A Call for Papers

The Society for American Archaeologist's Fiber Perishables Interest Group will be sponsoring a symposium at the conferences 74th annual meeting in Atlanta, GA (April 22 - 26, 2009):

Second Impressions: Alternative Methods for Exploring Archaeological Perishables

Perishable artifacts are ephemeral, and infrequently represented in the universe of archaeological sites. As perishables research advances, analysts are exploring a veritable new frontier of techniques for the study of perishable artifacts and traditions. A slew of analytical techniques may greatly expand what researchers know about the perishable artifacts from various regions and cultures even where the traditionally focused on perishable artifacts, namely textiles or baskets, are not preserved for direct observation. This expanded analytical base includes but is not limited to: employing technologies or computer-based software for anything from a myriad of artifact-specific analyses to regionally specific distributional analyses; chemical analyses of organic residues where they are present on more durable artifacts; an expansion of the types of perishable artifacts considered for physical analyses to include composite artifacts with an organic component; and, indirect analyses through impressions or casts of textiles or baskets, or their portrayal in other media, such as carvings, sculptures, paintings, or murals. The aim of this symposium is to bring these methods and techniques into focus and to consider what they have to offer perishables research as well as more general historical and archaeological pursuits.

If you are interested in contributing a paper for this session, please contact Sarah as soon as possible with a short description of your proposed paper topic (no later than August 30th). Her e-mail address is sdost46@... and her snail-mail address from June 1- August 30 2008 is 351 Stockholm St. Apt. 2R, Brooklyn, NY, 11237, USA.

Sarah L. Dost
Graduate Student
Department of Anthropology
Mercythurst College
Erie, PA, 16501 USA
sdost46@...