Professor Tim Shea and Melanie Godsey will be presenting papers, “Deathscapes and lifescapes between the sea and the asty: the Phaleron cemetery” (J. Buikstra, E. Prevedorou, and T. Shea), and “The Early Iron Age and Archaic Period around Porto Rafti Bay: insights from recent surface survey data” (S. Murray, M. Godsey, and G. Erny), in the upcoming international conference in Athens, 8–11 December, 2022, cosponsored by the Ephorate of Antiquities of East Attica, the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, , the Swiss School at Athens, the University of Thessaly, and UCLA.
Athens and Attica in the Early Iron Age and the Archaic Period
Η Αθήνα και η Αττική κατά την Πρώιμη Εποχή του Σιδήρου και την Αρχαϊκή περίοδο
Cotsen Hall, Αmerican School of Classical Studies
8–11 ΔΕΚΕΜΒΡΙΟΥ 2022 / 8–11 DECEMBER 2022
Although Attica stands out as the best-documented region of the Greek World, the earlier phases of its history and development are less well-represented in the archaeological record. As a result, our knowledge of early Athens and Attica remains highly fragmented.
Rescue excavations had mostly followed Athens’ dramatic urban expansion in the 20th century. However, starting in the 1990s, the Greek Archaeological Service has explored other regions of Attica, as part of the major works related to the 2004 Olympic Games and other large infrastructure projects. These rescue excavations have changed our knowledge of the ancient landscape and the occupational history of Attica dramatically. At the same time, excavation and survey projects conducted by other institutions (the Archaeological Society at Athens, the University of Athens, and various foreign Archaeological Schools), as well as a re-examination of old material, have broadened our understanding of long-term developments, topography, the exploitation of natural resources, and social complexity.
Building upon the recent publication of the colloquium “Athens and Attica in Prehistory” (ed. N. Papadimitriou, J. Wright, S. Fachard, N. Polychronakou-Sgouritsa, and E. Andrikou, Archaeopress, Oxford, 2021) this conference is devoted to the archaeology of Early Iron Age and Archaic period in Athens and Attica, focusing on the publication of the latest discoveries. The primary goal of the conference is to provide a new archaeological synthesis for the first half of the first millennium (down to 480 BC), including an up-to-date gazetteer of sites and distribution maps.
Researchers will focus on new finds and contextualize them by adopting a regional and microregional perspective (e.g. the Mesogeia, Marathon, Athens or Eleusis plains, the Laurion region, Vari, etc.). Papers will include presentations of excavations and surveys, as well as specialized studies and re-examination of old material focusing on the following topics:
- the nature of the ancient economy and the role of metallurgy
- land use and settlement patterns
contacts with other areas in mainland Greece, the Aegean, and beyond - funerary architecture and burial practices
- cult practices
- social and cultural complexity
Relevant links:
Conference page
Conference Announcement (Greek)
Conference Program