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When archaeologists speak of the past, present and future, they mean a lot more than we do in our daily conversations. When these archaeologists use science in their research, or are scientists involved in archaeology, then these terms take on even deeper meaning. When the subject of discussion concerns not only their research but their profession itself, then we are at a point that interests not only specialists but also anyone who cares about knowledge and humanity\u2019s march through the millennia.<\/p>\n
This is the point that was examined at the recent conference, \u201cHalf a Century of Archaeological Science in Greece. Past, Present, Future,\u201d at the British School at Athens, celebrating 50 years of the school\u2019s Marc and Ismene Fitch Laboratory. Since its founding in November 1974, the Fitch Laboratory has developed into an international center for the study of ceramics, tracing their origin, their journeys, the stories of objects that help us learn of the lives, movements and adventures of people of the distant past. The laboratory, as a center of excellence, is known to all in the world who are involved in archaeological research, contributing to the development of archaeological science \u2013 and archaeological scientists \u2013 in Greece and internationally. The three-day conference involved presentations and posters by Greek and foreign specialists who tied together Greek and international scientific developments. Among the topics of the conference were the history of archaeological science in Greece, landscape histories and environment, mobility and movement, and everyday life. Highly esteemed experts were called on to discuss their concerns about the challenges faced by archaeological science and express ideas for its future.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe great technological and methodological developments in the field have introduced greater specialization and occasionally knowledge fragmentation,\u201d the director of the Fitch Laboratory, Evangelia Kiriatzi, commented. \u201cBut as we all have a common goal, we must find a way to communicate more and to cooperate towards a more holistic understanding of the human past, which, naturally, helps us to better understand the present and to be more prepared to deal with the future.\u201d One of the issues raised by Michael Boyd of Cambridge University, who heads the excavation on the island of Keros, concerns the fact that \u201cdata are increasingly either being abstracted from their context and analyzed per se, or repurposed in large scale \u2018big data\u2019 analyses.\u201d The question, he added, \u201cis how to move between scales of analysis usefully.\u201d Another issue is the need for broader, interdisciplinary cooperation.<\/p>\n
Shadreck Chirikure, Edward Hall Professor of Archaeological Science at the University of Oxford, delivered the keynote speech, on archaeological science in a postcolonial era. \u201cIn Greece we have progressed from the philhellene phase to mutual international cooperation as equals,\u201d Kiriatzi said. \u201cIn most cases, Greek and foreign archaeologists working in Greece influence each other and help each other. They teach each other. This was definitely not the case when I was starting out 30 years ago. The Fitch is such a microcosm, where academic but also cultural and social bridges are built. And the emphasis is on the younger generation, which is very important for the future.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
More on the conference at bsa.ac.uk\/events\/fitchanniversaryconference2024\/\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n