2021, in: Delrieu (F.), Feliu (Cl.), Gruat (P.), Kurzaj (M.-C.), Nectoux (E.), Espaces Fortifiés à l'âge du Fer en Europe, Actes du 43e colloque international de l'AFEAF, Le Puy-en-Velay (30 mai-1er juin 2019), Paris, AFEAF, 2021., 2021
This paper aims at discussing the birth of the prominent kind of settlement in Mediterranean Gau... more This paper aims at discussing the birth of the prominent kind of settlement in Mediterranean Gaul from the VIth century BCE on, the hillforts. We will focus on the example of Western Languedoc. In this area, hillforts are known from the Late Bronze Age, mainly in the hinterland. However, most often, any relationship between this first wave of hillfort development and the one observed later in the littoral area is denied. This later wave is interpreted as the consequence of trade encounter with sea-faring societies from Eastern or Central Mediterranean. Yet, the results of the excavations developed in the hillfort ofMalvieu (Saint-Pons-de-Thomières, Hérault, France), inhabited between the Late Bronze Age and the VIth century BCE allow for challenging this idea.
Cet article analyse les modalités d'émergence de la forme d'habitat prédominante en Gaule méditerranéenne à partir du VI e siècle av. n. è., les sites de hauteur agglomérés et fortifiés, en s'intéressant plus spécifiquement au cas du Languedoc occidental. Dans ce secteur, un premier processus de perchement et de fortification de l'habitat est connu à partir du Bronze Final IIIa, principalement dans les secteurs d'arrière-pays. Pourtant, le plus souvent, tout rapport de causalité entre les processus à l'origine de ces sites anciens et ceux ayant amené à l'émergence des plus récents est nié. On attribue l'émergence de ces derniers à des changements socio-économiques survenus du fait de la rencontre commerciale avec les populations de Méditerranée centrale et orientale. Or, les résultats des fouilles du site de Malvieu (Saint-Pons-de-Thomières, Hérault), un habitat de hauteur fortifié occupé entre la fin de l'âge du Bronze et le VI e siècle av. n. è. amènent à remettre ce point de vue en cause.
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Books by Alexis Gorgues
Mais quel impact a réellement la chronologie sur la discipline ? Doit-on considérer que l’archéologie se limite à des bornes chronologiques strictes ? Quand et pourquoi dit-on que l’on entre dans des périodes dites archéologiques ?
Ce ne sont là que quelques-unes des questions que se sont posées les auteurs de cet ouvrage collectif.
Universitaires, archéologues préventifs, spécialistes variés, doctorants ou professeurs, de nationalités multiples, participent à cette réflexion, offrant ainsi un aspect de la pensée archéologique actuelle et invitant le lecteur à réfléchir sur la définition même de l’archéologie.
Plus d'infos : http://www.editions-fedora.com/#!product-page/e2g44/57873713-8a73-9ec6-877f-929db456e769
Papers by Alexis Gorgues
Cet article analyse les modalités d'émergence de la forme d'habitat prédominante en Gaule méditerranéenne à partir du VI e siècle av. n. è., les sites de hauteur agglomérés et fortifiés, en s'intéressant plus spécifiquement au cas du Languedoc occidental. Dans ce secteur, un premier processus de perchement et de fortification de l'habitat est connu à partir du Bronze Final IIIa, principalement dans les secteurs d'arrière-pays. Pourtant, le plus souvent, tout rapport de causalité entre les processus à l'origine de ces sites anciens et ceux ayant amené à l'émergence des plus récents est nié. On attribue l'émergence de ces derniers à des changements socio-économiques survenus du fait de la rencontre commerciale avec les populations de Méditerranée centrale et orientale. Or, les résultats des fouilles du site de Malvieu (Saint-Pons-de-Thomières, Hérault), un habitat de hauteur fortifié occupé entre la fin de l'âge du Bronze et le VI e siècle av. n. è. amènent à remettre ce point de vue en cause.
