Learn more about the workshop and talks at this year’s BernBabylon
Workshop: Recognizing and Preventing Colonial Practices in Archaeology
Time: 09:20–12:20
Keywords: Postcolonial Theory, Neo-Colonialism, Archaeology
Abstract
Despite the beginnings of postcolonial studies reaching back almost 50 years to Edward Said’s seminal work Orientalism (1978), the workshop departs from the point of view that current archaeological practice is far from being able to claim the label «decolonized».
Recent contributions on the agency of archaeology within the colonial discourse demonstrate the variant degrees of (de)colonization among regional archaeologies, but emphasize an overall ongoing trend to more sublime and intersectional forms of neo-colonialism and data colonialism. Rather than to reduce the dependencies of former colonized countries, current archaeological practice runs a high risk of reaffirming the inherited imbalance of power in access to, e.g., funding, education, knowledge production, and technology, as well in the governance of material, intangible, and digital heritage.
In order to reflect our own archaeological practices in fieldwork and academic writing within and against the historicity of the discipline, participants are introduced to postcolonial theory by selected readings and the discussion of case studies:
1) A comparative reading of Western and native narratives on archaeological discoveries argues for the persistence of the archaeologist as a romanticized stereotype within our self-perception
2) A case study of the 2016 world tour of 3D-printed replicas of Palmyra’s Bel temple entrance that was destroyed by ISIS illustrates the complex neo-colonial entanglements of global politics, heritage preservation, media attention, and data governance
Proceeding from these case studies, the particpants learn and practice through hands-on excercises to identify manifest and latent representations of colonial thinking in archaoelogical academic writing and media coverage.
The overall aim of the workshop is the joint drafting of a white paper of best-practice recommodations that aids archaeologists to reflect on past and current colonial practices in the field as well as at the desk. The draft will be revisited in a follow-up workshop to be held at the University of Strasbourg in January 2027.
How to Make a Pot: Observations of the Chaîne Opératoire of the Late Cypriot Base Ring Jug
Time: 14:00–14:20
Keywords: Ceramic Technology, Chaîne Opératoire, Craft Production
Abstract
This paper presents the steps of manufacturing a Late Bronze Age (ca. 1650–1050 BCE)
Cypriot Base Ring jug. The process is traced from clay procurement and preparation
through forming, finishing, and firing, in order to map out the sequence of actions taken
by the potter. Special attention is given to the attachment of handles, necks, and bases at
diƯerent drying stages. These technological details reflect the knowledge shared among
potters in their communities of practice.
Base Ring was exported widely around the eastern Mediterranean and is a distinctive type
of pottery in the innovative Cypriot repertoire of the time. It is a thin-walled, metallic fine
tableware that was made by hand at a time when the potter’s wheel was already in use on
Cyprus. Its features imply the use of strategic practices, including specific clay recipes,
widely shared forming techniques and a controlled reduction firing regime.
By contextualizing these initial observations and possible next steps, this paper seeks to
showcase how small technological details can carry broader implications. The chaîne
opératoire of a single vessel can be compared with others from diƯerent periods or parts
of the island, oƯering insight into the practices and cohesion of potters’ communities, the
wider craft production systems, and societal structures.
An Analysis of Plants with Medicinal Properties in Lakeside Settlements
Time: 14:20–14:40
Keywords: Archaeobotany, Medicine, Neolithic
Abstract
Archaeobotany is a powerful tool for understanding human relationships with plants in the past.
However, the focus is generally on activities concerning subsistence and other uses of plants, like
medicinal purposes, which remains an under-researched area. Largely due to the fact that it is often
impossible to determine the specific purposes for which flora were gathered. Additionally, a key
challenge for their interpretation is that many locally available plants with medicinal potential are
typically preserved only in small quantities. Despite this, it is highly probable that prehistoric
communities recognised the medicinal properties of certain plants.
This talk is meant to present the bachelor’s thesis, which investigates botanical remains from Swiss
Neolithic settlements for their medicinal potential. More specifically, lakeside settlements are
considered because plants with medicinal properties are seemingly ubiquitous in the
archaeobotanical material of those settlements, which is probably due to a greater preservation of
plant species in waterlogged conditions.
This thesis therefore aims to provide a basis for quantifying the relevance of these plants by
identifying diachronic patterns and spatial trends in their occurrence.
