AARG2019 - International Aerial Archaeology Conference | Muzeul de Istorie Națională și Arheologie Constanța

The Aerial Archaeology Research Group (AARG) 2019 Annual Conference will take place in Constanta (Romania) on September 12th-14th 2019. The event will be hosted by the Museum of National History and Archaeology Constanta.

A welcome reception will take place on September 11th.

The sessions are scheduled on September 12th and 13th, with a field trip to the ancient ruins of Tropaeum Traiani on September 14th.

The Museum of National History and Archaeology Constanta has a long history, of over a century, being founded by the Romanian administration of Dobroudja, in 1878. It is one of the richest museums in Romania, with a vast number of archaeological treasures exhibited, ranging from the Neolithic to the Byzantine era.

The third largest city in Romania, Constanta is one of our country's main industrial, economic, cultural and tourist centres, worth exploring for its archaeological treasures and the Old Town's architecture. Its historical monuments, ancient ruins, grand Casino, museums and shops, and proximity to beach resorts make it the focal point of Black Sea coastal tourism.

An ancient metropolis, Romania's oldest continuously inhabited and the country's largest sea port, Constanta traces its history some 2,500 years ago. Originally called Tomis, legend has it that Constanta was visited by Jason and the Argonauts after finding the Golden Fleece.

Founded by Greek colonists from Miletos in the 6th century BC, Tomis was conquered by the Romans in 71 BC and renamed Constantiana by Roman Emperor Constantine the Great.

Constanta flourished during the 13th century, when Genoese merchants dominated the Black Sea but, the city began to decline two centuries later, when it fell under Turkish rule.

During the Ottoman era its name was shortened to Constanta.

Fine mansions and hotels were built in the 19th century when King Carol I decided to revive Constanta as a port and seaside resort.

Constanta

CALL FOR PAPERS

Oral Papers (20 minutes) and posters (A1 portrait) are invited on the themes of:

1. Local session: Aerial Archaeology in Romania and the Black Sea region

This session features papers on aerial archaeology in Romania and especially in the area of the Black Sea. Contributions are welcome on recent research and historical applications of aerial archaeology, including case studies and more theoretical contributions.

2. Aerial Archaeology in the commercial sector

Increasingly, aerial archaeology is (or perhaps should be?) an indispensable part of the planning process, and aerial methods are integral to infrastructural development worldwide. This session invites papers on any aspect of such collaborations, from successful collaborations and innovative approaches to abject failures and cautionary tales.

3. Aerial archaeology and the public

The last decade has seen the rapid democratisation of aerial archaeology, from Google Earth and Bing, to digitisation of historic collections and the development of ever cheaper and more effective drone technology. These developments have seen the ever-increasing involvement of the public with airborne and spaceborne archaeological prospection. This session invites contributions that explore the intersection between aerial archaeology and public archaeology, including case studies and critical reflections on such interactions, both successful and less successful.

4. Revisiting the gaps: Empty spaces in the theory and practice of aerial archaeology

In 2013 the University of Siena held an international seminar on ‘Emptiness, Visibility, Ambiguity and Absence in Archaeology’ - Mind the Gap. This thought-provoking meeting focused on ideas of emptiness in archaeological landscapes and asked: how do we begin to address apparent gaps in various landscapes? Do these gaps reflect real patterns of past activity, or are they methodological artefacts? How do we understand the character of the patterns of archaeological evidence derived from aerial survey? Has progress been made in addressing these gaps in theory and practice? Contributions are invited on methodological or theoretical aspects of understanding patterns of (relative) emptiness, on the character of patterns and distributions of archaeological materials in the landscape, or on methodological voids within the field of aerial archaeology.

5. Aerial Archaeology: The Next Generation

In this plenary session we will hear from diverse voices from the next generation of aerial archaeologists: What does the future of aerial archaeology look like? What are the key developments in method, theory and application likely to be within the next decade? What training and skills will be needed to succeed? Will aerial archaeology remain an independent specialism, or become part of the general archaeological toolkit? Are opportunities and challenges shared across the community or regionally varied? What are the most exciting emerging research areas? What does the community need to prioritise to attract the next generation of researchers and professionals?

