The directors of the Numismatic Museum (NMA), Athens, Greece and the Australian Centre for Ancient Numismatic Studies (ACANS), Macquarie University, Australia are pleased to announce an International Conference on ancient Greek archaeometallurgy and numismatics.
This conference is the result of a research collaboration between the NMA and ACANS which is focused on the analysis of the silver used to mint archaic Athenian coinage. It features the application of XRF spectrometry, but also embraces a wide ranging interest in current technologies and methods for the scientific study of ancient coinage.
The conference will take place on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 January 2015 at National Historical Museum (The Old Parliament Building, Kolokotronis Square, Stadiou str. 13, Athens, Greece). It will be followed by a tour of the Laurion region on Sunday 25 January.
Registration: Download the Registration Form (PDF) and send the completed form to [email protected].
The languages of the conference are Greek and English. Papers in Greek will be presented with a summary translation in English.
Papers and electronic posters are invited. Presentations are not to exceed 15 minutes (plus questions). In addition to the podium presentation of papers in the lecture hall, the organizers offer the possibility for participants to deliver contributions with text and illustrations in a separate electronic Poster Program. These presentations (e.g., Power Point) should not exceed 20 slides and can contain illustrations and text but not video or music. The electronic Poster Program will be shown at the Numismatic Museum. The electronic Poster Session offers participants the chance to submit contributions of importance for the topic of the conference but in a shorter version.
The Organizing Committee proposes to publish peer-reviewed versions of the papers and posters from the conference in volume 6 in the Royal Numismatic Society’s occasional series, Metallurgy in Numismatics.
Those interested to participate should send the title and a short abstract (not more than 200 words) electronically to the conference Organizing Committee at [email protected] by 15 November 2014.
In more detail, some of the key objectives of the conference are:
a) Survey current techniques and methodologies for the scientific study of the metals (especially silver) used for the production of ancient coins.
b) Survey the current knowledge of silver ores, ancient mining, and the refining of silver ores within the Mediterranean.
c) Present current research results which combine numismatic and scientific approaches in the study of techniques of manufacturing ancient coinages.
d) Present new research on the history of Athenian coinage.
e) Present new approaches by museums in communicating current research to the scholarly community and to the public.
Suggested paper topics include:
-Theoretical basis and methods of scientific analysis of ancient metal ores and coinages (XRF Spectrometry, LA-ICP-MS, Lead Isotope, Neutron Activation Analysis and other methods – overview and current work).
-Techniques and current projects in the scientific analysis of ancient coinages.
-Ancient mines and mining technology (recent surveys and studies).
-Mineral analysis and smelting technology.
-Minting and mining – new evidence for the archaic period.
-Conservation and analysis of ancient coins.
-New archaeological findings concerning ancient metallurgy, mines and numismatics, especially of the archaic period of Greece.
On behalf of the organizers:
Dr. George Kakavas, Director of the Numismatic Museum and Acting Director of the National Archaeological Museum
Associate Professor Kenneth Sheedy, Director of the Australian Centre for Ancient Numismatic Studies, Macquarie University, Sydney Australia.
Honorary Committee
Dr. Ioannis Touratsoglou, Archaeologist and Numismatist, Honorary Director of Antiquities, Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports.
Dr. Dimitrios Pandermalis, Professor Emeritus of Archaeology Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, President of the Board of Directors of the Acropolis Museum.
Dr. Evangelos Kakavogiannis Honorary Director of Antiquity, Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports.
Professor Katerina Liampi, Department of History and Archaeology, University of Ioannina.
Dr. Xarikleia Papageorgiadou, Director of Research, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Institute of Historical Research.
Scientific Committee
Dr. George Kakavas, Director of the Numismatic Museum and Acting Director of the National Archaeological Museum.
Associate Professor Kenneth Sheedy, Director of the Australian Centre for Ancient Numismatic Studies, Macquarie University.
Dr. Gil Davis, Director, Program for Ancient Mediterranean Studies, Macquarie University. Associate Professor Damian Gore, Macquarie University.
Dr. Eva Apostolou, Archaeologist and Numismatist, Numismatic Museum.
Associate Professor Damian Gore, Macquarie University.
Dr. Panagiotis Tselekas, Lecturer in Classical Archaeology and Numismatics, School of History and Archaeology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
Organizing Committee
Associate Professor Kenneth Sheedy, Director of the Australian Centre for Ancient Numismatic Studies, Macquarie University.
Dr. Gil Davis, Program for Ancient Mediterranean Studies, Macquarie University.
Associate Professor Damian Gore, Macquarie University.
Demeter-Eleni Ladogianni, Archaeologist, Numismatic Museum.
Efterpi Ralli, Archaeologist, Directorate of the National Archive of Monuments.
Evi Tsota, Archaeologist, Numismatic Museum.
Yorka Nikolaou, Historian – Numismatist, Numismatic Museum.
Niki Katsikosta, Conservator of Antiquities – Museologist, Numismatic Museum.
Eleni Kontou, Conservator of Antiquities, Numismatic Museum.
