15th - 20th September 2009
Riva del Garda | Trento, Italy
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Conference Secretariat
Via R. Guardini 8 - 38100 Trento Italy
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info@eaaitaly2009.com
Scientific Secretariat
scientific_s@eaaitaly2009.com
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> Between the sacred and the profane - Ritual sites of the Bronze and Iron Age in the Jura Mountains (Germany, France, Switzerland)
Prehistoric finds in caves, at the foot of cliffs or on the top of mountains have been published since the 19th century. Since the establishment of Prehistory as a university discipline in the late 19th century, archaeologists have always had much difficulties to classify these finds in relation to their prominent topography. It is hardly possible to integrate these finds such as pottery, bones, metal objects, coins or beads! in the classic archaeological categories like settlement or funerary features, therefor a ritual context is often suggested. Thus a new approach of classification and interpretation of these places has to be developed.
In my German-French PhD-Thesis I examine the archaeological evidence of these places in the German, French and Swiss Jura Mountains during the Bronze and Iron Age. In this regard several questions become evident: What finds/features classify these supposed ritual sites without architectural structures? How can previous classifications and terminologies of these places be revisited in order to get an unprejudiced view on these features? Are there phenomena in other European regions that have parallels, such as the so-called Brandopferplätze in the Alps? Is it possible to establish some kind of a “sacred landscape”? Is it feasible to reconstruct catchment areas of these places? And is it generally possible to trace prehistoric religion or cult on the base of the scarce evidence that we know?
e-mail: isabella_denk@hotmail.com
BETWEEN THE SACRED AND THE PROFANE - RITUAL SITES OF THE BRONZE AND IRON AGE IN THE JURA MOUNTAINS (GERMANY, FRANCE, SWITZERLAND)
Isabella DenkPrehistoric finds in caves, at the foot of cliffs or on the top of mountains have been published since the 19th century. Since the establishment of Prehistory as a university discipline in the late 19th century, archaeologists have always had much difficulties to classify these finds in relation to their prominent topography. It is hardly possible to integrate these finds such as pottery, bones, metal objects, coins or beads! in the classic archaeological categories like settlement or funerary features, therefor a ritual context is often suggested. Thus a new approach of classification and interpretation of these places has to be developed.
In my German-French PhD-Thesis I examine the archaeological evidence of these places in the German, French and Swiss Jura Mountains during the Bronze and Iron Age. In this regard several questions become evident: What finds/features classify these supposed ritual sites without architectural structures? How can previous classifications and terminologies of these places be revisited in order to get an unprejudiced view on these features? Are there phenomena in other European regions that have parallels, such as the so-called Brandopferplätze in the Alps? Is it possible to establish some kind of a “sacred landscape”? Is it feasible to reconstruct catchment areas of these places? And is it generally possible to trace prehistoric religion or cult on the base of the scarce evidence that we know?
e-mail: isabella_denk@hotmail.com
