linguistlist.org>
Editor for this issue: Karen Milligan <karenlinguistlist.org>
worldnet.att.net>The Center for Ancient Studies at the University of Pennsylvania is pleased to announce our Second Annual Symposium, made possible in part by a grant from the Helen Clay Frick Foundation: "The Multiple Origins of Writing: Image, Symbol, and Script" March 26th and 27th, 1999 Rainey Auditorium University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology 33rd and Spruce Streets The invention of writing was fundamental to the evolutionary course of human culture. Even shortly after its invention, its importance was remarked on in the myths of Sumer and Egypt. In the past two decades substantial new evidence has lead to a more complex understanding of this achievement. This conference brings together experts in the earliest writing systems. For two days they will present and discuss their findings comparing systems as well as the symbolic and social environments in which they evolved. PROGRAM: Friday, March 26, 1999 Coffee 9:00-9:30: Welcome and Introductory Remarks vHolly Pittman, Associate Professor, Department of the History of Art, University of Pennsylvania Director, Center for Ancient Studies 9:30-10:15: General Introduction to Theories of Origins of Writing Peter Damerow, Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, Berlin 10:15-10:30: The Iconicity of Writing Anne-Marie Christin, Professor, University of Paris 7, Director, Centre d'etude de l'ecriture Break Egypt 10:45-11:30: Early Egyptian writing and its social context John Baines, Professor of Egyptology, Oxford University 11:30-12:15: The Origins of Writing in Ancient Egypt Pascal Vernus, Director of Studes, L'Ecole practique des hautes etudes. 4th section. 12:15-1:00: The Icon in the Role of the Classifier: On the Semiotics of the Egyptian Determinative System. Orly Goldwasser, Head of the Department of Ancient Near Eastern Languages and Cultures. The Hebrew University, Jerusalem. Lunch 1-2:30: Box lunches will be available for those who reserve one in advance. In Lower Egyptian Gallery The Near East 2:30-3:15: The Role of Art in the Origins of Writing: Sumer Holly Pittman 3:15-4:00: The Origins of Proto-Cuneiform Hans Nissen: Professor, Freie Universitat, Berlin 4:00-4:45: The Origins of Proto-Elamite Script Robert Englund, Associate Professor, Department of Near Eastern Languages and Literatures, University of California at Los Angeles Reception 5:30-8:00: Museum Cafe Saturday, March 27th 1999 Coffee Indus Valley 9:15-10:00: Origins of the Indus Script Gregory L. Possehl, Professor, Dept of Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania China 10:00-10:45: The Archaeological Background of Writing in Early China Louisa Huber, Harvard University 10:45-11:30: Comments on the Origin of Writing in China William G. Boltz , Professor, University of Washington (Seattle) 11:30-12:15: Another Story of the Origin of Writing in China Victor Mair, Professor, Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Pennsylvania 12:15-1:00: Script, Image and Literacy in the Old World and Asia Piotr Michalowski, George G. Cameron Professor of Ancient Near Eastern Civilizations, Dept. of Near Eastern Studies, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Lunch 1:-2:30 Box lunches will be available for those who reserve them in advance. In Lower Egyptian Gallery 2:30-3:15: The Early Scripts of Mesoamerica John Justeson, Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology University of New York at Albany 3:15-4:00: Alphabetology Barry B. Powell, Bascom-Halls Professor of Classics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison 4:00-4:45: A Study of Origins Peter T. Daniels, Independent Scholar, University of Chicago and New York City. This symposium is free and open to the public. For more information, or to reserve a box lunch, please contact Sarah Kupperberg at ancientMail to author|Respond to list|Read more issues|LINGUIST home page|Top of issue