South Italy, Sicily and the Mediterranean: Cultural Interactions Conference

17th - 21st July 2012
La Trobe University
Melbourne, Australia

This conference will focus on the movement of people and interactions of culture in the Mediterranean region of Southern Italy and Sicily from antiquity until the present. The program will include exhibitions at the Hellenic Museum and the Museo Italiano of ancient Greek vases from Southern Italy and Sicily as well as other pieces from the collection of the Trendall Research Centre...

This inter-disciplinary conference seeks to foster critical analysis of geographical and chronological interconnections in Southern Italy and Sicily. Consideration of cultural interaction, population movements, and changing religious and philosophical ideas over a period of approximately 3000 years will prompt scholarly discussion around continuity and change over time in this region of the Mediterranean.

Program and abstracts available via the conference website. [I note that La Trobe has a TARDIS: Teaching Archaeological Research Discipline In Simulation.]

[Via rogueclassicism and the Classicists list]

Tidbits from the Italian Press

A few weeks ago a gold cup dated to the Early Bronze Age was discovered at Montecchio Emilia. Its closest parallels come from Northwest Europe (Adnkronos; La Repubblica-Parma).

A large (17 cm) Nuragic bronze of a sitting priest(?) was found near Oristano, bringing the total of known seated Nuragic bronzes to three (ANSA; L'Unione Sarda).

A 4th c. CE mosaic depicting a mounted hunter spearing a boar was discovered by students at Empoli, loc. dell’Oratorio delle Muriccia, just southwest of Florence (la Nazione).

An exhibit is opening at the Museo Archeologico di Amelia entitled "Convivenze. Un percorso tra archeologia e arte contemporanea" (23 June - 8 July).

The University of Basel is digging in the Macchiabate necropolis at Francavilla Marittima (Paese24.it).

And the French are digging at Terravecchia/Giarratana near Ragusa (Ragusanews.com).

A French/Bolognese team are digging the Roman city at Ostra Vetera (AN), Marche (Valmisa).

Have to mention this educational intiative entitled "Calabria Jones"...