The city of Lyon and the Near East have a long-lasting connection. Between 170 and 200 CE, Saint Irénée- born in Turkey and appointed bishop of Lyon- was accompanied by a group of scholars and missionaries who brought the good word from the East ‘source de tous les biens’ according to J. Pouilloux (founder of Maison de l’Orient) in his introduction to the catalogue of the exhibition entitled “Dix Années d'archéologie Lyonnaise en Orient”, which took place in Lyon in 1978. This bond has never been broken. In 1975, a group of archaeologists working on the ancient of Near East created the Maison de l’Orient to conduct multidisciplinary research and to develop academic courses at the University Lyon 2. Since then, several research units develop research programmes on the Near East. Archéorient is specialized in the study of archaeology, environment, and texts of Southwest Asia from Prehistoric to Islamic times. ArAr focuses on archaeology and archaeometry while HiSoMA combines both texts and archaeological documentation to study the ancient Mediterranean from the Iron Age to the Medieval times. In addition, a specialised library is regularly sustained by old and recent publications and books regarding the Near East and Mediterranean archaeology. And, several technical platforms in archaeological methods, archives, edition, and computer sciences are associated to the Maison de l’Orient. Along with the research units, The University Lyon 2 proposes a bachelor degree in archaeology and History of Arts with several courses on the ancient Near East. The faculty ‘Temps et territoires’ offers three Master degrees specialized on the archaeology of Ancient East and the Mediterranean along with two intensive programs on Egyptology and Assyriology.
The 14th ICAANE Lyon proposes eight thematic sessions covering interdisciplinary research and new approaches of the archaeology of the Ancient Near East, from Prehistoric to Islamic times.
- Advances in Near Eastern Archaeology
- Natural resources and anthropised landscapes
- Heritage and archaeology
- The materiality of inscribed and figurative objects
- Neolithic paths
- Life and death: Human behaviour and practices
- Characterizing culture?
- Islamic archaeology
The Organising Committee of the 14th ICAANE warmly invites scholars working on subjects related to Near Eastern Archaeology to take part in the forthcoming event. We encourage early Career Researchers and PHD students to participate.
Let us hope that our next Meeting will take place in a peaceful world.