Resumen: El taller de alfareros ibéricos de Mas de Moreno ofrece un contexto único para estudiar el papel de la epigrafía en un contexto productivo (Gorgues 2009). La campaña de 2015, la última de este programa franco-aragonés (codirigido por J. A. Benavente Serrano y uno de los autores), entregó un objeto inscrito particular, un cubo de seis caras que se conserva actualmente en el CIBA de Alcañiz. Este objeto se encontró en una capa de restos de producción que data de la primera mitad del siglo I a. C., por lo que es indudable que se fabricó en Mas de Moreno. Es la primera vez que se encuentra un objeto de este tipo en un contexto arqueológico bien datado. Presentaremos el objeto recontextualizándolo y ofreciendo comparaciones con otros dados conocidos en la Península Ibérica.
Milcent, P.-Y., Couderc, F., Auxerre-Géron, F.-A., Barral, P., Basset, C., Bénézet, J., Bernard, L., Blancquaert, G., Carrara, S., Chevillot, C., Chevrier, S., Colin, A., Deberge, Y., Dedet, B., Delrieu, F., Dufay-Garel, Y., Dumas, A., Durand, E., Duval, H., Féliu, C., Gaillard, C., Gardes, P., Giraud, P., Gomez De Soto, J., Gorgues, A., Gruat, P., Hiriart, E., Isoardi, D., Kurzaj, M.-C., Lallemand, D., Landolt, M., Laruaz, J.-M., Lautier, L., Le Dreff, T., Maitay, C., Malrain, F., Martinaux, L., Mocci, F., Nouvel, P., Parachaud, K., Remy, J., Séjalon, P., Sergent, F., Venco, C., Verdin, F., Walter, M., Les établissements de hauteur défendus protohistoriques en France (XXIIe-Ier siècles av. J.-C.). Fabien Delrieu; Clément Féliu, Philippe Gruat; Marie-Caroline Kurzaj; Élise Nectoux. Les espaces fortifiés à l’âge du Fer en Europe. Actes du 43e colloque international de l’Association française pour l’étude de l’âge du Fer (Le Puy-en-Velay, 30 mai-1er juin 2019), Collection AFEAF (3), AFEAF, pp.175-194, 2021, 978-2-9567407-2-8
A review of current knowledge is proposed based on updated data for 1330 fortified sites on high ground. These, for the most part, have been explored on too limited an area to understand their precise nature and status. Generally, they are located on spurs and cover a very small area, particularly in the Southeast. Only a quarter of them exceed 7 ha. The size of the fortifications is also an essential criteria, but it was only possible to address it from one clue – the length: the range of disparities are very wide there also; but, we note that this length doubles on average at the end of the Iron Age. The materials of the ramparts reveal trends: earth dominates in the northwest half, stone in the southeast half; wooden frames are scattered, but rarer near the Mediterranean. At the French national as well as at the regional level, the chronological curves of the occupations are very comparable and punctuated by three peaks, of increasing magnitude, at the end of the Bronze Age, the Early and the Late Iron Age. These evolutionary similarities underscore the importance of causalities on a supraregional and intercultural scale. However, there is no consensus on the interpretation of the defended sites’ development during Protohistory.
Le concept de « chaîne opératoire » reste de nos jours le cadre dans lequel se développe toute restitution d’un processus technique en archéologie. Cet article vise, sur la base d’un retour d’expérience, à montrer les limites de cette démarche. L’exemple des fouilles développées par une équipe franco-espagnole en Bas-Aragon, sur l’atelier de potiers ibérique du Mas de Moreno de Foz-Calanda (Teruel), a montré en effet qu’elle pouvait induire en erreur au moment d’interpréter les données de fouille. Basée sur une conception linéaire du processus technique, le concept de « chaîne opératoire » amène à projeter dans l’espace des logiques productives qui rendent en fait compte des représentations mentales des archéologues. Pour appréhender correctement cet atelier de l’âge du Fer récent et restituer au mieux les gestes et les mouvements des potiers, nous proposons ici une méthode d’approche centrée sur l’étude fine de la morphologie des vestiges liés à l’activité potière.
