International Conference
Transport Amphorae in the Hellenistic and Roman Periods: Materials, Technologies and Connected Data

International Conference
Transport Amphorae in the Hellenistic and Roman Periods: Materials, Technologies and Connected Data

Université Bordeaux Montaigne – Archéopôle, Bordeaux, France

16–18 March 2027

https://mategee.sciencesconf.org/

Chers Collègues,

Le colloque international « Transport Amphorae in the Hellenistic and Roman Periods : Materials, Technologies and Connected Data» se tiendra à Bordeaux du 16 au 18 mars 2027. Il marque la conclusion du programme MATEGEE (2023–2027), qui étudie les stratégies de production d’amphores en mer Égée aux époques hellénistique et romaine et financé par l’agence nationale de la recherche (ANR-23-CE27-0014).

Le colloque de Bordeaux présentera les principaux résultats de MATEGEE tout en ouvrant le débat à une communauté internationale plus large. Il vise à explorer comment les nouvelles méthodes d’analyse, les infrastructures numériques et les ensembles de données partagés peuvent contribuer à l’étude de la production, de la circulation et de l’utilisation des amphores.

Nous invitons donc les auteurs à soumettre des communications présentant des travaux de recherche menés dans la région de la mer Égée et dans l’ensemble du bassin méditerranéen, ou dans des contextes comparatifs pertinents. Les contributions présentant de nouveaux ensembles de données, des approches analytiques, des collections de référence, des bases de données, des outils numériques ou des cadres méthodologiques sont particulièrement bienvenues.

Tous les détails de l’appel à communications sont en pièce jointe.

Dates clés à retenir : soumission des résumés jusqu’au 30/11/2026 – Réponse le 8/01/2027

Nadia Cantin, Séverine Lemaître, Evangelia Kiriatzi

 

Dear Colleagues,

The international conference “Transport Amphorae in the Hellenistic and Roman Periods: Materials, Technologies and Connected Data” will take place in Bordeaux from 16 to 18 March 2027. The conference marks the conclusion of the MATEGEE programme (2023-2027) which investigates amphora-production strategies in the Aegean during the Hellenistic and Roman periods) and was funded by the French National Research Agency (ANR-23-CE27-0014).

The Bordeaux conference will present key results of MATEGEE while opening discussion to a broader international community. It seeks to explore how new analytical methods, digital infrastructures and shared datasets can contribute to the study of amphora production, circulation and use.

We therefore invite papers presenting research from the Aegean and the wider Mediterranean, as well as relevant comparative contexts. Contributions introducing new datasets, analytical approaches, reference collections, databases, digital tools or methodological frameworks are particularly welcome.

All the details regarding the call for papers are attached.

Nadia Cantin, Séverine Lemaître, Evangelia Kiriatzi

 

Key dates to know : Submission deadline: 30 November 2026 – Notification of acceptance: 8 January 2027

Call for Papers

The international conference Transport Amphorae in the Hellenistic and Roman Periods: Materials, Technologies and Connected Data will take place in Bordeaux from 16 to 18 March 2027.

The conference marks the conclusion of the MATEGEE programme (2023–2027), funded by the French National Research Agency (ANR-23-CE27-0014), which investigates amphora-production strategies in the Aegean during the Hellenistic and Roman periods.

Through an interdisciplinary approach combining archaeology, archaeometry and epigraphy, MATEGEE examines the technical, economic and social factors that shaped the production and circulation of transport amphorae. The project focuses on seven major Aegean production centres—Thasos, Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Cos, Cnidus and Rhodes—between the 4th century BC and the 3rd century AD.

Its research addresses two principal questions: the reconstruction of amphora-manufacturing processes through the characterisation of raw materials, ceramic recipes and production techniques; and the organisation and location of workshops, including the respective roles of geological resources and social, economic and institutional factors in shaping production.

A central methodological component of MATEGEE has been the integration of existing and newly generated archaeological and archaeometric datasets, alongside the digitisation of major thin-section reference collections held by CEAlex, HeRMA and the Fitch Laboratory.

