Call for papers: ‘Exploring Transitions in Material Culture’ (Durham, 22 october 2011)

Durham Medieval Archaeologists

Saturday, 22 October 2011

CALL FOR PAPERS: ‘Exploring Transitions in Material Culture’

Durham Medieval Archaeologists are pleased to announce a call for papers for
the first in a series of one-day conferences hosted by the archaeology
department of Durham University, Newcastle University, and the University of
York on the theme of ‘Exploring Transitions.’ These events will provide a
forum for scholars working on transitions throughout the medieval world to
discuss their latest thoughts and findings. This conference is open to all
archaeologists examining transitions within and around the medieval period (5th
to 16th century A.D.). This theme has the potential to reveal how different
groups exchanged cultural ideas, technology, and material culture during times
and/or in geographic regions.

Transitions can be understood chronologically and spatially, and could include
the shift from one period to another or the movement between territories. Some
examples of theses transitional changes are the period of change from
Anglo-Saxon kingdoms to Norman feudalism and the border zones of Wales and
Scotland. This first conference will focus on how transitions in the past
affected material culture.

Papers should be twenty minutes long, to be followed by questions. Abstracts
no more than 250 words should be submitted by 19 September 2011. Please submit
abstracts to archaeology.dma@durham.ac.uk with “Transitional Conference” in
the subject heading.