Conference | Symposium
‘Beyond Malinowski’: reconnecting archaeology and anthropology
- Date
- Thursday 21 February 2019
- Time
- Series
- Archaeological Forum
- Location
-
Van Steenis
Einsteinweg 2
2333 CC Leiden - Room
- E0.01

Most archaeologists have some basic knowledge of anthropology and ethnography. Every archaeologist has heard of Malinowski’s Kula Ring and Mauss’ Essay sur le don. Occasionally archaeologists even apply their anthropological knowledge to aid them in interpreting their datasets. Without meaning to diminish the importance of Malinowski’s and Mauss’ works, surely archaeology should not ignore the myriad anthropological perspectives developed in the intervening years? At the same time, if archaeology is anthropology or nothing (Willey and Phillips, 1958), then the archaeological perspective might be valuable for anthropology as well. How can both disciplines benefit from one another? SAD would like to invite both archaeologists and anthropologists to join the discussion in order to reconnect both disciplines.
Speakers of different backgrounds will share their experiences and views on this topic. Confirmed speakers are:
- Mirjam Kars (University of Amsterdam)
- Pieter ter Keurs (Leiden University)
- Raymond Corbey (Leiden University)
- Jeltsje Stobbe (University of Amsterdam)
- Eric Venbrux (Radboud University Nijmegen, Center for Thanatology)
This symposium is organised by Stichting Archaeological Dialogues, Leiden University’s Archaeological Forum and the Leiden Archaeology PhD committee.
See the programme below or read the abstracts.
Programme
13:00 opening
13:15-13:50 Ellen Finn (Dublin Trinity College)
The power of three: the models of Van Gennep, Hertz and Turner in the funerary archaeology of Prepalatial Crete
13:50-14:25 Piet van de Velde (LU)
On the expansion and demise of the LBK: socio-cultural facts require socio-cultural explanations
14:25-15:00 Mirjam Kars (VU)
Anthropological answers to the ‘archaeological problem’ of Merovingian object-production
15:00-15:15 coffee
15:15-15:50 Eric Venbrux (Radboud Nijmegen)
Can grave gifts be seen as restorative gifts?
15:50-16:25 Raymond Corbey (UL)
Poop, or why life is like a chicken coop ladder
16:25-17:00 Pieter ter Keurs (UL en RMO)
Archaeology and Anthropology: Problems and Challenges
17:00-17:15 discussion
17:15 drinks
Registration
For registration please e-mail archaeologicaldialogues@gmail.com. Please register before February 16th.