History of the conference
Some years ago it became obvious that there was need for a new forum for the exchange and discussion of ideas and the presentation of new research results of ceramic studies in the Mediterranean region. This discussion was focussed both on archaeological and archaeometric research. In 2002, on initiative of Prof. Josep Maria Gurt i Esparraguera, Dr. J. Buxeda i Garrigós and Dr. Miguel Angel Cau i Ontiveros, the First International Conference on Late Roman Coarse Wares, Cooking Wares and Amphorae in the Mediterranean: Archaeology and Archaeometry (LRCW1) was organized at the University of Barcelona in March 14-16. At the same time Prof. Gurt came to the conclusion that it would be reasonable to invite distinguished experts working in the field and particularly on Late Roman ceramics in the Mediterranean region. These researchers founded the first LRCW International Standing Committee as an institution for organizing future conferences. The first decisions taken by the standing committee were:
- The symposium will be organized as a triennial event.
- Apart from archaeological research same emphasis will be given to archaeometric studies, in terms of petrography and chemical analysis.
- The focus will be on amphorae, cooking wares and coarse wares.
- The organizers of the symposium will be institutions in countries in the Mediterranean region.
The 2nd International Conference on Late Roman Coarse Wares, Cooking Wares and Amphorae in the Mediterranean: Archaeology and Archaeometry ( LRCW 2) was organized by the Centre Camille Jullian and the Laboratoire d’Archeologie of the Universite de Provence-CNRS. In eight invited talks particular subjects were emphasized. The further presentations comprised 35 talks and 45 posters. Finally, Prof. J.M. Gurt i Esparraguera gave a closing speech at the last day of the symposium.
During the conference the LRCW standing committee chaired by Prof. Gurt agreed to the suggestion of Prof. Sara Santoro from the University of Parma and Prof. Simonetta Menchelli from the University of Pisa, that the coming 3rd conference to be organized in Italy in March 2008.
The 3rd International Conference on Late Roman Coarse Wares, Cooking Wares and Amphorae in the Mediterranean: Archaeology and Archaeometry (LRCW3) was organized by the University of Parma and the University of Pisa from 26 to 30 March 2008. Ten invited talks were given at the conference. Furthermore, the conference comprised 38 oral presentations and 101 posters. The closing remarks were given by Dr. Michel Bonifay.
In a special session at the University of Parma (27 March) the LRCW International Standing Committee accepted the suggestion of Prof. Natalia Poulou-Papadimitriou from the University of Thessaloniki that the 4th International Conference on Late Roman Coarse Wares, Cooking Wares and Amphorae in the Mediterranean: Archaeology and Archaeometry (LRCW4) will be organized in 2011 in Thessaloniki by the Department of Archaeology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.