Le concept de « chaîne opératoire » reste de nos jours le cadre dans lequel se développe toute restitution d’un processus technique en archéologie. Cet article vise, sur la base d’un retour d’expérience, à montrer les limites de cette démarche. L’exemple des fouilles développées par une équipe franco-espagnole en Bas-Aragon, sur l’atelier de potiers ibérique du Mas de Moreno de Foz-Calanda (Teruel), a montré en effet qu’elle pouvait induire en erreur au moment d’interpréter les données de fouille. Basée sur une conception linéaire du processus technique, le concept de « chaîne opératoire » amène à projeter dans l’espace des logiques productives qui rendent en fait compte des représentations mentales des archéologues. Pour appréhender correctement cet atelier de l’âge du Fer récent et restituer au mieux les gestes et les mouvements des potiers, nous proposons ici une méthode d’approche centrée sur l’étude fine de la morphologie des vestiges liés à l’activité potière.
PDF can be requested to the authors.
Moreover, in the book, fig.3 appeared mistakenly printed in shades of grey, which makes it a bit difficult to understand. A coloured version of this figure, made by Florent Comte, has been inserted in this document
Mais quel impact a réellement la chronologie sur la discipline ? Doit-on considérer que l’archéologie se limite à des bornes chronologiques strictes ? Quand et pourquoi dit-on que l’on entre dans des périodes dites archéologiques ?
Ce ne sont là que quelques-unes des questions que se sont posées les auteurs de cet ouvrage collectif.
Universitaires, archéologues préventifs, spécialistes variés, doctorants ou professeurs, de nationalités multiples, participent à cette réflexion, offrant ainsi un aspect de la pensée archéologique actuelle et invitant le lecteur à réfléchir sur la définition même de l’archéologie.
Plus d'infos : http://www.editions-fedora.com/#!product-page/e2g44/57873713-8a73-9ec6-877f-929db456e769
Cet article analyse les modalités d'émergence de la forme d'habitat prédominante en Gaule méditerranéenne à partir du VI e siècle av. n. è., les sites de hauteur agglomérés et fortifiés, en s'intéressant plus spécifiquement au cas du Languedoc occidental. Dans ce secteur, un premier processus de perchement et de fortification de l'habitat est connu à partir du Bronze Final IIIa, principalement dans les secteurs d'arrière-pays. Pourtant, le plus souvent, tout rapport de causalité entre les processus à l'origine de ces sites anciens et ceux ayant amené à l'émergence des plus récents est nié. On attribue l'émergence de ces derniers à des changements socio-économiques survenus du fait de la rencontre commerciale avec les populations de Méditerranée centrale et orientale. Or, les résultats des fouilles du site de Malvieu (Saint-Pons-de-Thomières, Hérault), un habitat de hauteur fortifié occupé entre la fin de l'âge du Bronze et le VI e siècle av. n. è. amènent à remettre ce point de vue en cause.
Resumen: El taller de alfareros ibéricos de Mas de Moreno ofrece un contexto único para estudiar el papel de la epigrafía en un contexto productivo (Gorgues 2009). La campaña de 2015, la última de este programa franco-aragonés (codirigido por J. A. Benavente Serrano y uno de los autores), entregó un objeto inscrito particular, un cubo de seis caras que se conserva actualmente en el CIBA de Alcañiz. Este objeto se encontró en una capa de restos de producción que data de la primera mitad del siglo I a. C., por lo que es indudable que se fabricó en Mas de Moreno. Es la primera vez que se encuentra un objeto de este tipo en un contexto arqueológico bien datado. Presentaremos el objeto recontextualizándolo y ofreciendo comparaciones con otros dados conocidos en la Península Ibérica.
