Aspects of Embodiment: Tattoos and Body Modification in

CFP: 2010 European Association of Archaeologists Meeting in the Hague,

September 1-5, 2010,

http://www.eaa2010.nl/

Session Title: Aspects of Embodiment: Tattoos and Body Modification in

Antiquity

From Oetzi the Iceman to today's full-sleeved and pierced urbanite, it seems

that body modification has always formed an integral part of the human

animal's relationship to its body. Some adornments are temporary or purely

situational, such as particular body paints, jewelry or hair treatments, while

others are quite permanent and, when we are very lucky, preserved in the

archaeological record.

The archaeologist's arsenal in studying preserved tattoos and other body

modifications has expanded in recent years. At the same time, anthropological

interest in "the body" and embodiment has greatly increased theoretical

interest in practices that "inscribe" upon the body. Few still see tattooing

simply as a display of art; they look instead for distinctions of status,

rank, age or gender, for medicinal uses, for punitive or laudatory uses, for

manifestos or other propagandistic uses, as marks of belonging or exclusion,

as marks of transition or transformation ... As the body arts of, e.g.,

Oceania and Asia, are better understood, the ideas have cross-pollenated with

European archaeology. In fact, the serious and scientific attention accorded

to body modification today contrasts starkly with earlier dismissal by

Europeans of tattooed "barbarians." We feel that, in the current atmosphere of

acceptance, it is time for a multidisciplinary session on the archaeology of

body modification.

We invite papers from all relevant disciplines, but particularly welcome

bioarchaeologists who work with the detection and analysis of ancient tattoos;

archaeologists who work with preserved tattoos and/or modifications; and all

those whose reconsiderations of ancient tattooing practices promise to expand

our field and contribute to richer understanding of the ancient body and mind.

Please send abstracts as soon as possible in the following format to :

prof. dr. philippe della casa

universität zürich, abt. ur- und frühgeschichte karl-schmid-str. 4, CH - 8006

zürich tel. +41 (0)44 6343831, fax (0)44 6344992 <>

http://www.prehist.uzh.ch

Session Papers

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