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The
Cotsen Advanced Seminar on the Archaeology of Mobility
Nomads in the Old and in the New World
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The Cotsen Institute of Archaeology
is a research unit at the University of California, Los Angeles
established in 1973 to promote the comprehensive study of the human
past. It provides an opportunity for faculty, staff, graduate students,
research associates, volunteers and the general public to gather
together and share their
exploration of ancient societies. Recently an investigation of the
state
of affairs in the study of nomads has been initiated by the Cotsen
Institute.
Many archaeologist behave like nomads. They travel around the
world looking for places of interest. Usually they find these in remote
areas where the climate is harsh and resources are scarce. Here they
will settle for weeks or even months at the time. But they will leave
immediately once the site no longer offers them new information, or
their
funding runs out. And soon they will start preparing for their next
expedition.
Still, nomads are rarely studied by archaeologists. They often are part
of the fringes of a society and leave few traces of their activities.
The archaeologists that have entered this challenging field of study
mostly concentrate on prehistoric periods. A better understanding of
nomadic people in the past will not only fill a gap in our knowledge of
human history. It is also very significant for the empowerment of those
currently adhering to a nomadic life-style. Their further
marginalization by the rapid development of those around them seems a
world-wide phenomenon.
UCLA has brought together an international group of about 40
archaeologists, anthropologists and historians with an interest in
hunter-gatherers,
pastoral nomads, gypsies and Bedouin. This group will get together to
discuss this topic, which will be publish in the Cotsen Advanced
Seminar
Series. The volume on nomads, is expected to be the authoritative
volume
on the subject for years to come.
Contributions to this volume originate from three sources. First are
the chapters submitted by invited authors, before the deadline of 19
June 2004. These contributions will be reviewed by other members of the
research group before being accepted for publication. Second are the
proceedings of a
panel during the 69th Annual Meeting of the Society for American
Archaeology (March 31-April 4, 2004 in Montreal, Canada), one of the
most important archaeological forums in the world. The participation of
eight speakers, one co-author and one discussant is funded by the
individual contributors, or their employer.
The third source of contributions is a workshop to
be held in Los Angeles, 22-24 June 2004. This will comprise
presentations, but also a session during which previous contributions
are discussed.
Other planned events are a video conference meeting, facilitated by
Internet2 and UCLA's Visualization Portal, and a lunch hosted by the
Department
of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures.
The deadline for the submission of contributions or revisions
is Monday 15 November 2004, publication of the volume is expected
shortly thereafter. Issues that will be addressed include definitions
and terminology, the transition between nomadic and settled life-styles
and the discrepancies between our historical and archaeological sources.
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Archaeology
of Mobility: Old World and New World Nomadism
edited
by Hans Barnard and Willeke Wendrich
There have been
edited books on the
archaeology of nomadism in various regions, and there have been
individual archaeological and anthropological monographs, but nothing
with the kind of coverage provided in this volume. Its strength and
importance lies in the fact that it brings together a worldwide
collection of studies of the archaeology of mobility. This book
provides a ready-made reference to this worldwide phenomenon and is
unique in that it tries to redefine pastoralism within a larger context
by the term mobility. It presents many new ideas and thoughtful
approaches, especially in the Central Asian region (Cotsen Advanced
Seminars 4, Cotsen
Institute of Archaeology 2007).
Hardcover
ISBN-13: 978-1-931745-50-5
ISBN-10: 1-931745-50-1
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Paperback
ISBN-13: 978-1-931745-49-9
ISBN-10: 1-931745-49-8
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Hans
Barnard is
a Research Associate at the Cotsen Institute, Willeke Wendrich
is
Assistant Professor in Egyptian Archaeology at the Department of Near
Eastern
Languages and Cultures at UCLA and affiliated with the Cotsen
Institute. Both have done research on the pastoral nomads in the desert
between
the Nile and the Red Sea in the past (the Blemmyans) and at present
(the
Ababda). They have brought together an international group of about 40
archaeologists, anthropologists and historians with an interest in
hunter-gatherers,
pastoral nomads, gypsies and Bedouin. This group will publish a Cotsen
Advanced Seminar on nomadism, which is expected to be the authoritive
volume
on the subject for years to come.
Donors who decide to contribute to the success of this important and
exciting project will find their names mentioned on this website as
well as in all further communications. In due course they will
obviously also receive a copy of the final publication. If you would
like to contribute, to make suggestions or to obtain additional
information, please contact us at <nomads@ucla.edu>. |
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The fourth Cotsen Advanced Seminar on
Nomadism is made possible by:
- the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at UCLA;
- UCLA Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures;
- UCLA International Institute, Special Academic
Cooperative Projects;
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and all individual participants.
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Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at UCLA
P.O.-box 951510; Los Angeles, CA 90095 |
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