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THE
EUROPEAN ARCHAEOLOGIST
Published
by the European Association of Archaeologists,
c/o Institute of Archaeology CAS, Letenská 4, 11801 Praha 1,
Czech
Republic. Tel./Fax: +420 257014411,
ISSN
1022-0135
The
European Association of Archaeologists (EAA) is a membership-based association
open to all archaeologists and other related or interested individuals
or bodies. The EAA currently has over 1100 members on its database from
41 countries world-wide working in prehistory, classical, medieval and
later archaeology. They include academics, aerial archaeologists, environmental
archaeologists, field archaeologists, heritage managers, historians, museum
curators, researchers, scientists, teachers, conservators, underwater archaeologists
and students of archaeology.
The
Association is a fully democratic body, governed by an Executive Board
elected by the Full members and is representative of the different regions
of Europe. At all times the EAA adheres to its Statutes.
The
main forum for EAA members to interact is represented by the Annual Meetings.
These lively and well-attended conferences, held every September in a different
country of Europe, are one of the highlights of the archaeological year.
The
official language of the EAA is English, but if you have difficulties with
English you can communicate with us in any major European language.
The
Association organises conferences and seminars and acts as an advisory
body on all issues relating to the archaeology of Europe. The EAA Annual
Meetings offer a unique opportunity for archaeologists from all over Europe
and beyond to exchange ideas and opinions on archaeological practice and
theory following the aim to contribute to a continuing discussion concerning
the numerous identities and contexts of European archaeology.
For
more information visit
EAA Website.
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EAA
MATTERS
| The Pan African
Association of Archaeologists and the EAA
Nathan
Schlanger, INRAP - Institut national de recherches archéologiques préventives,
Paris, France. Email: nathan.schlanger@inrap.fr
Between
the 1 and 7 November 2010, some 400 archaeologists from around the world
gathered in Dakar, Senegal, for the joint congress of the Pan African Association
of Archaeology and Related Studies (PAA) and the Society of Africanist
Archaeologists (SAfA).
Created
in 1947, the Pan African Association of Archaeology and Related Studies
is the earliest continent-wide gathering of archaeologists (see www.panafprehistory.org).
Over the years, it has provided unique opportunities for addressing major
scientific challenges in such fields as prehistory and human origins research,
palaeontology, quaternary studies and historical archaeology, and it has
also played a key role in promoting the professionalization of the discipline
during the lengthy and sometimes difficult transition from colonial rule
to independence. More recently, the PAA (also called "PanAf") has proved
to be an invaluable forum for addressing the links between archaeology
and economic and social development, and for promoting relevant approaches
to cultural heritage management on the continent. This was indeed the main
theme of Natthe 2010 Dakar meeting, where, in addition to a wide range
of regular sessions, specific attention was paid to the overarching theme
of 'Preserving African Cultural Heritage', addressing such challenges as
public archaeology and the integration of local communities, and the maintenance
of scientific standards and protection measures for archaeology in the
framework of large scale development programmes. A number of perspectives
were provided from within Africa itself and from other parts of the world,
including international organizations such as the International ICOMOS
Committees on Archaeological Heritage Management (ICAHM) and on underwater
archaeology, as well as relevant European perspectives such as the Malta
Convention.
Fig.
1: The PAA/SAfA excursion to the island of Gorée, Dakar, a World Heritage
Site notorious for its implication in the Slave trade
Fig.
2: EAA president Friedrich Lüth addressing the joint PAA/SAfA general assembly,
at the main hall of the University of Dakar (5 November 2010).
The
European Association of Archaeologist has had the opportunity to provide
some assistance to its sister organization, when Alinah Segobye (the PAA
president) and Ibrahima Thiaw (the academic secretary) were invited to
attend "behind the scene" our annual meeting at Riva del Garda in 2009.
In Dakar, the EAA President Fritz Lüth presented to the general assembly
some perspectives on archaeological research and management world-wide.
It is hoped that these connections will be further developed and brought
to fruition at the next continental gathering of the PAA, scheduled for
July 2014 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
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