Please direct all conference paper and poster offers (max 800 characters) to:

Stephen Davis, UCD School of Archaeology, Dublin

by using this form

Closing date for all proposals with title and abstract is 31st May 2019.

Provisional Program:

Thursday 12th September and Friday 13th September – Paper and Poster Sessions

• Debate/Discussion Session; Local Session

• Themed Sessions (Open Call for Papers)

• Poster Session (Open Call for Posters)

Saturday 14th September - Field Trips

STUDENT/YOUNG RESEARCHERS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR AARG 2019.

These scholarships are intended to support bona fide students and young researchers who are interested in aerial archaeology and wish to attend and present at the AARG conference.

There is no application form. Please provide the following information in an emailed headed with “Student/Young Researcher Scholarship”: Your interests in archaeology and aerial archaeology; place of study; the name and contact details of a supervisor or employer (email) who can provide a reference; why you would benefit from attending the conference; and an estimate of travel costs to attend.

You should be willing to provide a poster, or for exceptional work provide an abstract for a paper under one of the conference session themes listed above.

All students awarded a Scholarship will be expected to provide a short summary of their work for AARG News immediately following the conference.

Applications should be addressed to Stephen Davis at: aargchair@gmail.com.

The closing date for applications for Scholarships is the 24th May 2019.

In addition, there will be a competition for the best student/young researcher poster or paper, judged by the Chairman and Vice-Chairman. The prize will be a free 2019 conference package (registration fee, dinner and field trip).

Attendees can register at the AARG website.

Please note:

• The early bird rate applies until 12th July, 2019.

• Late registration is available from 12th July to 16st August, 2019.

• The 'Member' rate applies only to persons registered as paid AARG members for the calendar year 2019.

• If you are unsure as to whether you are registered as a member you can contact Lenka.

• A discounted rate is available for registered students. A student identification card valid on the date of booking is required.

Early Bird Registration

Late Registration

Register

The early bird rate applies until 12th July 2019. Regular registration will be available from July 12th to August 16th 2019 ONLY (cut-off date).

Please note: registration will not be possible after the cut-off date.

Enquiries about registration can be addressed to AARG Chair.

The 'Member' rate applies only to persons registered as paid AARG members for the calendar year 2019. To become a member please refer to AARG website. If you are unsure as to whether you are registered as a member you can contact the AARG secretary. A discounted rate is available for registered students. To register using this rate, a student identification card valid on the date of booking is required and should be emailed to the AARG secretary.

The following are the AARG Conference Registration rates for 2019.

RATES

EXTRAS

* Half-day historical tour in Constanta

Conference Venue

The registration desk will be open at the Museum of National History and Archaeology Constanta on the 11th of September, from 18:00 to 20:00, and on the 12th of September from 8:30.

Poster exhibition: there will be in the ground floor of the museum and there are stands for that.

Welcome reception

Opening drinks Wednesday 11th September, evening

This is a free welcome event for registered AARG delegates. The event will be hosted by the Museum of National History and Archaeology Constanta and will start around 5.30 p.m.

Conference dinner

Friday 13th September, evening

Conference dinner will be held in a typical Romanian Inn.

The inn is located in Eforie Sud, 21 km South of Constanta.

The restaurant serves meals of the Romanian tradition.

Vegan/vegetarian/gluten free options will be available on request.

