"Mobility and Borders in the Ancient Near East" (ASOR 2021)

Eric M. Trinka Announcement
Subject Fields
Ancient History, Borderlands, Geography, Immigration & Migration History / Studies, Anthropology

ASOR Annual Meeting (In-Person and Virtual Components)

"Cultures of Mobility and Borders in the Ancient Near East"


Session Chairs: Eric Trinka, James Madison University; Shane M. Thompson, Brown University
Abstract Submission: By March 15

In-Person Abstract Submission:
https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/login?redirect=/stages/2488/submitter
Virtual Abstract Submission:
https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/login?redirect=/stages/2530/submitter

Description: Studies of movement, mobility, and migration in the
ancient world are becoming more numerous. Despite recent growth in
some important research areas, a key methodological component remains
absent from archaeological and textual studies: Few, if any, present
works on mobility or movement in the ancient world integrate findings
from modern mobility studies. Failure to do so has left noteworthy
lacunae in researchers’ epistemologies of movement and place that
require redress. The key contribution of this new session is to
provide a more solid theoretical grounding for discussing the
processes of human movement and contact. We assert that mobility is to
movement as place is to location; social construction lies at the core
of their distinction from, and relationship to, one another. Mobility
does not simply occur in space. It is a constituent element of spatial
production. To this end, we seek scholarly contributions that enable
us to better understand ancient perceptions of emplaced-ness,
movement, and general cultures of mobility in the Late Bronze and
Early Iron Age Near East. We propose that the first three-year series
will center the topics borders, bodies and cultures of mobility.

Yearly Themes
2021: Bringing Mobilities Studies to Bear in the ANE – Theoretical basis for studying mobility/borders in ANE
2022: Defining and Controlling Mobile Bodies
2023: Drawing Boundaries / Disrupting Borders

Contact Information

For questions contact:

Shane M. Thompson (shane_thompson@brown.edu);
Eric M. Trinka (trinkaem@jmu.edu)

Contact Email
trinkaem@jmu.edu