Theory Workshop - November 13/14 2009

Tracing Networks Theory Workshop (November 13/14 2009) was held at University of Leicester

Aim: Networks in Archaeology and Computing

Date: Friday, 13th and Saturday 14th of November 2009

Venue: School of Archaeology and Ancient History, University of Leicester (welcome)

Charles Wilson Building, Sparkenhoe & Goscote Room, 4th floor, University of Leicester (workshop)

Statement of aims: Theorizing networks in Archaeology and Computing

The ‘Tracing networks’ research programme combines expertise in archaeology, archaeological science and computer science to investigate the network of contacts across and beyond the Mediterranean region, between the late Bronze Age and the late Classical Period (1500-200 BCE). It focuses on networks of crafts-people and craft traditions, asking how and why traditions, techniques and technologies change and cross cultural boundaries, and explores the impact of this phenomenon. The long time-span will help to set technological networks in their larger social, economic and political contexts to expand our understanding of wider cultural developments.

Material culture is the primary evidence for cultural contact across and beyond the Mediterranean, which is manifested in the regular exchange of ideas, objects, materials and techniques constitutive of individual and group identities. Studying a wide range of material objects at every stage of their production, distribution, use, and consumption across a large geographical region will allow us to capture the meanings and variety of the intricate socio-political, economic and cultural networks that people built and destroyed.

This workshop has the purpose to develop a shared theoretical understanding of networks between the project members. With impact papers from a variety of disciplines, including computer science, management, anthropology and archaeology, the workshop will review and critically analyze current approaches to networks. It will try to explore the potential of developing the networks theme as a theoretical framework that goes beyond its application as a methodological tool. In particular, the workshop aims to address the following issues:

• Scale: How do we investigate multi-scalar networks? How can we compare networks of different scales and how can we link them together?

• Agency: How do we identify agency in networks? How can we investigate human choice, for instance selection and rejection of innovation?

• Cultural encounters: How does cultural contact and exchange change habits and behaviours? How do networks of contacts change the trajectory of wider cultural developments? How do fashions and trends spread?

 

Friday, 13 November 2009

10.30 Welcome, coffee and cake in the foyer of the School of Archaeology and Ancient History

11.00 Lin Foxhall: Introduction to the Tracing Networks programme

11.20 Monika Solanki: The Impact of Semantic web on Cultural Heritage and Archaeology

12.00 Martin Everett: Networks and core-periphery models

13.00 lunch

14.00 Steve Conway: Exploring the potential of employing network theory, concepts, and tools, in researching the diffusion and development of ideas and technologies in ancient societies

15.00 Edmund Chattoe-Brown: What do we do when we don't know where the bodies are buried? The potential for simulation of networks in archaeology: An outsider's perspective

16.00 GianLuigi Ferrari: Global Computing

17.00 General discussion

19.00 Dinner at Kayal Restaurant (153 Granby St, Leicester, LE1 6FE)

Saturday, 14 November 2009

9.30 Sheila Kohring: Extending the "Community of Practice": Linking Individual and Traditions through community-based networks

10.30 coffee

11.00 Peter van Dommelen: Connected Practices: Rethinking Colonial Networks and Migration in the Ancient Mediterranean

12.00 Nick Ray: Consumption theory and archaeology

13.00 lunch and end of workshop

14.00 business meeting for Tracing Networks members

 

(Visit our project wiki for audio files  of this workshop)