Field trip

Saturday 14th September

08:30 - 15:00 Field trip: Adamclisi - ancient monument complex Tropaeum Traiani –Museum, Triumphal monument and Roman City

http://www.cimec.ro/arheologie/tropaeum/cetateaen/index.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nnOp98mXVg

Half-day historical tour in Constanța

TRANSPORT

* By plane

Airports

Mihail Kogălniceanu Airport is situated 26 km (16 mi) NNW of Constanța

Bucharest Airport – Otopeni-Henri Coandă – is located North of the city

Transport from Airports to Constanta town center:

From Mihail Kogălniceanu Airport to Constanța

• By regular bus or museum bus (if you send the exact arrival time)

From Airport – Otopeni Henri Coandă (Bucharest) – to Constanța

• By bus: - price of 80 lei/single ticket (circa 17 Euro)

https://alt-transportpersoane.ro/en/private-airport-transfer/#

• By train:

From Otopeni Airport take the airport express bus 780 (departs every 20 minutes). You have to get off at Gara de Nord (Northern Railway Station)

Express bus 780 schedule:

To Gara de Nord train station (Mo - Fr): 5:30, 6:05, 6:35, 7:02, 7:30, 7:57, 8:25, 8:55, 9:28, 10:00, 10:30, 11:02, 11:32, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 15:35, 16:00, 16:30, 17:00, 17:30, 18:00, 18:30, 19:40, 20:10, 20:40, 21:08, 21:35, 22:20, 23:10.

To Gara de Nord train station (Sa - Su): 5:25, 6:05, 7:00, 7:25, 7:50, 8:20, 8:50, 9:20, 9:50, 10:20, 10:50, 11:20, 11:55, 12:30, 13:10, 13:45, 14:25, 15:10, 15:50, 16:20, 16:50, 17:20, 17:55, 18:30, 18:55, 19:30, 19:55, 20:20, 21:00, 21:30, 22:10, 23:00.

To Henri Coandă Airport (Mo - Fr): 5:15, 5:41, 6:06, 6:32, 7:00, 7:27, 7:55, 8:23, 8:52, 9:22, 9:55, 10:28, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 15:35, 16:00, 16:30, 17:00, 17:30, 18:00, 18:30, 19:00, 19:30, 20:05, 20:40, 21:35, 22:20, 23:05.

To Henri Coandă Airport (Sa - Su): 5:20, 6:15, 6:40, 7:03, 7:28, 7:53, 8:19, 8:45, 9:15, 9:50, 10:20, 10:55, 11:30, 12:15, 12:50, 13:30, 14:15, 14:55, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30, 16:55, 17:25, 17:55, 18:25, 18:55, 19:30, 20:00, 20:35, 21:20, 22:00, 23:00.

Trains to Constanta

Departures: 3:15, 5:40, 6:20, 7:30, 8:05, 9:00, 11:00, 14:00, 15:15, 16:00, 17:00 and 20:15

The trip from Bucharest Northern Railway Station to Constanța is about 2 h 30 min.

*If you send the exact arrival time we will be able to organise the transport from Bucharest to Constanța with a lower price.

Constanta is a touristic summer destination. September is the last month of the season and the hotels have a good price. There are plenty of accommodation choices in Constanta. The following might be good choices for location:

- Ibis Hotel is located only 50 m from the sea and 300 m from the old town of Constanta https://ibishotels.ro/ibis-constanta/

- Carol Hotel https://www.booking.com/hotel/ro/carol.ro.html

- Ferdinand Hotel https://www.booking.com/hotel/ro/ferdinand.ro.html

- Le Premier Hotel https://www.booking.com/hotel/ro/le-premier.ro.html

- Mercur Complex Mamaia https://www.hotelmercurminerva.ro/

- Traian Hotel https://www.booking.com/hotel/ro/traian.ro.html

Delegates can explore their choices using regular reservation services like Booking or Tripadvisor. Renting an apartment (alone or shared) is also a choice, and there is a large selection of short term rentals: online services.

AARG 2019 Local Organising

Committee

Carmen Miu (Bem)

National Company for Road Infrastructure Administration carmenbem@gmail.com

Sorin Marcel COLESNIUC

Manager of Museum of National History and Archaeology sorinmarcelcolesniuc@gmail.com

Valentina VOINEA

Museum of National History and Archaeology

vialia_rahela@yahoo.fr

Constantin BĂJENARU

Museum of National History and Archaeology

cosbajenaru@gmail.com