This Saturday series will move away from a site, period or historical perspective, and look at some of the major technological innovations and their impacts on their social, economic and environmental contexts in the ancient Near East.

In a series of eight lectures over four Saturdays, NEAF speakers will focus on a selection of intellectual, technological, and materials-based game-changers, and explore recent multidisciplinary approaches and new research tools that are deepening our understanding of the Near East.

Lecture 1 | 10am-11am

What’s for Dinner? Setting the Ancient Table

Dr Margaret O’Hea | University of Adelaide

Abstract: The single most important technological change to glass-making was the invention of glass- blowing, at some time in the first century BCE, just in time to be spread throughout and beyond the Roman empire. It made glass relatively affordable and ubiquitous in Roman life: people now dined off glass, put their fruit for the first time in glass bowls, bought glass novelty items (including, for the hardy-stomached, glass chamberpots). The demand for glass promoted even greater degrees of recycling than ever before. Glass was now also available to be used in other Roman architectural innovations, such as glass windows (climate control, especially in bathhouses) and, eventually, ceiling lights.

Lecture 2 | 11am-12pm

From Roasts to Ghosts: ceramic technology in ancient times

Prudence Sheaves | University of Sydney

Abstract: Ceramic vessels are some of the oldest artefacts known and are often instantly recognisable from the forms found in our cupboards today. Ceramics are integral to our everyday life and the everyday life of our ancestors but their production has become shrouded in mystery. How were Neolithic storage jars made? What is a slow wheel? Does a fast wheel lead to a better pot? And will better pots mean better quality of life? This talk will explore ceramic technology in the ancient world with a particular focus on how ceramic products were used in food preparation and medicine.

The seminars will be held online on Zoom

HOW TO BOOK

Please go to book via our NEAF website.

Click here to register

You can register for the whole series at a discount, or book for specific Saturdays.

Members
Individual lecture $20 | Entire series $60

Non Members
Individual $30 | Entire series $90

All students are free 

Click here for the full seminar series details

Please note – a minimum of 20 attendees is required for each lecture for this series to run – our upper limit is 300 per lecture.

ZOOM MEETING ID

Once payment is received a receipt, Meeting ID and non-transferrable password will be sent to you.

On admission to the Zoom lecture, participants will be matched to names of financial participants. Please ensure your zoom log-in screen name correctly identifies you. If you are dialling in via telephone, please ensure the number listed when booking on our website is the same used when connecting via telephone.

FORMAT

Our Introduction will start at 9.55am.

The lecture will start at 10am and the second lecture will begin at 11.05am and finish at 12 noon.

There will be opportunity for questions following the lectures, time permitting.

P | +61 2 9351 4151
F | +61 2 9114 0921
Click here to email

Hosted by the Near Eastern Archaeology Foundation (NEAF)