BANEA 2026 Conference
22-24 April — London
Production and Consumption of Knowledge
in the Archaeology of West Asia
This conference explored the way archaeological, historical, scientific, and other knowledge is created, curated, and exchanged. Themes included:
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Methodologies of knowledge production and/or consumption in the past and in the study of the past
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Theoretical models of knowledge production in archaeology and related disciplines
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Critical approaches to the history and contemporary practices of knowledge production
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Inclusive perspectives on reciprocal knowledge exchange between scholarly and other communities
Supported by
KEYNOTE LECTURES
WEDNESDAY, 22 April
Revisiting the Peoples of the Hills: The Legacy and Afterlife of Charles Burney’s Research in Anatolia and Iran
To open BANEA 2026 Professor Roger Matthews (University of Reading) delivered a special lecture in memory of the archaeologist Charles Burney.
Charles Burney was the main driving force behind the creation of BANEA in the early 1980s. He is renouned as a pioneer of archaeological surveys and excavations in the highland regions of the Middle East from the 1950s to 1970s, focusing on northern and eastern Anatolia and north-western Iran. As explored in his 1971 book with David Lang, ‘The Peoples of the Hills’, Charles had a special affection for the early societies of the uplands.
This talk reviewed his achievements and situate them within the context of the major findings of research in these regions over the decades since Charles conducted his ground-breaking investigations.
THURSDAY, 23 April
Returning to Assyria: Excavations at Nimrud, 2022-2024
On the second day of the conference, Professor John Macginnis (University of Cambridge) delivered a keynote speech, presenting the results of recent fieldwork at the iconic site of Nimrud in Iraq.
CONFERENCE SESSIONS
History & Historiography
This session was dedicated to research on the histories of archaeology and related disciplines of studying ancient West Asia, as well as historiographical methods and theories. The temporal scope extended into current affairs and recent trends, and we especially encouraged papers which explore the politics of archaeology from a knowledge production/consumption perspective.
Session Chairs: Felicity Cobbing and Rachael Sparks
Maritime Archaeology
This session brought maritime archaeology into special focus as a distinctive setting of archaeological knowledge.
Session Chair: Georgia Andreou
Museums & Heritage
This session prioritised heritage and museum studies from the vantage point of knowledge production and consumption.
Session Chairs: Christoph Bachhuber, Nancy Highcock, Kristen Hopper, Rachael Sparks and Jonathan Taylor
General Session
This was an open session for all papers on any aspect of research on ancient West Asia which fall outside the themes of the first three sessions.
Session Chairs: Ben Dewar, Dan Lawrence, Christina Tsouparopoulou and Mark Weeden
Results & Reports
This session was set aside for site reports from recent field seasons, reports on museum collection studies and scientific analyses which focus principally on presenting fresh data, new findings, and preliminary results. Papers were grouped by general region and arranged in broad chronological order.
Session Chairs: Mark Altaweel, Michael Freadley, James McDonald, Mark Weeden
WORKSHOPS
The conference included five member-organised workshops, on the following themes:
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Revisiting Knowledge Production in the Study of the Early Bronze Age Kura-Araxes Culture: Where we stand now? Organiser: Narmin Ismayilova (caucasusthroughtime@gmail.com)
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Landscapes of Knowledge: Experience, Transmission, and Memory in Ancient South-West Asia. Organiser: Francesca Chelazzi (francesca.chelazzi@glasgow.ac.uk).
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Scientific and material analysis of inscribed clay. Organiser Jonathan Taylor (JJTaylor@britishmuseum.org).
- Mobility in the Ancient Near East: People, Things, Ideas. Organiser: Ofelia Tychon (ofelia.tychon.23@ucl.ac.uk).
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Climate Change and Sustainability: Global Agendas, Local Knowledge, and Environmental Legacies in MENA. Organiser: Georgia Andreou (g.andreou@ucl.ac.uk).