Milcent, P.-Y., Couderc, F., Auxerre-Géron, F.-A., Barral, P., Basset, C., Bénézet, J., Bernard, L., Blancquaert, G., Carrara, S., Chevillot, C., Chevrier, S., Colin, A., Deberge, Y., Dedet, B., Delrieu, F., Dufay-Garel, Y., Dumas, A., Durand, E., Duval, H., Féliu, C., Gaillard, C., Gardes, P., Giraud, P., Gomez De Soto, J., Gorgues, A., Gruat, P., Hiriart, E., Isoardi, D., Kurzaj, M.-C., Lallemand, D., Landolt, M., Laruaz, J.-M., Lautier, L., Le Dreff, T., Maitay, C., Malrain, F., Martinaux, L., Mocci, F., Nouvel, P., Parachaud, K., Remy, J., Séjalon, P., Sergent, F., Venco, C., Verdin, F., Walter, M., Les établissements de hauteur défendus protohistoriques en France (XXIIe-Ier siècles av. J.-C.). Fabien Delrieu; Clément Féliu, Philippe Gruat; Marie-Caroline Kurzaj; Élise Nectoux. Les espaces fortifiés à l’âge du Fer en Europe. Actes du 43e colloque international de l’Association française pour l’étude de l’âge du Fer (Le Puy-en-Velay, 30 mai-1er juin 2019), Collection AFEAF (3), AFEAF, pp.175-194, 2021, 978-2-9567407-2-8
A review of current knowledge is proposed based on updated data for 1330 fortified sites on high ground. These, for the most part, have been explored on too limited an area to understand their precise nature and status. Generally, they are located on spurs and cover a very small area, particularly in the Southeast. Only a quarter of them exceed 7 ha. The size of the fortifications is also an essential criteria, but it was only possible to address it from one clue – the length: the range of disparities are very wide there also; but, we note that this length doubles on average at the end of the Iron Age. The materials of the ramparts reveal trends: earth dominates in the northwest half, stone in the southeast half; wooden frames are scattered, but rarer near the Mediterranean. At the French national as well as at the regional level, the chronological curves of the occupations are very comparable and punctuated by three peaks, of increasing magnitude, at the end of the Bronze Age, the Early and the Late Iron Age. These evolutionary similarities underscore the importance of causalities on a supraregional and intercultural scale. However, there is no consensus on the interpretation of the defended sites’ development during Protohistory.
Le concept de « chaîne opératoire » reste de nos jours le cadre dans lequel se développe toute restitution d’un processus technique en archéologie. Cet article vise, sur la base d’un retour d’expérience, à montrer les limites de cette démarche. L’exemple des fouilles développées par une équipe franco-espagnole en Bas-Aragon, sur l’atelier de potiers ibérique du Mas de Moreno de Foz-Calanda (Teruel), a montré en effet qu’elle pouvait induire en erreur au moment d’interpréter les données de fouille. Basée sur une conception linéaire du processus technique, le concept de « chaîne opératoire » amène à projeter dans l’espace des logiques productives qui rendent en fait compte des représentations mentales des archéologues. Pour appréhender correctement cet atelier de l’âge du Fer récent et restituer au mieux les gestes et les mouvements des potiers, nous proposons ici une méthode d’approche centrée sur l’étude fine de la morphologie des vestiges liés à l’activité potière.
Le concept de « chaîne opératoire » reste de nos jours le cadre dans lequel se développe toute restitution d’un processus technique en archéologie. Cet article vise, sur la base d’un retour d’expérience, à montrer les limites de cette démarche. L’exemple des fouilles développées par une équipe franco-espagnole en Bas-Aragon, sur l’atelier de potiers ibérique du Mas de Moreno de Foz-Calanda (Teruel), a montré en effet qu’elle pouvait induire en erreur au moment d’interpréter les données de fouille. Basée sur une conception linéaire du processus technique, le concept de « chaîne opératoire » amène à projeter dans l’espace des logiques productives qui rendent en fait compte des représentations mentales des archéologues. Pour appréhender correctement cet atelier de l’âge du Fer récent et restituer au mieux les gestes et les mouvements des potiers, nous proposons ici une méthode d’approche centrée sur l’étude fine de la morphologie des vestiges liés à l’activité potière.
PDF can be requested to the authors.
