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The First UK Early Career Symposium on Islamic Archaeology20th April 2013Archaeological scholarship has revealed considerable temporal and geographicvariation in material expressions of identity within the Islamic world,through architecture, art, crafts, burial and subsistence, as well as in theorganisation of trade and exchange. How integral was the uniting force ofIslam in the construction of personal, group, and state identity in thepast? To what extent can we see identity as being formed locally anddiachronically – either in opposition to different external and internalcultural groups, influenced by pre-existing indigenous cultures andcontemporary neighbouring states, or resulting from particular politicalchanges?The University of Southampton Department of Archaeology will host a freeconference on Islamic Archaeology on 20th April 2013, addressing theseissues. This conference aims to bring together post-graduate, post-doctoraland established scholars in the disciplines of Islamic Archaeology as wellas architectural and art history, from institutions in the UK and beyond.This will be a unique opportunity to share knowledge and expertise – unitingwhat has been, until now, a disparate community.The aims of the conference are:*To facilitate dialogue between scholars of material culture in themedieval and early modern Islamic world, from the UK and abroad*To assess the use of material culture as an indicator and creator ofdifferent kinds of identities including ethnicity, gender, religion, andclass*To explore geographic and temporal variation in identities in theIslamic world*To identify multiple, layered or contrasting expressions of personalidentity within groups and by individuals*To disseminate the results of new excavations and surveys ofmedieval and early modern Islamic sites and landscapes, where new evidencehas a bearing on our understanding of identity*To consider the relationship between the material culture of thepre-modern Islamic world and the creation of identities in contemporarynationsThe conference will consist of four sessions:Transitions and ContinuityThe Islamic world was simultaneously both diverse and profoundly connected.The analysis of material culture has demonstrated that while aspects ofidentity may emerge abruptly or evolve slowly over time, they are frequentlycreated with reference to the past. This session therefore aims to explorenot only the constancy of Islamic identity but also the role of multiplefactors – regional, historic, religious and ethnic – during the medieval andearly modern era.Papers in this session may include, but are not limited to, the followingthemes:1.Identity before and after the advent of Islam2.The effect of transitions between ruling dynasties and changingjudicial-religious doctrine3.The effect of crises, episodes of prosperity, and long-term socialchanges4.Evidence from multi-period sites and landscapesTrade and Cultural ExchangeThe system of trade and exchange in the medieval and early modern worldunited different, often rival, Islamic states, in addition to bringing theMuslim world into contact with non-Islamic communities in East Asia, theIndian subcontinent, Africa and Europe. This session will explore themovement of goods, wealth, ideas and people resulting from mercantile trade,and its effect on personal and group identities.Papers in this session may include, but are not limited to, the followingthemes:1.The exchange of ideas and social practices between communities, asfacilitated through trade networks2.The expression of merchant identity, and of a mercantile class, inmaterial culture3.The impact of extraneous cultural traditions of foreign mercantileenclaves and communities on surrounding groupsConflict and Cultural ContrastsWithin the medieval and early modern Islamic world there existed a multitudeof ethnic, political, religious and cultural divisions. For Muslims, how farwere such divisions overshadowed by the uniting concept of the umma, orrather did internal conflicts and distinctions form a greater part inidentity formation? For those who did not convert, how distinct did theirway of life and expression of identity remain, and what effect did this haveon the formation of Muslim identities? Compounding these internal contrastsare processes of interaction with external peoples and polities  – whetherthrough warfare, immigration or diplomacy.Papers in this session may include, but are not limited to, the followingthemes:1.The expression and formation of identity by religious, ethnic,political and cultural minorities within the Islamic world2.Distinctions and similarities between Muslim and dhimmi identity3.Identity in frontier societies and the effect of interaction acrossborders4.The effect of immigration and invasion on identity formationIslamic Archaeology and Contemporary IdentitiesThe material culture of the medieval Islamic world continues to inform theidentity of individuals and groups through its interpretation by modernscholars, and its curation and display in museum collections. This sessionwill explore Islamic Archaeology’s place in discourses of Muslim, nationaland ethnic identity in the contemporary world.Papers in this session may include, but are not limited to, the followingthemes:1.The development of scholarship, curation and display of medievalIslamic material culture, and its role in nationalist discourses2.The status of Islamic versus pre-Islamic Archaeology in the culturalheritage industries of modern nations3.The archaeology of Islam and its relationship to modern religiouspractice4.The role of Islamic Archaeology in conflicts within and betweencontemporary nationsSubmissions:We invite submissions for papers and posters in the form of no more than 200word abstracts, which should be emailed to submissisons@islamicarch.com nolater than 12th December 2012. In addition to the abstract your submissionshould include:*Name(s) of Author(s)*Paper title*Intended session*Your institutional affiliation*Description of the geographical and temporal scope of the paperPapers will be 20 minutes in length, and the language of the conference willbe English. Further details can be found at http://islamicarch.com&#60;http://islamicarch.com/&#62;  and anyfurther enquiries should be made by emailiaiconf@islamicarch.com.