To mark the first Contemporary and Historical Archaeology in Theory (CHAT) conference to take place outside of the British Isles, the 2011 conference theme will explore people and things in motion in both the historical and contemporary pasts. From the movement of billions of peoples and things across the world’s oceans to the proliferation of multi-national corporations and brands, the last five hundred years have brought about the birth of a truly globalized world. We expect that some presenters will emphasize what they see as the positive aspects of global movements, e.g., the emergence of new social groups, materials, and technologies, while others will examine the negative effects of globalization, such as the destruction of cultures and heritages, exploitation of resources, and slavery and forced migration.

Understanding the processes and trajectories through which people and things came to occupy certain places can offer new insights into the past and present across landscapes and time. The 2011 CHAT conference will challenge scholars to scrutinize the dimensions of motion through sub-themes such as translocation and migration, multi-sited archaeologies, specific material and individual trajectories, and the movement and enactment of ideas.
Some guiding sub-themes include:
The physical processes of distribution of materials in the colonial and contemporary world, and the ideas that were the prime movers in these networks;
The reconfiguration of cultural and social meanings as a result of mobility;
Sites defined through their relationship with other sites and landscapes;
The ephemeral nature of movement.
Submit an Abstract at:
www.bu.edu/archaeology/chat-2011
Questions or interested in organizing a sub-theme session?
Chat2011@bu.edu
Deadline 30 June 2011