Moreover, in the book, fig.3 appeared mistakenly printed in shades of grey, which makes it a bit difficult to understand. A coloured version of this figure, made by Florent Comte, has been inserted in this document
This paper aims at analyzing cross-culture trade (i.e. trade between people of local origin and seaborne traders coming from Greek or Phoenician colonies or from Italy) in the northern part of the Iberian world (i.e. modern-days eastern Aragon, Catalonia and the southern part of the Languedoc), during the Iron Age and previously to the Roman invasion. It will discuss the prevalent and often implicit assumption according which trade would have been made according to norms established by the seaborne traders themselves. It will briefly review the institutions of trade typical of the ancient Eastern and Central Mediterranean, and outline the materiality of such institutions. Through comparison, it will emphasize the specificities of the Iberian trading practices, mainly based on interpersonal relationship and mutual trust, and show that the seaborne traders adapted themselves to this peculiar reality. Last, it will discuss the modalities of this adaptation, by reconsidering the well-known Greek text of Pech-Maho (Sigean, Aude, France).
Infography Fl. Comte
Since the beginnings of the 20th cent and Marquès of Cerralbo's excavations , La Cerca de Aguilar de Anguita (Guadalajara, Spain) is interpreted as a Republican Roman military camp. This interpretation is based on the morphology of the fortification enclosing the 12 ha of the flat hilltop where lies this settlement. But informations about the actual discoveries were really scarce: even the datation relied in inferences based on textual evidences, not in stratigraphy. As part of an Agence Nationale de la Recherche funded program (GuerraHispania), a Franco-Spanish team, led by the University of Bordeaux-Montaigne (UMR 5607 Ausonius) and the University of Castilla-la Mancha (sede de Toledo) made new excavations that were limited in their extension but really innovative as for their results. This paper present these results and the interpretations they allow to sustain.
in the Eastern and Central Mediterranean areas, through the classical evolution from Complex Chiefdoms into Archaic States. In this process, native ‘elites’ are thought to play a fundamental role, especially through their coercive capacity which enables them to maintain themselves at the top of the social hierarchies. These hierarchies are tacitly described as quite rigid in their structure all throughout the period. The funerary record provides good hints for such long-term stability – from the 6th century BC to the end of the 3rd century BC, grave goods emphasize rank and gender identities in a rather homogeneous fashion, and highlight
the dominating position of (supposedly) male warriors.
Yet, settlement archaeology provides an interesting alternative insight. In some sites, domestic architecture suggests the existence of a rather static hierarchy, while fluidity seems to prevail in others. This situation appear even more diverse if we compare the time span within which each process can be observed: strong hierarchies mainly characterize short-lived
settlements while fluid situations, ensured through competitive processes, mainly in the sphere of armed violence and, maybe more typically, in the craft area, prevail in those settled
for a long time.
In this presentation, I will propose that the contrast between hierarchy and heterarchy – used here in its political sense – is to be considered in a chronological perspective. At a given moment, it seems likely that a native community appeared to us as well as to itself as strongly hierarchized. But this short term hierarchy appears also as the result of a long term heterarchical process, whose dynamics I will analyse.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=5rrQvlcFFYs
The Bordeaux Archaeological Sciences Laboratory (LaScArBx) organizes regularly some "breakfasts" in which are discussed matters of general interest as for our scientific practice. These debates are filmed. Together with David Cochard, I animated the may 27 session. Here is the link toward the video of my speech (in French).
The digital poster includes videos (3). It was originally aimed at being shown in a huge screen, and was presented at the CAA Oslo 2016. This is a new mean for communicating scientific results, more dynamic than a "classical" poster.
If the videos don't run, click on them.
Special thanks to Pierre Dejarnac (Fedora Editions) for his help during the technical process.
institutionnel…) feront part de leur expérience et de leur ressenti, en amont d’un moment d’échange. Ces rencontres sont le fruit d’une collaboration entre deux institutions, l’Université Bordeaux Montaigne (programme Sciences Avec et Pour la Société) et le Musée Utah Beach. Elles sont aussi le résultat d’un processus collaboratif ayant impliqué des institutions diverses (CNRS UMR 5607 Ausonius, Ministère de la Culture, entreprise Terreal…) et mobilisé bien des énergies individuelles. Elles auront lieu à deux endroits, le 27 septembre à 17h30, à l’Université Bordeaux Montaigne (Amphi B200) et le 29 septembre à 20h au Musée Utah Beach.
