Structure of the Conference

This five day conference follows a format where the presentation of 4 or 5 papers per session are linked to a targeted discussion session. Each session and subsequent discussion is chaired by a leading academic working within that theme, where relevant and possible from the region discussed.

Sessions Timetable:

09:00-11:00 4 or 5 papers (ca 20 min + 10 min questions)
11:00-11:30 Tea break
11:30-12:30/13:00 discussion and debate (see below, further details)
13:00-14:30 Lunch and poster session
14:30-16:30 4 or 5 papers (ca 20 min + 10 min questions)
16:30-17:00 tea break
17:00-18:00/18:30 discussion and debate (see below, further details)

Further Details:

Opening on Monday morning 11:00 with a keynote address, followed by the first session in the afternoon.
Regional and Themed sessions will alternate, further encouraging the synthesis of field and laboratory research with wider anthropological considerations
The discussant chairing each session will be supplied with the papers of each speaker at least one month before the conference.
The discussant opens with summarising/presenting major issues related to the session, introduces each speaker, subsequently he/she leads the discussion with panel (the speakers) and audience, drawing the separate papers into the larger regional or theoretical picture.
He/she ends the session with a summary of the discussion and closing statement.
Submitted papers that do not fall within the context of the planned sessions may be accepted for poster presentation.
Informal evening (video) sessions are planned for the Tuesday and Thursday evening, where up to 4 participants (2 per evening) can show and/or discuss for example ethnographic reconstructions or experiments concerning iron technology (e.g. iron smelting, charcoal making).
At least one drinks reception and a conference dinner will be staged to help create and strengthen international and multidisciplinary connections.

In order to ensure the conference is as accessible and cohesive as possible, no parallel sessions will take place. Posters submitted will be displayed from the start of the conference, at the same time as the small exhibition of iron production related material. All will be available for viewing during the coffee and lunch breaks and after the close of sessions.