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The History of the International Union for Prehistoric and Protohistoric Sciences goes back, in fact, to the late XIX Century, when Prehistory was beginning (http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Ithaca/7152/histor.html). Since then, regularly, international and world conferences enable the balance of research and a reflection on the future of our science. UISPP/IUPPS, regrouping a large number of active prehistoric and protohistoric archaeologists throughout the world, includes several organisms. The directing body of our association is the Permanent Council, regrouping several hundreds of scholars from various countries in Europe, Africa, Asia or America. It is worth mentioning that the first Permanent Council of our association, then still called “International Congress for Prehistoric Anthropology and Archaeology (CIAAP)” was held in Lisbon, in 1880. The Executive Committee and the Permanent Council meet regularly (once a year and every two-three years, respectively), to define the orientation of the IUPPS, namely during the world congresses, every five years. The scientific basic and daily activity is mostly the work of various scientific commissions and special committees, devoted to specific topics, that organise meetings, congresses and colloquia, publishing several proceedings,… in a word, doing everything a world organisation, representing a large part of the worlds’ archaeological experts, should do. Next major activity will be IUPPS’ XV world Congress, held in Lisbon, in Portugal, in September 2006. Our Portuguese colleagues have already started its preparation, and we are convinced it will be a great moment for our association and for Portugal. The greatest advantage offered by Portugal for such an event, apart from the country’s beauty and attractive climate, is the fact that the country’s richness in archaeological remains, and that archaeological research in Portugal has been strongly developed; it will seduce those that still don’t know this rich remains. Also, for its past and geographic location, Portugal is an ideal launching base for Africa and Southern America; this should enable to state, more than before, the international and world mission our organisation must develop. Let us hope that the Lisbon Congress enables such contacts with various countries. This is the way to correspond to the wishes of the founders of the association, back in the XIX Century. Jean Bourgeois Dear Colleagues, We are approaching the XV Congress of the International Union for Prehistoric and Protohistoric Sciences (UISPP/IUPPS) and, namely, the deadline for submission of papers. The XV Congress of the IUPPS will be held in Lisbon, in 2006, but its preparation includes several ongoing activities. These include not only the preparation of sessions, but the organisation of conferences and debates in 2003, 2004 and 2005, as well as the edition of several volumes devoted to Portuguese archaeology, that will be available in the opening session of the congress. Over 110 proposals of Colloquia and Wokshops have been accepted, covering a wide range, from Theoretical issues to public archaeology. Accordingly, the Congress will be articulated in six main sections: “Theory and Methods”, “Archaeo-sciences”, “Hunter-gatherers”, “First farmers”, “Early metallurgy and complex societies”, “Other”. It is important to mention that several sessions will be articulated in two major clusters: “Southern America Archaeology Panorama” and “Global State of the Art” (the later in association with IFRAO, the International Federation of Rock Art Organizations). In the framework of the Congress preparation, the various UISPP Scientific Commissions have been most active, while proposals to establish new Commissions after 2006 are being prepared. You will also find a paper on the Prehistory of India, by our new member of the Congress Secretary, Dr. Manoj Kumar Singh, from New Deli University. This third issue of the Congress Bulletin includes the up-dated information and also the invitation for you to register as a member of the Congress, eventually proposing the participation in one of the already listed sessions, or suggesting a new one. In this issue, you will find the full list of proposals. You may submit papers either to one of them or to the common sessions that will be organised, as usual, in the Congress. You may also register as a volunteer (note that only 160 volunteers will be accepted). Let me insist in the need to register as early as possible. This way you will save money (paying a lower fee) and contribute the preparation of the congress, since this has very significant costs that may only be faced with the contributions of all participants. The Congress secretary will assist any demand of support to help preparing sessions or other events. Count on us, as we count on you. Archaeological greetings, Luiz Oosterbeek
To all the Archeologists throughout the world Dear Colleagues, In its XIVth Congress, that took place in Liège, Belgium, on September 2001, the UISPP has decided to held its XVth congress in Lisbon, Portugal, on September 2006, having Prof. Luiz Oosterbeek, from the Polytechnic Institute of Tomar, as its General Secretary, and the major responsible for the event's organization.Hence, during this great meeting of archaeologists from all over the world, Portugal and, namely, its city capital, famous for its pleasant weather and its openness to every people, will have the honour to receive our community and to make all the possible, with everyone's collaboration, from archaeologists to public and private entities, to convert this scientific meeting into an unforgettable cultural and human experience. As you know, our Union and its congresses (that take place every 5 years) brings together colleagues from all over the world and deals with all domains, chronologies and topics of archaeology, always seeking for the greatest scope possible. In a planet where the conflicts and misunderstandings between cultures are spreading in a worrying way, our scientific, cultural and civic mission is to create moments of pause, of meeting together, of exchanges of points of view, and to help to promote a better future for humankind. This future can not be reached but through the deep understanding of persons and groups, and through an absolute equal respect for all the cultural traditions and for the heritage of all cultures and people. Archaeology has given, and will continue to give, a great contribution to achieve such a positive utopia, that moves us towards a fruitful and fraternal knowledge creation. In fact, it studies all peoples and cultural traditions in their specificities, the unique contributions of each of them, throughout space and time, opening the way to the creation of such an immense wealth, the one of cultural diversity. We must not let this richness be lost, since it is part of the heritage that we must consolidate and hand-over for future generations. Being so, it is for me an honour to address myself to the colleagues in the whole world, on behalf of UISPP, of its General Secretary, Prof. Jean Bourgeois, from Gent University, Belgium, and of the XVth Congress' Secretary General, appealing to your active participation in this major meeting, through your presence, through the presentation of papers or other interventions, but also through suggestions that you might want to address to the Congress' Secretary General and that will, undoubtedly, constitute a good help to the congress' success. I send you my archaeological greetings and, on behalf of the UISPP and my own country, I thank you in advance for any collaboration you will offer.
Vítor Oliveira Jorge Professor, University of Oporto, Portugal |