Intervenants :
-Elizabeth Rieman (porteuse de mémoire, nièce du colonel Rodwell),
-Charles de Vallavieille (maire de Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, président du Musée Utah Beach),
-Louis Campain et Alban Louaintier (chercheurs et passionné, à l’origine de la fouille
d’Amigny),
-Alexis Gorgues (maître de conférences, Université Bordeaux Montaigne).
Since the beginning of the 2010s, the material heritage linked to the Battle of Normandy has gradually entered the field of archaeological research. At the same time, the memory of the battles and their impact on the civilian population is gradually becoming an indirect memory, no longer carried by witnesses but by their descendants. These developments are taking place
in a context where remembrance tourism is becoming increasingly important, for better or for worse.
Faced with this situation, what is the position of the scientific institutions involved in research in Normandy? That of the bearers of memory? And that of the Norman population, both bearers of an often traumatic memory and protagonists of a process whose economic impact is major? The aim here is not to make a global assessment of these questions, but rather to share the individual experiences of a number of actors who were brought to interact around two archaeological excavation projects, in La Montanguerie (Amigny) and le Manoire de Brécourt (Sainte-Marie-du-Mont). Various participants (archaeologists, local enthusiasts, individual
and/or institutional memory bearers, etc.) will share their experience and their feelings, prior to a moment of exchange.
These meetings are the result of a collaboration between two institutions, the University of Bordeaux Montaigne and the Utah Beach Museum. They are also the result of a collaborative process that has involved various institutions (CNRS UMR 5607 Ausonius, Ministry of Culture, Terreal company...) and mobilised many individual energies. They will take place in two locations, on 27 September, 5.30pm at the University of Bordeaux Montaigne (Amphi B200) and on 29 September, 8pm at the Utah Beach Museum.
Speakers:
-Elizabeth Rieman (memory bearer, niece of Colonel Rodwell),
-Charles de Vallavieille (mayor of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, president of the Utah Beach
Museum),
-Louis Campain and Alban Louaintier (researchers and enthusiasts, at the origin of the Amigny
excavation),
-Alexis Gorgues (lecturer, Bordeaux Montaigne University).
The Value of All Things: Value expression and value assessment in the Ancient World (Europe, Near East and the Mediterranean)
http://www.eaa2017maastricht.nl/
https://www.klinkhamergroup.com/eaa2017/
Session 25: For the last ten years, research on Roman Republican conflict archaeology in the western Mediterranean periphery (the Hispaniae and southern Gaul) has seen a relevant impulse: specific projects in France, Spain and Portugal, innovative PhD dissertations, workshops and conferences and field work. As a consequence, the documentary base of this field of study (i.e. the Roman Republican military archaeology) has expanded exponentially, leading to the reinterpretation of the dynamics and the historical significance of the early Roman settlement in those territories.
However, the archaeological identification and characterisation of the Roman Republican (late 3rd c./mid 1st c. BCE) military or conflict spaces (e.g. battlefields, sieges, camps, forts, officinae armorum) has been the main bone of contention. The use of different archaeological criteria in categorising such spaces has often been controversial. The need for a more integrated approach combining material culture studies, bioarchaeology, spatial and landscape archaeology and historical sources or even IT modelling should be considered. The debate is still open.
Within this session, our aim is to enhance debate among researchers in order to develop methodological approaches to identify and characterise such spaces, and bring out new cases to discuss and advance research in this Western periphery.