The ‚Knowing Ones‘ as Spirit Whisperers: The Necromantic Dimension of Ancient Egyptian tꜢ rḫ.t and Hebrew yiddeʿonī
Time: 14:40–15:00
Keywords: Necromancy, Wise Woman, Ramesside Period
Abstract
This paper traces possible evidence of necromancy within the ritual practices of the Egyptian tꜢ rḫ.t, the Wise Woman (literally ‘the knowing one’), using ancient Hebrew vocabulary as a comparative angle. Sparse and rather lacunar Ramesside texts from Deir el-Medîna hint at the Wise Woman’s involvement in healing, magic, and divination. One facet of her divinatory skills may have been the ability to communicate with the dead on behalf of the living. Although this possibility has been tentatively suggested by previous scholars, I offer further support for the Wise Woman’s necromantic role by comparing her title with the ancient Hebrew term for ‘necromancer’, yidde‘ōnî, which is derived from the verbal root yd‘ ‘to know’. Without suggesting an etymological connection between the Egyptian and Hebrew designations, this paper proposes an overarching link between concepts of ‘knowledge’ and necromantic practice in the ancient Near East, which permeated divinatory vocabulary in the region.
Unwrapping the Divine Message: On Oracular Hierarchy of Sheep Body Parts
Time: 15:00–15:20
Keywords: Babylonian Oracle, Organ Inspection
Abstract
In Ancient Babylonia, the liver of the sacrificial sheep was considered to be a medium on which the gods conveyed their divine message to the human sphere. It was considered by the ancients to be a letter or “the tablet of the gods”, while the sheep itself was seen as the “sealed envelope” in which the message was delivered. A complex ritualistic procedure, during which body parts were cut off and removed, was dedicated to unveiling the liver on which the oracle verdict was found. Not all body parts were of equal significance for the oracle procedure. Some body parts were not inspected at all and were dismissed and set aside before the inspection began. Others were inspected before the liver in order to determine the conditions for the query, while other organs were inspected after the liver to confirm the validity of message post-factum. This paper will hence seek to define these different levels of ominous significance among the body parts disposed during this procedure and will hence seek to bring new insights on the process of unwrapping the liver from its envelope, the sheep’s body.
The Hittite King Muršili and the King of Aleppo
Time: 15:40–16:00
Keywords: Aleppo, Muršili I, Idrimi
Abstract
The military campaigns of the Hittite kings Ḫattušili and Muršili in northern Syria in the first half of the second millennium BC continue to raise several questions regarding Near Eastern chronology. In 2000, in his study on Syrian Chronology, Wilfred van Soldt linked Muršili I’s destruction of the city of Ḫalap (Aleppo) to another significant historical event, King Idrimi’s flight from Ḫalap. This interpretation was subsequently reviewed and corroborated by Mirko Novák in his thorough 2007 analysis of the absolute chronology of this region. Hittite written texts provide attestations of these events; however, different versions concerning Muršili and Ḫalap have been preserved. In this contribution, some relevant Hittite textual sources that attest to this issue will be examined.
Theoretical Approaches to the Archaeology of Feasting
Time: 16:00–16:20
Keywords: Zooarchaeology, Faunal Assemblages, Feasting
Abstract
Brian Hayden (2001) defines feasting as any sharing of special food (in quality, preparation, or quantity) by two or more people for a special (not everyday) event.
This contribution asks how we can identify feasting events from a complex amalgamation of archaeological and faunal evidence. To this end, the archaeozoological and archaeological literature on the topic of feasting is examined with the goal of compiling key characteristics that allow the distinction between domestic food preparation and consumption from feasting activities.
This “typology of feasting” is then applied to the following two contexts:
City Quarter 1, located close to the ancient harbour of Hala Sultan Tekke (Cyprus), contains several structures that are associated with multiple domestic purposes. Room 70/83 (Stratum 3A-C, LCII(A/)B-C, 14th–13th centuries BC), however, is thought to have accommodated cultic activities that are tied to the consumption of food and drink. The room contains a stone structure, tentatively identified as an altar, as well as high quantities of tablewares and animal bones.
Building D1 is situated on the top of the settlement mound of Sirkeli Höyük (Türkiye). In Room D1:E (Phase D6, NCI 3, 950–720 BC), faunal material has been found that suggests repeated events of animal sacrifice, as well as tableware likely used during feasting events in which the sacrificed caprines were distributed and consumed.
Lamps in Cilicia: Iron Age and Hellenistic Lamps from Sirkeli Höyük and Tepebağ Höyük
Time: 16:20–16:40
Keywords: Oil Lamps, Cilicia, Iron Age, Hellenistic Period
Abstract
Oil lamps stand out as one of the fundamental tools for lighting throughout human history. The earliest
examples were made from stone and clay, and over time their uses and production techniques became
more widespread. Particularly in Mesopotamia and the Levant, oil lamps were used both in daily life
and for ritual purposes. Over time, their designs evolved, transforming from simple open forms to closed
and ornate models.
This study aims to create a regional framework for understanding the development of lighting traditions
in Cilicia from the Iron Age to the end of the Hellenistic period by systematically examining the context,
typology, and surface characteristics of ceramic oil lamps found at Sirkeli Höyük and Tepebağ Höyük.
