EAA 2021 - session 238 Human visual archives, globally. Materials, forms and meanings of human representations in ancient times

Since the Upper Palaeolithic (at least) humans represent themselves. The oldest evidence known from Europe and North Africa shows standardized forms mainly expressed through figurines (in different raw materials) and some examples of rock art (both petroglyphs and paintings). With the introduction of the first forms of food production (Mesolithic; Neolithic; other equivalents), we see a drastic increase of human representations all over the world, with a lower standardization of forms and a growing variety of media, including pottery and an array of other materials. Different approaches have characterized the study of this evidence, spanning from diffusionist to microcontextual overviews; from pre-iconographic to iconographic to iconological studies; from genderbased to body performative to general covering model; from behavioral considerations to ritual and religious ones. Where have those discussions left us? How do we approach the phenomenon of human representation in ancient contexts, which analytic tools do we use, and what meaning (implicit or explicit) do we attach to the imagery? The session aims to bring together scholars with experience engaging of data from research areas characterized by lively theoretical and interpretative traditions (e.g. Europe; Near East; Northern Africa; Mesoamerica) to discuss the different approaches adopted, going beyond descriptive presentations of a single case study. As contemporary research is experiencing the definition of new analytic tools and methods (such as image processing and material analyses, 3D modelling and large databases) and at the same time is applying theoretical frameworks (such as materiality, gender theory and critical approaches) introduced by post-processual research, an open-ended discussion of the development for the future is timely.