Recent scientific and methodological advances have reshaped our understanding of ancient mobility. Although patterns of far-reaching contact have long been hypothesised, DNA and isotope analyses have demonstrated that mobility was much more widespread than has traditionally been supposed, and that these networks were complex and diverse. Furthermore, artefact studies (including the more routine implementation of materials science and provenance studies) are demonstrating the ubiquity of long-distance trade networks, and the different ways trade (here defined as any peaceful way of exchanging materials, commodities or services) was made. Such strong and sustained levels of connectivity between different regions for varying durations could only have been achieved with a certain degree of agreement over common social and economic rules, which must have been achieved on the basis of an enduring shared practice, particularly in pre-literate societies where written laws did not exist. As such, informal institutions-i.e. those not enforced by law but based on a common sense of honour and trust-must have been sufficiently strong to allow for swift travel and convenient interaction, within or outwith a formal economic framework. This session invites contributions examining the materiality of long-distance networks across Continental, Atlantic, Northern and pre-classical Mediterranean Europe, from the beginning of the Bronze Age until the appearance of written law. Papers examining patterns of trade, exchange and mobility through systems of material exchange or distribution, the transmission of ideas (related to, for example, technological or symbolic activities) and bioarchaeological methods are welcome, as are those which consider these processes from a range of perspectives: theoretical models, case studies, regional synthesis, etc.
This session is a follow-up of sessions hosted by the same team at previous EAA conferences, which approached the many faces of values assessment (Maastricht 2017) and the reasons and consequences of value destruction in the ancient world (Barcelona 2018). Adding another level, this year’s session aims at exploring the materiality of the institutions surrounding all forms of exchange of goods. By institutions, we mean the various rules, whether formal or informal, enforced by law or based on common knowledge and practice, that allowed for transactions to happen.
The term transaction itself encompasses a diversity of practices, ranging from competitive gift-exchange practices to the on-line shopping, but it has always at its core a notion of value assessment. The situation coinage allows for – optimal possibilities of measurement and comparison of value – is only the tip of the iceberg. Other dimensions of value measurement are to be found in the assessment of the volume or mass of a given product. But beyond these quantitative expressions, the values of a good can reside in its own biography : scarcity, crafting method involved in its making, changing of owner. As previous sessions showed, such value(s) can or cannot be measured, and can or cannot be commensurable. Often a shift from commodity to gift or vice versa occurs when objects move across cultural boundaries. This implies that gifts and commodities cannot be a priori separated, and also; that trade and gift exchange are intertwined and often coexistent.
We would like to invite to this session any paper interested in exploring the diversity of value assessment and exchange practices and dealing about all archaeological periods and every part of Europe. All perspectives are welcome : archaeological or ethno-archaeological point of view, theoretical perspective or specific case-studies, and methodologies developed for exploring such topics.
(posts in French and Frenglish).
TIE (Trade, Institutions, Economics- …) intends to revive substantivism in the archaeological approaches of the ancient European economies. The scientific context calls for taking such a step. Neo-institutionnalist approaches, through their belief in the intemporality of market economies, have favoured a rather unnuanced depiction of ancient economies, where every behaviour would be profit-motivated and every practice would be a primitive version of ours. In order to discussing such a point of view, we propose a fact-based approach, aiming at establishing experimental ways to explore hypothesis regarding the ancient economic framework, from a period encompassing the whole 1st millennium BCE and an area covering Western Europe and the Mediterranean. TIE will present and discuss analytical protocols aiming at addressing specific issues linked with trade and production. It will disseminate results, methods and analytical tools developed in the framework of the Nostoi project (Nostoi is the acronym for Norms, Standards, Routines: Pottery production and information in the Ancient Mediterranean; the project is funded by the Labex LaScArBx).
TIE team is based in the French CNRS UMR 5607 Aunsonius Lab in Bordeaux.
Each label or ascription is linked to specific behaviours (e.g. political posture). Moreover, specific feelings are connected to (self-)identity, determining how we behave towards others. Outward behaviours, appearances and accessories are what indicates, out of choice or necessity, whether someone belongs, is weird, or worthy of esteem. A level of judgement is also involved, and while labels have always been part of our judgements and categorization of people’s identities, there is far more fluidity and ambiguity in label ascription than we tend to think, both now and in the past.
In archaeology, traditional identities along the lines of, for example, male/female, Greek/foreign, craftsperson/landowner, free/enslaved, etc., are not easily determined. People have always had multiple identities, fluid and ambiguous, based on many factors in endlessly varied combinations. This session will address the ways in which ancient craftspeople and labourers shaped their multivalent identities through a range of markers, some chosen, some ascribed by others.