Date: 26 february 2005

Location: Room 148 in Lipsius Building, Cleveringaplaats, Leiden

Workshop Archaeology of Asia,
organized by IIAS Leiden and
Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University.

Date: Saturday February 26, 2005
Venue: Room 148 in Lipsius Building, Cleveringaplaats, Leiden

As a result of colonial ties and other interests in Asia, the archaeology of Indonesia and India were strongly represented in The Netherlands for more than a century. The scholars Brandes, Van Stein Callenfels, Krom, Bosch, Stutterheim, De Casparis, and Vogel are regarded as the pioneers of Asian archaeology and epigraphy. Their names are still well known.

In the past two decades a shift of focus has taken place in Asian archaeology. This has seen a move away from studies of structural remains, statues, inscriptions and coins – the material excavated by the archaeological service. The new tendency is to research cultivation, settlements, architecture, trade and trade routes using modern methods and techniques, especially computer techniques.

The areas concerned are, apart from Indonesia and India, mainland Southeast Asia, China, Japan and Korea. As the political climate in Southeast Asia is more stable, there are more possibilities to cooperate with specialists in these regions and to organize or participate in excavations. In China and Japan the right climate has come into existence for facilitating international cooperation.

The Faculty of Archaeology of Leiden University regards Asia as an important area for modern research in the fields of architecture, material culture and life styles. Recent developments in the use of scanning and laser techniques, and chemical analysis, will facilitate new research and upgrade investigations of the past.

Saturday February 26, 2005, the Faculty of Archaeology of Leiden University and the International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS) in Leiden organize a workshop to discuss current issues in Asian Archaeology as taught at various universities in Asia and Europe.

The aims of the workshop are:

- To call attention to recent developments in the study of the Archaeology of Asia in Europe and Asia;

- To define the position of Leiden University in the European and Asian context in order to find cooperation partners and create a good and ambitious perspective for the future study of Asian Archaeology;

- To determine the main points of research in Europe and Asia and possibilities of international sources of finance, and

- To find out the possibilities of international exchange of specialists, both from Europe and Asia, in the field of Asian Archaeology

During this workshop an inventory will be made of the specialities of the archaeologists in Europe and Asia. The needs of the various universities in the countries in these areas where Archaeology of Asia is taught will be considered. The organizers hope that this will, in the end, result in a concrete programme of cooperation in the fields of university education and research (graduate school).

Preliminary Programme

09.30-10.00 Coffee

10.00-10.15 Opening address by Prof. Maarten Janssen

Presentations on current issues in Asian Archaeology

10.15-10.45 Presentation by Prof. John Miksic (Southeast Asian Archaeology, National University of Singapore)

10.45-11.00 Coffee break

11.00-11.30 Presentation by Prof. Willem van Gulik (East Asian Archaeology, Leiden University)

11.30-12.00 Presentation by ? (South Asian Archaeology)

12.00-12.30 Discussion

12.30-14.00 Lunch

14.00-15.30 Round table discussion led by Prof. Maarten Janssen (Dean Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University)

15.30 Closure


For information and registration, please contact:

Marloes Rozing
International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS)
Nonnensteeg 1-3
Leiden
T: +31 (0)71 527 2227
F: +31 (0)71 527 4162
E: m.rozing@let.leidenuniv.nl