The programme has also developed a dedicated online research platform for bringing together archaeological, petrographic, mineralogical, chemical and related documentation. Particular emphasis has been placed on the organisation, comparability, interoperability, dissemination and reuse of research data, with the aim of facilitating collaboration between laboratories, archaeological projects and research traditions.

The Bordeaux conference will present key results of MATEGEE while opening discussion to a broader international community. It seeks to explore how new analytical methods, digital infrastructures and shared datasets can contribute to the study of amphora production, circulation and use.

We therefore invite papers presenting research from the Aegean and the wider Mediterranean, as well as relevant comparative contexts. Contributions introducing new datasets, analytical approaches, reference collections, databases, digital tools or methodological frameworks are particularly welcome.

The conference aims to encourage discussion around a series of broader questions: How can archaeological and archaeometric datasets produced by different teams and laboratories be made more comparable? How can analytical results be documented and structured so that they remain reusable? How can petrographic, chemical, typological, epigraphic and contextual data be connected? And how can digital resources contribute to more collaborative and transparent approaches to amphora research?

Conference Themes

1. Databases, reference collections and digital resources

Contributions may address the construction, documentation, interoperability, integration, visualisation, dissemination or reuse of archaeological, archaeometric and epigraphic datasets.

Topics may include:

  • archaeological and archaeometric databases;
  • digitised thin-section and ceramic reference collections;
  • data standards and metadata;
  • interoperability and linked datasets;
  • legacy data and data reuse;
  • digital mapping and visualisation;
  • FAIR and open-data approaches;
  • collaborative digital research infrastructures.

2. Archaeometric characterisation and manufacturing technologies

This theme encompasses research into the material and technological dimensions of amphora production, including:

  • provenance and raw-material studies;
  • petrographic, mineralogical and chemical analyses;
  • ceramic recipes and technological practices;
  • chaîne opératoire approaches;
  • workshop organisation;
  • identification and differentiation of production centres;
  • micro-regional variability;
  • technological transfer, continuity and innovation.

Contributions integrating archaeological, archaeometric, geological, historical or epigraphic evidence are especially encouraged.

3. Amphora contents, uses and circulation

Papers may explore the relationship between containers, commodities, production, consumption and exchange through:

  • archaeological and epigraphic evidence for amphora contents;
  • organic residue and biomolecular analyses;
  • relationships between fabrics, forms and commodities;
  • reuse and secondary use;
  • production and distribution patterns;
  • circulation and Mediterranean exchange networks.

Comparative Perspectives

Although MATEGEE focuses on Aegean amphora production in the Hellenistic and Roman periods, comparative studies extending beyond the Aegean are strongly encouraged.

Research concerning other Mediterranean regions, neighbouring areas or other chronological periods is welcome where it contributes to methodological discussion or provides useful comparative perspectives on ceramic production, archaeometric characterisation, digital data or exchange.

Participation

The conference will combine invited contributions with papers selected through this Call for Papers.

Speakers will participate in person in Bordeaux.

Online access will be available, upon registration, for audience members only.

The registration fee is €80.

Registration is free for students.

Submission of Proposals

Proposals should include:

  • paper title;
  • abstract of [300–400 words];
  • author name(s) and institutional affiliation(s);
  • contact details;
  • up to five keywords.

Proposals may be submitted in English or French.

Submission deadline: 31 November 2026
Notification of acceptance: 8 January 2027

Presentation duration: [20 minutes + 10 minutes discussion]
Submission: conference website (coming soon): https://mategee.sciencesconf.org

Please indicate the conference theme to which your proposal is most closely related.

Organising Committee

Nadia CANTIN
CEAlex and Archéosciences Bordeaux

Séverine LEMAÎTRE
HeRMA

Evangelia KIRIATZI

Fitch Laboratory

Camille FRUGIER
HeRMA

Mai ABDELGAWAD
CEAlex

Antoine BORDERIE
Archéosciences Bordeaux