A total of 38 oil lamps were evaluated, categorized into 11 types, and an index was proposed that will
contribute not only to the sites in question but also to regional typological development processes.
Analyses show that Type 1 oil lamps, dating to the Iron Age, are generally simple and open in form,
reflecting a common tradition found across a wide geographical area. Although a more limited number
of Iron Age oil lamps are known in Cilicia compared to the Northern Levant and Upper Mesopotamia,
the documented use of these lamps in both the lower and upper settlements during phases NCI 3 and
NCI 4 at Sirkeli Höyük reveals that these tools were accessible in different socio-economic areas.
The Hellenistic period brought about a significant transformation; open-form oil lamps were replaced
by closed, multi-part forms with a mouth, disc, and filling hole. The increase in the number and stylistic
variety of oil lamps during this period indicates the development of production organization and the
intensification of cultural interactions around the Mediterranean.
Comparing the types of oil lamps found in the two settlements points to the existence of different cultural
and economic connections. For example, Type 10 oil lamps found only in Sirkeli Höyük are associated
with Levantine production and may represent both imported and local imitation examples, while Type
11 oil lamps found in Tepebağ Höyük show similarities with Ephesus and Levantine examples and
reflect different interaction networks. These differences reveal the diversity of consumption habits and
external connections in the two settlements.
In conclusion, the typology developed in this study contributes to a more accurate dating of ceramic oil
lamps in Cilicia and provides new data on the cultural significance of lighting devices. Future research,
with larger groups of finds and scientific analyses, will allow this framework to be further strengthened.
Pythion, the “Middlest”: Protoarchaic Gortyn between Crete and the Eastern Mediterranean
Time: 16:40–17:00
Keywords: Cretan Sanctuaries, Gortyn, Protoarchaic Period
Abstract
Crete occupied a strategic position within the maritime networks of the Early Iron Age
Mediterranean, connecting the Aegean with Anatolia, the Levant, Egypt, and North Africa. While
eastern imports and cultural influences have been widely discussed at sites such as Knossos,
Eleutherna, Prinias, and Kommos, the case of Gortyn remains paradoxical. Despite the association
of the city with Europa—a myth symbolizing connections between Crete and the eastern
Mediterranean—archaeological evidence for such contacts appears comparatively limited.
However, the sanctuary of Apollo Pythios (Pythion), the most central place of ancient Gortyn, not
only played a crucial role, together with the sanctuary of Athena on the Acropolis, in the
development of the emerging polis in the mid-7th century BCE, but also presented architectural and
cultural features that appear unusual within the contemporary Cretan and Greek world.
In this paper, particular attention will be given to the monumentality and quadrangular layout of the
building, distinctive architectural decoration and specific categories of votive offerings such as
miniature terracotta shields inspired by metal prototypes. A further crucial development is the early
use of monumental inscriptions associated with the buildings, including some of the earliest public
legal texts of Europe.
By examining these features, the paper explores possible parallels in Anatolia and the broader
Eastern Mediterranean and asks whether the refurbishment of the Pythion may reflect wider
intercultural contacts that shaped sacred architecture and ritual practices in Protoarchaic Crete.
Tenikiy and the Early Populating of Madagascar
Time: 09:00–09:20
Keywords: Madagascar, Material Networks, Settlement History
Abstract
The site of Teniky, located in the center of southern Madagascar, has been investigated for four years by a swiss-malagasy team. During the 11th century CE, the site has undergone monumental developments including tens of large terrasses, stone build walls and caves excavated in the rock cliOs. Imported glass and ceramics from China and the Middle East have been found in quantities. The human presence is going back at least to the 8th century CE. The site of Teniky is unique on Madagascar and its study leads to a complete rethinking of the populating history of the island and the early contacts with the Middle East and beyond.
The Graves of the Archaeological Mission in the Maziyyad-Sublaybiyya Area: A Case of Looted Graves and How to Analyse the Remaining Data
Time: 09:20–09:40
Keywords: Graves, Looting, Data Recovery
Abstract
The surveys conducted by The Archaeological Mission in the Maziyyad-Sulaybiyya Area
(AMMSA) revealed remarkable funerary assemblages in looted jar burials, reflecting both
similar and contrasting Second Millennium burial practices. These recent discoveries, added to
tombs noticed between the sites, shed new light on the diversity of regional funerary traditions,
which will be further explored during the upcoming 2026 spring field season.
At Sulaybiyya, five double-jar tombs and a basin were identified on the site’s periphery,
associated with simple and moderately decorated ceramic vessels. At Qaber Mazyyad, nearly a
hundred comparable tombs were uncovered so far, together with a richer funerary assemblage.
The looting of these tombs – noticed as far back as 1981 for some – became a real challenge
when trying to analyse and reconstruct a coherent funerary assemblage of small surrounding
sites located near the major center of Eridu.
