Bulgaria’s Archaeology Institute Organizes 1st International Conference on ‘Roman and Late Antiquity Thrace’ with Partners from Greece, Turkey
This section of the 4th century AD Tabula Peutingeriana (the Peutinger Map showing cursus publicus, the road network in the Roman Empire, covering Europe, North Africa and parts of Asia) showing the Roman province of Thrace (and the eastern parts of Moesia Inferior, and Dacia) figures on the release of the Bulgarian Institute of Archaeology for the international conference on Late Antiquity Thrace. Photo: Wikipedia
Bulgaria’s National Institute and Museum of Archaeology has issued a call for papers and posters for the 1st International Conference on “Roman and Late Antique Thrace” (RaLATh).
All of Ancient Thrace (including, the Odrysian Kingdom – 5th century BC-1st century AD) was conquered by the Roman Empire in 46 AD, and the Thracian aristocracy was integrated into the Roman society as a provincial aristocracy.
The Roman province of Thrace corresponds to today’s geographical region of Thrace in the southern and southeastern part of Bulgaria, Northeast Greece, and Northwest (European) Turkey (that is, the Southeast Balkan Peninsula).
The Institute, a body of Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, is organizing the event in partnership with the Ephorate of Antiquities of Rhodope, an institute of the Ministry of Culture of Greece, and Istanbul University in Turkey.
“Located in an ever contested area of Southeast Europe, Thrace has posed numerous challenges to scholarship for well over a century. Until recently, material found within the national borders of the modern-day states that cover ancient Thrace was rarely examined together with that found “beyond”, due to political or other restrictions. In view of the advancing research in the last decades, this fascinating region at the crossroads of empires deservedly attracts more and more scientific attention,” the Sofia-based National Institute and Museum of Archaeology says in a statement.
The 1st International Conference on “Roman and Late Antique Thrace” is entitled “Cities, Territories and Identities”.
It is planned to take place on October 7-10, 2016, in the southern Bulgarian city of Plovdiv, the successor of the ancient city of Philipopolis, also known as Trimontium in the Roman period.
“The conference theme focuses on the cities of Thrace, their territories, and the expressions of local identity in Roman and Late Antiquity times,” the Institute states.
“We aim to bring together archaeologists, historians, numismatists, epigraphists, art historians, and scholars from any related fields, for an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the region. Contributors are invited to discuss all aspects of urban life in Roman and Late Antiquity Thrace. Relevant areas of research include, but are not limited to: settlement patterns, civic space planning, architecture, city economy, religion, festivals,” it adds.
Selected papers will be published before the next edition of the event in the fall of 2017.
Here are the requirements for the submission of papers and posters for the conference, and the contact details:
Papers should be presented in English, German or French and should not exceed 20 minutes.
Please send an abstract of approximately 300 words to Dr. Milena Raycheva at raycheva [@] naim.bg and RomanThraceConference [@] gmail.com.
Deadline: 31 May 2016.
Posters should be in English, German or French and of A1 size (594×841 mm).
Authors should be aware of copyright regulations, and will be responsible for bringing and presenting their printed posters.
Please send an abstract of approximately 200 words to Dr. Milena Raycheva at raycheva [@] naim.bg and RomanThraceConference [@] gmail.com .
Deadline: 31 May 2016.
Candidates will be notified of the committee’s decision by 30 June 2016. No fee is required from the participants and the attendees of the conference.
The Organizing Committee of the Conference includes:
Assoc. Prof. Lyudmil Vagalinski (lvagalin [@] techno-link.com) (Director of the National Institute and Museum of Archaeology in Sofia)
Prof. Dilyana Boteva (botevadilyana [@] yahoo.com),
Prof. M. H. Sayar (mhsayar [@] gmail.com)
Ch. Karadima (chkaradima [@] culture.gr),
Dr. M. Raycheva (raycheva [@] naim.bg)
