26 March 2011

Dear colleagues and friends, 

At the conference in Köln/Bonn (23-26 February 2011) a discussion concerning the foundation 
of an umbrella organization for research on Hellenistic pottery took place once again. Unfortunately, no final conclusion could be reached there. However, the very positive feedback in general and the expressed interest of many of you encouraged us to pursue this idea and to offer a concrete concept of how such an organization might be realized. 

During the last 25 years, our Greek colleagues have carried out valuable pioneer work bringing us 
all together at conferences at different places in Greece (Ioannina 1986, Rhodos 1989, Thessaloniki 1991, Mytilene 1994, Chania 1997, Volos 2000, Aigio 2005, Ioannina 2009), in order to discuss material from "closed" deposits and in this way create a reliable basis for more intensive studies on Hellenistic pottery. Since the first conference, the community of researchers has grown and become more and more international. After the overwhelming response to the conferences in Köln/Bonn and in 2008 at Sonderborg (DK), it is now time to broaden the frame of research and share the responsibility of leadership. The management of a more permanent communication platform for all those engaged in the study of Hellenistic pottery, as well as planning and funding issues connected with, it should no longer fall only to scholars from one country but should be shared among scholars in countries where Hellenistic pottery is found, as well as those in countries where Hellenistic pottery is a subject of research. 

Therefore, we would propose the foundation of an international organization with the following preliminary aims: 

- To establish an internet-based communication platform for easy dissemination of various types of information of mutual interest (i.e., other conferences, updating of bibliography, new excavations or finds); 
- To organize conferences with regular intervals every 2 or max. 3 years, hosted by changing institutions in different countries (similar to RCRF); 
- To publish the papers of the conferences within a short span of time; 
- To represent and advocate for common interests (i.e., establishing Hellenistic pottery as a subject in the teaching system; exporting of pottery samples for archaeometric analyses; organizing sample collections of fabrics and wares in museums and excavations; co-operative research projects) 

As we all know it mainly takes money to realize such goals! Therefore, we propose that this foundation include a registered Association, which will facilitate applications for funding support from different sources. Since the preparation for such an Association is already in progress in Germany, we propose that it be organized and maintained here. 

The preliminary name of this Association is (until someone offers a better idea):

International Association for Research on Hellenistic Pottery

As soon as the Association is registered, we will send you a membership form. We hope that we will be able to present a long list of members at the end of this year! 
The next steps will be the formulation of statutes for the Association, the opening of a bank account, and then the creation of a webpage. 

The voting for the statutes and the board of directors of the Association will be the matter of all members; it will take place at the first constitutional meeting of the Association. This will be called during the next conference on Hellenistic pottery planned for 

2013 in Berlin

The following conference (2015?) should be then in another country, and it will be up to all of you to propose a suitable place for it! 

Finally, we would like to encourage you to let us know your ideas and wishes concerning the aspired organization. Please, use the following email for your feedback: IVEHK@gmx.de. 

We emphasize that this circular regards only the preparation of a task in which a great many researchers might be interested. Therefore, we would be very grateful if you let this circular circulate! Everyone interested in Hellenistic ceramics is a potential member of the aspired Association and may contact us for further questions/information/ideas (other languages that can be used for communication with us: German, French, English, Italian, Greek). 

Many regards, 

The founding committee 
Guy Ackermann M.A. - Prof. Dr. Andrea Berlin - Ass. Prof. Pia Guldager Bilde - 
Dr. Patricia Kögler - Dr. Zoi Kotitsa - Senior Researcher John Lund - Dr. Annette Peignard-Giros
 
 

The "UK-Forum"
An online discussion board for Urnfield Culture (UK) cemeteries in Central Europe (and for cremation graves in general)

An online discussion forum for Urnfield Culture research, called "UK-Forum", has been set up at the Prehistoric Commission in the Austrian Academy of Sciences - see www.oeaw.ac.at/praehist/.  The forum focuses on themes relating to cremation cemeteries from this period. The "UK-Forum" started in December 2010 with a small group of Urnfield Culture specialists from various European countries (Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, Austria).

The idea behind this Forum is the creation of a shared database on Urnfield culture cemeteries, which can be used by researchers from wherever they may be based. One aim is to use the "UK-Forum" to discuss and agree on terminology and classifications. The intention is that this will help to resolve the old problem of different nomenclature and classificatory systems being used in publications, making the comparison of cemeteries more difficult.

The discussion of terminology and categories naturally leads to a discussion of more general questions regarding the nature of mortuary evidence, which we also want to address in our forum. Therefore, we would like to extend the range of members participating in the forum and invite more researchers who are interested in mortuary archaeology, cremation graves, databases and stratigraphy to join us.

Our current topic is the stratigraphy of cremation graves. The main question is how to transfer limited stratigraphic information from older "antiquarian" excavations into databases.

The next topic will be the discussion and development of basic terminology and classifications for the shared database. We will post a first document with archaeological classifications of Graves - Cremation graves shortly.

If you are interested, please write a short email including a few words about yourself and your research to edeltraud.aspoeck@assoc.oeaw.ac.at.

Michaela Lochner (michaela.lochner@oeaw.ac.at)
Irmtraud Hellerschmid (irmtraud.hellerschmid@oeaw.ac.at)
Edeltraud Aspöck (edeltraud.aspoeck@assoc.oeaw.ac.at)
 
 

New Journal: Interdisciplinaria Archaeologica - Natural Sciences in Archaeology

Dear Colleagues!

We would like to introduce you to a publishing opportunity through the new specialty journal Interdisciplinaria Archaeologica - Natural Sciences in Archaeology (IA NSA).

IA NSA focuses on the ongoing cooperation of archaeology with the natural sciences and 
other disciplines. The journal's interests include bioarcheaology (archaeobotany, 
archaeozoology, archaeogenetics and anthropology), geoarchaeology (petro-archaeology, micromorphology) and dating methods in archaeology. We will publish contributions that 
aim to solve archaeological questions utilizing the methods of the natural sciences and other disciplines. The birth of IA NSA reflects the growing need of scientists in central Europe to access an international journal focused on the methods of the natural sciences and multidisciplinary 
cooperation in archaeology. 

The growth of natural science methodologies within archaeology has been very dynamic. It is anticipated that our target group of readers will also grow in the coming years and, along with 
traditional archaeological institutions, will gradually include specialized natural science 
institutions (natural science departments associated with archaeology-focused museums, 
specialized laboratories, etc.) especially those in Central Europe. IA NSA also aims to provide a niche for historical studies, particularly those that cooperate with the natural sciences and 
archaeology. 

The journal is strictly scientific, peer reviewed, and publishes only in English. Each article is 
reviewed by two specialists in fields related to the content of the article. Our goal is to establish IA NSA as a high quality specialty periodical, cited by the international Thomson Reuters Journal Citation Report (JCR), and with a high level JCR "Impact Factor".  A hardcopy of the journal will be issued semi-annually, on glossy paper, and with an initial circulation of 500 copies. It will be available in electronic form on the journal's web page www.iansa.cz (launching at the end of 2010).

The first double issue is in production now, as contributions were accepted until November 30, 2010. Please follow the guidelines for submitting authors (attached) and mail them electronically to mlejnek.o@seznam.cz. 

We look forward to working with you. 
On behalf of the Editorial Board

Jaroslav Peska, director of the Archaeological Centre of Olomouc