Introduction to the Study of Occpational Levels at Ur: The Cemetery and Mausoleum of the Ur III – Topographical and Typological Analysis of Pottery from the Third Dynasty.
Time: 09:40–10:00
Keywords: Ur, Ur III, Royal Cemetery, Mausoleum, Pottery Typology, Stratigraphy
Abstract
“[…] Ur, thought the richest site excavated so far, is only one among many in Sumer, with new
monuments continually being discovered by ongoing expeditions.” (Woolley 1934, UE II, p. 392)
Wrote Leonard Woolley, emphasizing both the site’s exceptional wealth and the fragmentary
nature of our knowledge of Sumerian civilization. More than 80 years later, the records from these
excavations remain indispensable, despite well-recognized methodological limitations.
This research reassesses the funerary sectors of Ur during the Third Dynasty (ca. 2100-2000 BCE),
focusing on the potential functional and symbolic relationships between the Royal Cemetery, the
temenos, and the mausoleum of the kings of Ur III. Although Woolley suggested a connection between
these areas, he could not substantiate it. Fortunately, recent chronological revisions provide a stronger
framework for reconsidering this issue.
The study combines historiographical reassessment, analysis of excavation notebooks, and critical
evaluation of chronological as well as stratigraphic and ceramic data. By isolating levels attributable to
phase ESM 72, it aims to clarify occupation patterns and to propose a model of relative stratification.
This reassessment seeks to refine our understanding of the relationship between cultic and funerary
spaces in southern Mesopotamia at the end of the third millennium BCE.
From Site Spacing to Movement Space: Testing Euclidean Interaction Distances in Archaeological Settlement Patterns During the Third Millennium BCE
Time: 10:00–10:20
Keywords: Human Mobility, Euclidean Distances, Least-cost Path Analysis
Abstract
Archaeological analyses of settlement patterns frequently rely on Euclidean
distances to characterize site distributions and interaction ranges, yet the
extent to which straight-line distances approximate terrain-constrained
human movement is rarely evaluated. This study examines the relationship
between Euclidean and terrain-based distances in the interpretation of
settlement organization across multiple chronological periods in
Mesopotamia. The analysis is based on large, multi-period datasets
comprising 1070 Early Dynastic (2900-2350 BCE), 422 Akkadian (2334–2154
BCE), and 752 Ur III (2112–2004 BCE) sites derived from the Floodplains Web
GIS Project directed by Nicolò Marchetti. For each period, characteristic intersite distances were identified using nearest-neighbor distance, and a
sensitivity analysis was conducted by systematically varying distance
thresholds to identify stable interaction ranges within settlement
configurations.
To test the behavioral relevance of these Euclidean distances, terrain-based
movement models were constructed using a 5m DEM and a slope-dependent
walking function. Least-cost walking surfaces were generated from settlement
hubs, producing cumulative travel-time raster that represent realistic
movement potential across the landscape. Euclidean interaction distances
were translated into equivalent walking-time thresholds and compared with
terrain-constrained reachable areas through spatial overlay and area-based
comparison.
The results demonstrate close correspondence between statistically derived
Euclidean distance ranges and terrain-based walking reach. While straight-line
distances slightly overestimate movement potential, they encompass the full
extent of terrain-reachable space, supporting their use as validated proxies for
interpreting multi-period settlement patterns.
‚Great Water. How to Tame an Unpredictable Element in the Ancient World?‘ An Analysis of Engineering in the Roman and Late Antique Periods in the Mediterranean Region
Time: 10:40–11:00
Keywords: Hydrology; Water Managament; Roman Engineering
Abstract
This presentation attempts to present the results of an analysis of the ability of building
materials from Chhim to drain excess water in the context of the climate crisis of the 6th century. The
research focuses on the issue of infrastructure adaptation in Roman and late antique settlements in
Lebanon. An important element of the research is to determine whether and to what extent the materials
and construction techniques used in Chhim were properly adapted to effective water management in
conditions of heavy rainfall, which may have accompanied the climate crisis of the 6th century. The
above issues are the results of my master’s thesis.
The study also attempts to answer questions concerning the architectural and hydrological solutions
used, the properties of building materials in terms of their permeability or water retention, as well as the
importance of the urban layout for regulating water flow within the settlement. The analysis also takes
into account archaeological and geomorphological data that may indicate the effectiveness or limitations
of drainage systems during periods of heavy rainfall. An important element of the research is also an
attempt to determine to what extent the observed solutions were a conscious response to changing
climatic conditions and to what extent they were the result of local building traditions. The research
methods used include physicochemical analyses of materials obtained during previous excavation
seasons, interpretation of architecture in a hydrological context, and modelling of the functioning of
drainage systems.
