Dotawo: A Journal of Nubian Studies

Call for Papers

Ethnoarchaeology in Nubia and the peripheral regions

The XIIth International Conference on Archeology and History Stood in Antibes (France) in October 1991 was devoted to the following topic : Ethnoarchaeology: justifications, problems, limits. If ethnoarchaeology has supporters and opponents, it is clear that, as was written by Louis Chaix and Hassan Sidi Maamar in the proceedings of this conference (p. 281), "the use of analogy is an integral part of scientific production. (...) The function of analogy is to inspire a new idea and widen the sphere of possibilities. In no event it is to grant certain positions an undeniable status of truth.”

As Eric Huysecom explained in these proceedings (p. 91), "for better efficiency, ethnoarchaeology requires that the archaeologists state their needs in order to guide the research of the ethnoarcheologists. Both disciplines, ethnoarchaeology and archeology, should therefore be pursued simultaneously. Only then patterns highlighted with current populations will become relevant and will apply to the past. "

Very relevant ethnoarchaeological studies were conducted in the past in Sudan, like for example the analysis of butchery techniques, comparing ethnographic data on the current cutting and archaeozoological study of a funerary context gathered in the Kerma area between 1970 and 1990, a study by Louis Chaix and Hassan Sidi Maamar.

This call for papers aims to update the latest research in ethnoarchaeology in Nubia and in the peripheral regions. We expect articles from designers (ethnoarcheologist, anthropologists, geographers ...) and users (archaeologists). For example, how the study of different technical activities (ceramics, metal, basketry, architecture ...) from current societies contribute to a comparative ethno-archaeological thoughts? Expectations of the archaeologists and specialists of Nubia to ethnoarchaeology are welcome.

Contact: franckderrien@yahoo.fr

Acknowledgments