Over the last decades, archaeological research, though especially concerned with the study of material culture, has expressed an increasing interest in the palaeoenvironment. Aegean archaeology is no exception to this trend. Pluridisciplinary research projects have been initiated in different geographical areas, associating survey and excavation with studies on natural environment, fauna, flora, climate, landscape change and various forms of interaction between ancient societies and their environment. New disciplines have developed at the interface between archaeology and the natural sciences (geoarchaeology, bioarchaeology …), with specific courses taught in universities, such as Paris I, where a master in « Archaeology and environment » was created in 1990. Thus the idea was born to organize the next International Aegean Conference in Paris on the theme Natural environment and human interaction in the prehistoric Aegean. The meeting intends to provide those addressing these questions in the Aegean with an opportunity to present their work and/or thoughts. A broad assessment of results could be established in this manner, offering a clear vision of what has been done, as well as suggesting directions for future research. The list of themes that could be investigated during the Rencontre is as follows:

-landscapes and their evolution: natural dynamics (tectonics, eustatism, alluvial deposits, climate…) and human impact (forest clearance, drainage, irrigation…)

-the exploitation of the natural environment by man: plant resources (gathering, agriculture, management of forest resources…), animal resources (hunting, fishing, stock breeding and byproducts…) and mineral resources (obsidian, siliceous materials, semi-precious stones, minerals, clay…);

-the environmental impact on human populations: natural risks, health environment, nutrition, pathologies and defence strategies (pharmacopeia, medicine, body care…);

-representations of nature and of the physical world ; the role of nature in symbolic and religious beliefs.

In order to save sufficient time for discussion - and to avoid a massive proceedings volume -, the number of papers will be limited to 45-50. Proposals are to be submitted before 15 January 2012, together with a substantial abstract. The organizing Committee will decide on their acceptance. Proposals considered to be insufficiently close to the theme will be accepted as poster presentations and included in the publication of the proceedings as well, in the series Aegaeum, Annales liégeoises d’archéologie égéenne.

We thank you very much in advance for your interest and for completing the enclosed form and returning it to the secretariat of the Rencontre before 15 January 2012 at the address aegaeum14.physis@gmail.com. A second circular will be released in March with a provisional programme and information on the organization and on the stay in Paris.

Gilles TOUCHAIS
Université Paris 1

Robert LAFFINEUR
Université de Liège

Stelios ANDREOU
University of Thessaloniki

Françoise ROUGEMONT
CNRS - Maison René Ginouvès

Hara PROCOPIOU
Université Paris 1

Éric FOUACHE
Université Paris IV

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