The expected outcome of the research is to provide new data on how to deal with water flow problems
in difficult terrain and climatic conditions in smaller Roman settlements. This research is also the first
step towards further analysis and interpretation of engineering solutions not only in present-day Lebanon
(Chhim, Jiyeh, Tyre), but also at sites in Dalmatia and Cyprus (Paphos) during the Roman and Late
Antique periods. This is a step that would ultimately help me trace and understand the construction
concept used in smaller and larger Roman centres in the context of water flow and how this system
depended on both current needs and climate change. It is also a topic that I would like to pursue later in
my career, focusing my attention on water and hydraulic architecture in the broadest sense.
Reconstructing the Pre-Modern Floodplain: Digital Terrain Correction for Paleo-Hydrodynamic Modelling in the Zabalam Region (Southern Iraq)
Time: 11:00–11:20
Keywords: Paleo-hydrology, DEM reconstruction, Mesopotamia
Abstract
Understanding how ancient Mesopotamian societies developed, adapted, and declined
requires knowledge of the water systems they depended on. Yet reconstructing the hydrography
of the southern alluvial plain remains challenging: millennia of accumulated irrigation
infrastructure have reshaped the landscape, and modern high-resolution terrain data reflect
these modifications rather than pre-modern conditions. Within the SNSF Sinergia project
“Hydrography of Mesopotamia” (HyMes), which aims to reconstruct the multi-temporal fluvial
network of Southern Mesopotamia by integrating archaeological, philological, and geographical
evidence, this contribution addresses a foundational prerequisite, the preparation of
hydrologically plausible terrain data for hydraulic modelling.
Using a 5 m resolution Digital Elevation Model (WorldDEM Neo) of the Zabalam region, a
workflow was developed to digitally remove modern canal levees, embankments, and dams
that act as artificial barriers in flood simulations. The methodology combines manual
identification of anthropogenic structures in QGIS with Delaunay triangulation (TIN)
interpolation in R, using reference elevation points sampled from the surrounding natural
floodplain to reconstruct a continuous surface across each removed structure. A postprocessing focal smoothing step is applied to attenuate residual interpolation artefacts. The
resulting corrected terrain provides the basis for subsequent paleo-hydrodynamic simulations
of Sumerian-period flood regimes.
Protective Entities and Idealized Masculinity: How the Laḫmu Represents the Idealized Male in Mesopotamian Ideology
Time: 11:20–11:40
Keywords: Laḫmu, Gilgamesh, Enkidu
Abstract
The figure known as Laḫmu (naked hero), traditionally a mostly nude male figure with
six distinct hair curls, illustrates a strong continuity of traditional iconographic representation
over several millennia. The Laḫmu who first appears in iconography in the ancient Near East
during the 3rd millennium BCE, embodies the ideal male figure in Meospotamian ideology. This
ideal male figure, as described in texts (such as the description of Gilgamesh) is portrayed with a
muscular build, long hair, and full beard. The Laḫmu is consistently represented in art this way,
suggesting that the Laḫmu is meant to exemplify the ideal male in Mesopotamia.
Since the Laḫmu features these idealistic traits and occasionally appears alongside the
Bull-man some scholars have associated the Laḫmu with that of the hero Gilgamesh. While they
may have many similarities, I argue that these beings are not the same. Rather, they share a
similar purpose, that of protective figures, in Mesopotamian ideology. In fact, all protective male
figures and deities are portrayed similarly in this way. Through a comparison of Gilgamesh and
Enkidu, and the Laḫmu and the Bull-man, I will demonstrate how these figures exhibit protective
qualities through shared masculine stereotypes both in art and literature.
Female Deities under Gudea: The Question of Dender in Mythology among Governors and Their Royal Entourage at the End of the Third Millennium BCE
Time: 11:40–12:00
Keywords: Gender Studies, Female Deities, Gudea
Abstract
At the end of the third millennium, Gudea, governor of the city-state of Lagaš, is known
to have produced numerous dedicated objects – votive texts and commemorative texts –
to many deities, including goddesses and deities – either major or minor ones – whose
gender is changeable, such as Ninšubur or Ninsikila.
But these dedications raise several questions:
– If they are quoted only a few times, what can the rarely mentioned deities add to
Gudea’s offerings ?
– Why include deities whose main cult is not in Lagash? Is it a reference to an ancient
practice, a cultural heritage…?
– Is gender a relevant criteria when thinking about the divine world, or is it a useful tool
when thinking about the network of pantheonic relationships?
To address this topic, we focused on gender studies and the history of women and
gender in the Ancient Near East. We also translated texts by Gudea in order to analyze
personal names and see if there were any indicators of gender.
Using examples, this study attempts to shed light on the identity of the female and
changing deities and the relationships between them, as well as between the gods and
humans.
