Invitation to a workshop:

International Workshop. Saturday, December 14, 2013

Weights and Measures
as a Window on Ancient Near Eastern Societies

Institut für Vorderasiatische Archäologie,
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 80539 München

Schellingstr. 12, Historicum, Raum 001; gefördert durch die Fritz
Thyssen Stiftung


9.30-9.45

A. Otto / G. Chambon: Introduction to the theme

9.45-11.00

The weight of the power and the capacity of the king: Examples for the
interdisciplinary approach of the project METROLOGIA (joint papers by
METROLOGIA-members)

G. Chambon / J. Kreppner: Why did they inscribe jars ? Common approach
of archaeology and philology

J. Kreppner / G. Chambon / D. Lacambre / L. Marti / T. Pommerening /
F. Sarga: Standard measures and containers: between symbolic purposes,
administrative activities and technical constraints

- coffee break –

11.20-12.50

The weight of the power and the capacity of the king: first results
and future perspectives (joint papers by METROLOGIA members)

L. Rahmstorf / M. Melein / C. Fink / B. Einwag: The origin of the
material of weight stones and its relation to the origin of the weight
system

S. Clegg / A. Al Mohemid: How was the metrological ideology of the
king and the gods translated into practicality and materiality?

I. Kanellos / S. Antin: Digital metrology and mediation issues

- lunch -

14.20-15.00

N. Postgate (Cambridge): Measuring Middle Assyrian grain (and sesame)


15.00-15.30

W. Sallaberger (München): Grain measuring vessels in Early Mesopotamia
: Production, Use and Control

- coffee break –

16.00-16.40

L. Peyronel (Mailand): Weight systems and the society at Ebla


16.40-17.20

E. Bordreuil (Paris): The weights of the Late Bronze Age discovered at
Ras Shamra –Ugarit

17.20-18.00

J.-Cl. Hocquet (Paris): Les poids et mesures de Tabriz, Alep et Damas
vers 1500 d'après les sources marchandes vénitiennes

- reception –

Guests are welcome !
no conference fee.
Please announce your attendance: aotto@lmu.de

Abstract :

Since the first decipherments of cuneiform, scholars have been
interested in the reconstruction of Ancient Near Eastern metrological
systems – capacity, length, area and weight systems. They focus their
attention mainly on the arithmetical relationships between measure
units in order to reconstruct metrological data. In this respect,
measuring systems are usually considered as “tools“, which enable
historians to approach ancient political and economical reality by
quantifying and estimating, among other things, the amounts of rations
delivered to the palaces, the war booty, the dimensions of urban
centers, buildings, etc.

Nevertheless, these systems are, beyond their mathematical and
technical aspects, important cultural markers of ancient societies
which can be used to examine cultural areas, administrative processes
and political influence both on the local and the interregional level.
Their study, which concerns both material artefacts in their
archeological contexts (jars of standard volume, measuring vessels,
weight stones…) and data from the texts (signs for measures units,
accounting processes for measuring and weighting…) requires a close
cooperation between archaeologists and philologists.

The project METROLOGIA, started in 2012, is based on such a
cooperation between German archaeologists (Johannes
Gutenberg-Universität Mainz and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität
München) and French philologists (Université de Bretagne
Occidentale-Centre François Viète, Université de Lille, CNRS UMR
7192). It aims to study the use, function and distribution of the
different capacity and weight systems of the Ancient Near East in
their social, cultural and political context.


Univ.- Prof. Dr. Adelheid Otto
Institut für Vorderasiatische Archäologie
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1
D-80539 München
Email: aotto@lmu.de
Telefon: +49 (0) 89 / 2180 - 5491
Telefax: +49 (0) 89 / 2180 - 5658