On the occasion of the inauguration of the Negev Rock Art Center, we
are happy to announce the first International Rock Art Conference to
take place in the Middle East and concentrate on findings from this
vast area. The conference, will take place at Sede Boker, minutes away
from numerous rock-art sites, offering a unique opportunity to see and
discuss some of the hundreds of thousands petroglyphs scattered
throughout the desert regions of the Southern Levant.

With a century of research concentrating on epigraphic aspects, the
present conference will place the abstract, zoomorphic and
anthropomorphic elements of rock art at its center.

The conference is intended to offer a wide view of the Southern
Levantine rock art. With rock-art research still in its infancy in
many of the countries of the region, we invite scholars, students,
conservators, educators and rock-art enthusiasts to present and share
their knowledge, research, and thoughts on a variety of subjects
related to rock art. We hope to bridge geographic and political
borders through our common passion for rock art.

The conference will include two days of oral presentations and posters
in sessions organized by topics. Two field trips will follow for all
interested participants. Additional field trips before and after the
conference will be available. Official languages of the conference
will be Hebrew and English; translations will be offered.

Abstract submission: Abstracts, not to exceed 300 words, are to be
sent to negevrockartcenter@gmail.com by 1 November 2013.
Registration fee: US$125 ; Students - US$75

Fees include two days of lectures and meetings, lunch and a field trip
to Negev rock art sites. For registration, accommodation and travel
information, please contact the conference secretary at the address
listed above.

The conference will feature plenary talks by:
Prof. William Glanzman, Mount Royal University, Calgary, Canada:
Arabia on the Rocks: Past and Current Directions and Implications for Research

Dr. Dirk Huyge, Royal Museums of Art and History, Belgium: Aurochs and
Venuses: "Ice Age" Art along the Upper Egyptian Nile
Other preliminary speakers to be announced.

The following themes are suggested for additional papers:
- The place of rock art and the rise of literacy in pastoral and
nomadic societies
- The relationship between motifs used to embellish material culture
and those employed in rock art
- Rock art in the landscape and environment
- Dating, recording and preservation of rock-art sites
- Iconographic and stylistic themes, significance and meanings of rock
art in the Southern Levant
- Artists or artisans– who made the rock art and whom did it serve?