Tracing Scribal Practice: Reinventing Stylometry for Akkadian and Sumerian
Time: 13:20–13:40
Keywords: Stylometry, Old Babylonian Period, Royal Inscriptions, Sumerian, Akkadian
Abstract
Many an assyriologist has dreamt of a way to determine where unprovenanced tablets come from,
or to be able to date a text a bit more precisely. We all hope to spot secrets behind the words, that
tell just a little bit more about the creation of a text than the words themselves. This need not
remain a dream: stylometry offers a promising approach, but must be equipped for the analysis of
cuneiform languages — which is precisely what we set out to do.
Stylometry is the quantitative study of style and clusters texts on the basis of stylistic features.
While this methodology was originally designed to assign authorship to anonymously written or
disputed texts, the clusters can also be informative about chronology or local stylistic traditions,
and could therefore be very valuable for Assyriology. Which stylistic features are relevant, and
consequently, how the textual material should be annotated, is largely language specific. It has, for
instance, been shown that for English and some other Indo-European languages, the distribution
of function words (such as articles, conjunctions, prepositions, etc.) is especially meaningful to
separate clusters from each other. However, what is expressed through function words in English,
is often expressed through morphology in Sumerian and Akkadian. Our pilot study is a first step in
the reinvention of stylometry for Sumerian and Akkadian. We design an annotation scheme that
captures relevant stylistic variation, and experiment with computational techniques to bring this
variation and its underlying meaning to light. For this purpose, we use the corpus of Old
Babylonian royal inscriptions. We will discuss our methodological hurdles and inventions, and
present our first results.
Sumerian Interjections
Time: 13:40–14:00
Keywords: Sumerian, Interjections, Lexicography
Abstract
Sumerian interjections are a curious group of words that did not trigger much research until now. Usually they are treated rather laconically in the commentary sections of some text editions and in summarizing remarks in some Sumerian grammars. A coherent analysis is lacking. However, both the latest breakthroughs in defining interjections in linguistics and the enormous progress that has been made in Sumerian lexicography in recent times offer ample opportunity to fill this gap. My dissertation project attempts to take advantage of this opportunity. It aims to provide a quantitative and qualitative analysis of Sumerian interjections based on as complete a collection of evidence as possible (for the most part, the evidence stems from two main corpora, Sumerian “literary” and Sumerian “liturgical” texts). From this collection of atttestations Sumerian interjections emerge as a group of words defined by a specific set of syntactic and semantic features. I will present these features using illustrative examples, give a preliminary overview of the distribution of attestations of Sumerian interjections, and conclude with an evaluation of the evidence for a, the best attested Sumerian interjection.
Joke Structure in Sumerian Proverb Collection 2
Time: 14:00–14:20
Keywords: Sumerian, Proverbs, Humor Theory, Old Babylonian Period
Abstract
Sumerian Proverb Collections were the product of Babylonian scribal schools in the first
half of the 2nd millennium BCE. After copying out elementary lists but before undertaking more
advanced literature, students were expected to memorize and reproduce proverb lists. These
were formatted very similarly to lexical lists while also exposing students to the premises and
abilities of literary cuneiform in bite-size pieces, thus opening their eyes to the vast possibilities
of the writing system itself during a crucial, intermediate stage of education.
Since their first publications, the Proverb Collections were acknowledged as containing
humorous and/or insulting entries, though theories as to why have gone underexplored. In fact,
they convey little in the way of wisdom or advice. Eckhart Frahm even stated in 2010 that “what
so far has … received insufficient attention is that many entries in the ‘proverb collections’ may
not be so much proverbs but jokes.” This presentation identifies and explores many such jokes
as found in the flagship text of the genre, Sumerian Proverb Collection 2, using significantly
updated translations from my recent dissertation, and explores them with simple and
approachable frameworks developed in the realm of modern linguistic Humor Theory.
If One so Sees Literature as a System of Choices: Why not Craze towards a Pragmatic Theory of Emesal?
Time: 14:20–14:40
Keywords: Emesal, Pragmatic Theory, Old Babylonian Period, Sumerian Literature
Abstract
This talks aims to shortly walk its audience into a summary overview of a master’s thesis recently concluded at the University of Geneva, whose object of research was Emesal as a female genderlect differently employed within the larger corpus of Sumerian literature. Therein, Emesal is approached pragmatically, rather than as a fixed dialect, genderlect, or genre-bound feature independent of discursive context. Drawing on compositions belonging mostly to the Old Babylonian period, the theory is advanced that Emesal functions as a context-sensitive register of Sumerian whose activation depends on the specifics of a female speaker’s communicative positioning. Emesal isn’t uniform throughout, but displays a patterned variability: its loud presence, its even louder silences are equally indicative of a regulated system of choice made especially visible at the level of literature. The theory’s central claim is that Emesal tends to be used when female voice performs relational (i.e. intimate, affective) interpersonal work, and that it tends to be withheld in speech contexts maintaining distance from such positioning. Selected case studies help explain Emesal as a pragmatic resource contributing to extra-textual inference of meaning within a shared system of communicative competence.
