contact@arkeotopia.org
Translation by Jennifer Fahy, Manon Decoën and Brandon Loch
Every 4th Saturday of the month, the ArkeoTopia network gets together for a Check Point. Among other subjects, it’s the opportunity to select THE photo of the month on social media with #ArchaeoPhoto. Here’s a look back at a photographic experience like no other.
#ArchaeoPhoto: sharing and promoting images from the ArkeoTopia network
Every month, the ArkeoTopia network meets for a day at 7 rue Jean Nicot in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. During this day, time is set aside for informal discussions, known as ArkaeoBox. A wide range of topics are welcome: introductions to archaeological techniques, read-aloud sessions with #IReadArchaeo, information exchanges, travel logs, but it’s also when the #ArchaeoPhoto session takes place. This is when the picture of the month is chosen, to be promoted by the association on its social media. For Jean-Olivier Gransard-Desmond, in charge of research within the association and the originator of the idea,”it’s an opportunity to show that archaeology isn’t just about excavation. It’s also an excellent way to talk about archaeological research techniques, such as the chaîne opératoire, or to see where archaeology fits into our everyday lives.”
What does an #ArchaeoPhoto session involve?
Naturally, the photographic subject must relate to an archaeological theme.
Unless there is an archaeological contribution, the challenge is to carefully avoid falling into historical themes or elements that are related to archaeology but are not archaeological themselves, such as:
- historical figures with no related archaeological content
- translation of texts like a wall of hieroglyphics or a medieval manuscript
- genetics, such as the question of population migrations
- human or animal bones from a paleo-anthropological or zoological perspective, etc.
Whereas you can let loose on:
- the architecture of castles, factories, and unusual places
- furniture from prehistoric times to the present day
- craft tools and techniques
- the manufacturing stages of an object, also known as the chaîne opératoire
- and, of course, archaeological excavation sites, etc.
During the session, network members who have proposed a subject discuss it and explain why they chose it. At the end of the presentations, all those present discuss which proposal and imagery they preferred, as only one subject will be featured on ArkeoTopia’s social media
How does #ArchaeoPhoto work?
All visual genres are accepted:
- black and white
- color
- special effects (stereoscopy, depth effect, green screen, etc.)
- video
- 3D modeling
Once the subject has been selected, a post is made on ArkeoTopia’s social media, which all members of the network and beyond can comment on. It’s a great way to spread the word about the association, while at the same time popularizing archaeology, the first of the association’s five pillars.
Help! I don’t have any archaeology photos or video
Not many people realize this. In fact, almost all of us have archaeological photos. Unless you never take photos on your travels or outings during the year, or your travels don’t involve discovering the country’s cultural heritage, you’re bound to have some archaeology-themed photos.
But what is archaeology?
Archaeology is about understanding human beings through their technical productions. Archaeologists are interested in how objects were made and used by human beings. Whether it’s the raw materials used to create the object, the guilds involved in its manufacture, or the traces of wear and tear left during its use, all this information tells us about the history of human beings through time.
As a result, photographs or even videos of human production – tableware from Roman to modern times, or the production chain for prehistoric flint tools to today’s oyster farming – are very welcome, even if they have nothing to do with excavations!
Here are two examples to illustrate this unique photo session:
Classic with Ayten Top’s photo of the Celsus Library in Ephesus, which illustrates the archaeology of absence with the 12,000 scrolls it once housed, and gives an account of 8 years of anastylosis, i.e. restoration
Unusual with Christiane Angibous-Esnault‘s three images of a peculiar building illustrating part of the copra chaîne opératoire in French Polynesia.
I want to participate too
Want to get involved?
Join ArkeoTopia as a supporter by registering online.
You can also comment on ArkeoTopia’s posts via the social media links listed at the top right of this page.
A final vote
At the end of the season, all publications are voted on by online viewers.
The winner receives a reward.
To find out more
- Find out more about Check Points, ArkeoTopia’s monthly get-together
- Find out more about #IReadArchaeo sessions with “Read aloud to support archaeology.”
- Find out more about ArkeoTopia’s missions
ArkeoTopia, an alternative approach to archaeology® aims to give another perspective to archaeology today in order to better help existing bodies prepare that of tomorrow. To find out more about the association, check out our institutional video and our activities.
