résultats solides qui, couplés aux restitutions 3D, et à des analyses architecturales, ethnographiques, stratigraphiques et chronologiques nous permettent de développer une recherche plus solide et innovante.
International conference “Where are you going? Reconsidering Migrations in the Metal Ages” 9–10 November 2019 – Edinburgh (Scotland)
The Commission’s 2019 annual conference was hosted by the University of Edinburgh. In 21 oral presentations and 6 posters, scholars from across Europe and the US discussed the subject of population movements between the Chalcolithic and the Late Iron Age, which in recent years, following the introduction of new scientific approaches has become a major topic. Whereas human mobility – especially of elites and women – had long been assumed by archaeologists, it was the adoption of new palaeogenetic and other bioarchaeological methods that forced us to rethink scales of human mobility, their correlation with gender and their societal impact. Speakers at the Edinburgh conference explored questions such as: How did long-distance migrations and gender-based mobilities interact? How was travel organised? What routes did they follow? And by what means did they travel? How did patterns of mobility change during the Metal Ages? How much are our “migrations” just the outcome of long-term institutionalised mobilities of individuals e.g. due to patrilocal residence rules? How can we link global and local perspectives on mobility?
International conference "Fortifications of the Metal Ages in Europe: Defensive, Symbolic and Territorial Aspects" 10-12 November 2017 - Sociedade Martins Sarmento, Rua Paio Galvão, Guimarães (Portugal)
In 2017, the annual conference of the Scientific Commission “Metal Ages in Europe” was held at the seat of the Sociedade Martins Sarmento. This year, the thematic focus was on fortifications in the European Metal Ages. In 26 oral presentations, a total of 55 colleagues from seven European countries considered defensive, symbolic and territorial aspects of this type of monuments. Discussion on the first day centered on theoretical aspects of the study of enclosures and fortified settlements from the Chalcolithic and the Bronze Age, while the second day of presentations was dedicated to Iron Age fortifications, followed by a musical intermezzo and the closing keynote by Prof. Gonzalo Ruiz Zapatero. On the third and final day of the conference, the attendees went on a field trip to visit the hill forts of Castro do Sabroso and Citânia de Briteiros, and the Museu da Cultura Castreja (Museum of the “Castro” Culture). Proceeding of the Colloquium will be published in Archaeopress in 2018. We would like to thank the Sociedade Martins Sarmento, the Municipality of Guimarães, the Centre of Geociences of the University of Coimbra, the University of Minho and the Instituto Terra e Memória for their support in organizing this conference.