Digital Processing of Cuneiform Tablets: The Tablet K_0001 from the MfK Bern
Time: 15:00–15:20
Keywords: Cuneiform Tablets, Digital Documentation, 3D-Scanning
Abstract
The growing use of digital technologies in archaeological research has opened new
possibilities for documenting and analysing cuneiform tablets. This presentation explores
different methods for digitally recording such artifacts in order to preserve as much
information as possible and facilitate further research, particularly when tablets are not
easily accessible. In doing so, the advantages and limitations of different digital approaches
to documenting cuneiform tablets are considered. The documentation process incorporates
techniques such as high-resolution photography, photogrammetry, 3D scanning, and
digital drawing, alongside the systematic recording of physical characteristics.
The research is based on the documentation of tablet K_0001 from the Museum for
Communication in Bern, which has not previously been thoroughly examined. The
presentation originates from a bachelor thesis and follows the complete documentation
process, from digital recording and epigraphic analysis to translation and contextualization.
Particular attention is given to evaluating the effectiveness of different digital approaches
for producing detailed and reusable records.
The tablet originates from the art market and lacks a secure archaeological context, though
it has been provisionally attributed to Umma. Through philological and contextual analysis,
the presentation discusses its possible provenance while highlighting the benefits of digital
documentation methods for cuneiform research.
Tracking Iraqi Antiquities on the Open Web: Initial Results from the NABU Project
Time: 15:20–15:40
Keywords: OSINT, Illicit Antiquities Trade; Iraq
Abstract
The NABU project, led by Turaath Tech, is investigating how open data can be used to better understand the illicit trade of artifacts and antiquities. During the initial phase of the 12-month project, we systematically monitored one of the largest Arabic language online marketplaces for artifacts and antiquities in the Middle East and North Africa, with a focus on Iraqi cultural goods and Iraq-based sellers. Using automated data collection methods and structured analysis, the project documented thousands of listings and identified seller profiles operating both within this marketplace and across other platforms. Early results indicate that a relatively small number of sellers are responsible for a disproportionate share of listings, suggesting concentrated points of activity within what often appears to be a decentralised market. The project also highlights the importance of tracking specific artifact characteristics such as object type, material, provenance (if any), and geographic references. These attributes have made it possible to identify certain risk indicators that can be used to flag suspicious listings in the future. Outputting structured data both for researchers and law enforcement on the ground in Iraq, NABU highlights how open data can greatly contribute to the fight against cultural goods trafficking.
“For a Long Time, Inscriptions Were the Scholars’ Favourite Plaything”: A Research Project on the Place of Latin Inscriptions in Peripheral Central European Collections and Museums – a Case Study from Polish Holdings
Time: 15:40–16:00
Keywords: Latin Epigraphy; Polish Museum Collections; Provenance
Abstract
“For a Long Time, Inscriptions Were the Scholars’ Favourite Plaything”, wrote
Stanisław Kostka Potocki at the beginning of the nineteenth century, capturing an earlier
approach that treated inscriptions primarily as autonomous texts, detached from their material
and historical contexts. This presentation introduces an ongoing research project that
reconsiders Roman Latin inscriptions from contemporary epigraphic, archaeological, and
museological perspectives, emphasizing their materiality and cultural biographies (grant
2025/57/N/HS3/03076 of the National Science Centre, Poland).
The paper focuses on Latin inscriptions from the Roman period preserved in Polish museum
collections. These monuments entered Central Europe mainly in the eighteenth and nineteenth
centuries, within the context of antiquarian collecting and the reception of Classical antiquity.
Many of them remain unpublished or were edited according to outdated scholarly standards.
The aim of the paper is to outline the project’s methodological framework and research
questions, addressing provenance, collecting practices, and changing interpretative contexts. A
key element of the presentation will be a case study of a Roman military tombstone from
Nikopolis near Alexandria (Egypt). Its re-examination demonstrates the importance of
integrating epigraphic analysis with the study of material evidence and highlights the need for
a new, critical edition based on modern research standards.
From Babylon to Bern: The Alexander-frieze of Bertel Thorvaldsen
Time: 16:00–16:20
Keywords: Alexander-frieze, Bertel Thorvaldsen, Grand Tour
Abstract
The focal point of this input is the famous frieze of sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen. In 1812, at the palace of
the Quirinal, the danish artist completed the triumphal procession of Alexander the Great into Babylon.
The frieze came into being as an allegorical celebration in honor of Napoleon, survived his fall and was
celebrated as a masterpiece of neoclassical art. Thorvaldsen sold multiple marble and plaster versions
of it to the richest patrons of Italy and Europe.
