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Call for Papers: Terracottas in the Mediterranean Through Time
23-25 March 2015, University of Haifa, Israel
The Zinman Institute of Archaeology and the Department of Art History of the
University of Haifa, Israel, invites the submission of papers for the
conference “Terracottas in the Mediterranean Through Time”, dedicated to the
study of terracotta figurines and related objects in the Mediterranean
region from the early periods to late antiquity. The conference will take
place at the University of Haifa in Israel,23-25 March 2015.
The conference is under the auspices of the Association
for Coroplastic Studies (ACoST).
The conference aims to bring together scholars and students who often tackle
the same issues as they study clay figurines and related objects from
different periods and parts of the Mediterranean region.
Scholars who research terracottas of illiterate societies often use
anthropological and ethnographical methods, while those studying terracottas
of historical periods refer to historical sources and artistic analogies.
The various viewpoints and attitudes may enrich and deepen our understanding
of terracotta figurines and their role in society.
The scope of issues to be discussed at the conference will be wide, and will
follow the different stages of the terracottas’ lives:
First stage – the artisans or coroplasts: aspects of manufacture; typology
and iconography; production of large- and small-scale terracottas; social
status of the artisans; organization of workshops; questions of
specialization; relationships with other media and workshops; new
technologies employed in the dating and identification of workshops.
Second stage – patterns of distribution: interaction between terracotta
production and markets; local production versus imports; imitations;
trading, selling and offering.
Third stage – the users: Who used terracottas and who did not; how they were
used and in what circumstances; usage through space and time; other objects
used together with terracottas; themes and types in specific contexts
(sacred, funereal and domestic); choice of types; symbolic meaning conveyed
by terracottas; the role of terracottas in society; terracottas and gender.
Fourth stage – phasing out: How, why and when terracottas went out of use;
patterns of deposition or obliteration; archaeological context of
terracottas and its meaning.
Fifth stage – ancient terracottas today: influence of ancient terracottas on
19th- and 20th-century art; robbery and the antiquities market; museum
display of terracottas.
The official language of the conference is English. Presentations should not
exceed 20 minutes.
Abstracts of 200-300 words should be submitted by 30 September 2014 to Dr.
Adi Erlich,aerlich AT research.haifa.ac.il in Word format including surname,
first name, position, affiliation, phone number, email address and title of
paper.
We invite proposals for panels and individual papers on these and related
topics.
The scientific committee:
Dr. Adi Erlich
Dr. Sonia Klinger
Prof. Tallay Ornan
Consultant: Prof. Jaimee Uhlenbrock
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