The starting point of this input are two donations of in total 80 objects to the Antikensammlung of the
University of Bern in 2022 with the annotation that fourteen of them originate from Ludwig Gabriel Rudolf
von Stürler’s study voyage to Italy. These fourteen objects consist of plaster casts, mostly of gems, as
well as of one Campanian oinochoe. Among the plaster casts are also four scaled-down sections of the
Alexander-frieze.
Ludwig and his wife Julie undertook in 1838 a 14-month long voyage with their two-year-old daughter
Lucie. The voyage served him to deepen his knowledge of architecture. A book with his notes and
sketches is being preserved at the Burgerbibliothek Bern as well as Julie’s diary, which described the
journey. It is because of this that we learn that they spent four months in Rome where they probably
acquired these frieze sections.
The history over generations of these souvenirs takes us back to the time of Alexander’s campaigns and
those of Napoleon, the era of neoclassical art and the Grand Tour, an educational voyage, which bernese
patricians also undertook.
Orthography, Visual Arts, and Identity in Lydia and Ionia
Time: 16:40–17:00
Keywords: Epigraphy, Lydia, Ionia
Abstract
By the Achaemenid period, the East Greeks and their Lydian neighbours had developed very
different layouts for their inscriptions. In Ionia, Greek inscriptions show a left-to-right writing
direction. Letters were arranged in a ‘stoichedon’ grid format, typically with little to no word
division. In Lydia, particularly in Sardis, Lydian inscriptions instead run from right to left.
Words were separated by blank spaces. Unlike in Greek stoichedon, the Lydians took great
pains to avoid dividing a word over a line break. These orthographic decisions not only
emphasised legibility in Lydian but also created a distinct visual style for Lydian epigraphy as
opposed to Greek; even a non-literate observer would be able to immediately identify the
language of an inscription from its layout.
This paper suggests that Lydian and East Greek orthographies developed appositionally. Writing systems, as the visual components of language systems, are fertile
grounds for the expression of ethnic identity. Language was one of the key criteria
distinguishing Lydians and Greeks. The Lydian alphabet was derived from the Greek,
making the two visually similar. The standardisation of Lydian orthography however made it
entirely unlike Greek, creating visual distance between the two scripts and the monuments
which displayed them.
The Wall Paintings of Tell el-Burak: An Interregional Comparison of the Iconology in Middle Bronze Age Wall Paintings
Time: 17:00–17:20
Keywords: Wall Paintings, Middle Bronze Age, Interregional Relationships
Abstract
This Bachelor thesis examines the Middle Bronze Age wall paintings of Tell el-Burak, an archaeological
site situated along the Mediterranean coast in Lebanon. These murals, which date notably early for this
region, are compared to similar paintings from Benī Ḥasan, Tell Sakka, Qaṭna and Tell el-Dabʿa.
Following a brief overview of each archaeological site, a comparison of their wall paintings is made,
using the methodology of art historian Erwin Panofsky. In detail, his methodology consists of three
steps: (1) a pre-iconographical description; (2) an iconographical analysis; and (3) an iconological
interpretation. The methodology of Panofsky was chosen in order to provide a clear distinction
between the visual observations, the identification of the depicted motifs and the interpretation of
their meanings.
In conclusion, the iconological interpretations of all wall paintings described are assessed and
compared, also considering their varying datings. This comparison demonstrates the interregional
relationships among the mentioned sites. Iconological evidence was found that the different sites and
regions influenced each other culturally, economically and politically, as reflected in the depicted
themes and motifs of the wall paintings, the painting techniques applied, and the materials used.
Continuity and Transformation in the Textile Landscape of the Mesaoria (Cyprus) from the Bronze to the Iron Age
Time: 17:20–17:40
Keywords: Textile Production, Landscape, Cyprus
Abstract
This paper presents the first results of the TeLaCY project (SNSF Swiss Postdoctoral Fellowship,
grant no. 234366) by targeting the central plain (Mesaoria) of Cyprus as a key region for textile
production in the Bronze and Iron Ages. Focusing on sites in the Mesaoria and its adjacent foothills,
it examines how local landscapes were mobilised for textile production and how relationships
between textile makers and productive landscapes changed over time.
The study combines a systematic review of textile tools and their archaeological contexts with
landscape analysis, considering all the resources relevant to fibre production, and route networks.
This approach assesses the capacity of these territories to sustain flax cultivation, sheep herding, and
related processing activities. Preliminary results highlight: (i.) the possible ‘vocation’ of the region
for specific textile resources; (ii.) tool preferences, spatial clustering of textile evidence, and the
identification of workspaces and, where possible, levels of production; and (iii.) contrasts and
complementarities between sites embedded in agrarian zones and those operating as nodal points
within wider exchange networks. Overall, the paper argues for the central plain as a dynamic textile
landscape, where resource availability, land use, and socio-economic strategies were closely
intertwined, and demonstrates the value of integrating landscape analysis into textile studies.