May 21st to 25th, 2025
Developing International Geoarchaeology & AK Geoarchäologie
Hosted at the University of Tübingen
"Developing International Geoarchaeology," or simply "DIG," is a biennial conference series that began in 2005 and has since been hosted across the world. It aims to bring together a wide variety of international researchers, practitioners, and students around the diverse themes of geoarchaeology, facilitate discussion, and stimulate research and cooperation.
The AK Geoarchäologie is the largest German-language organization promoting the field of geoarchaeology. It was founded in 2004 with the goal of providing a forum for discussion of topics relevant to geoarchaeology, to strengthen the visibility of geoarchaeology in university teaching, and to promote the activities of young scientists.
In May, 2025, the AK Geoarchäologie together with the Geoarchaeology Working Group of the Institute for Archaeological Sciences, will host the 11th DIG meeting at the 20th annual meeting of the AK Geoarchäologie in Tübingen, Germany!
Registration and abstract submission is now open!
Abstract submission deadline: February 14th, 2025
Events
ice breaker
For those arriving already on the 21st, we will host an ice breaker event in the Paleontological Museum of the University of Tübingen. Light refreshments and beverages will be provided.
Conference
On the 22nd and 23rd, the conference will be held in the "Alte Aula" of the University, in the heart of downtown Tübingen, with a mixture of oral communications and poster sessions. A particular highlight will be two keynote addresses which will present international perspectives on the field, both where it has been and where it is heading. A light lunch will be served on all days of the conference and is included in the registration fee.
Museum tour
The Archaeology Museum holds extensive collections of materials recovered from excavations of the University of Tübingen, including examples of Paleolithic figurative art from Vogelherd Cave in the Swabian Jura, as well as Near Eastern, Classical and Egyptian objects. The Museum Tour will show guests some of the many highlights contained within the University's collecitions.
Conference Dinner
On the 22nd we will have the conference dinner at the brewery and restaurant "Neckarmüller"--featuring local Swabian cuisine--along the banks of the Neckar River.
Field trip
Following the conclusion of the conference, on Saturday, 24th, the fieldtrip will take guests to the UNESCO World Heritage Paleolithic cave sites of the Swabian Jura, where some of the world's oldest evidence for mobilary art and musical instruments have been found. We will visit the Prehistory Museum of Blaubeuren, where many of these spectacular artifacts are on display, and visit the caves of Hohle Fels and Geißenklösterle, while discussing the history of geoarchaeological research in the region.
Micromorphology of the Swabian Caves Session
On the 25th, as a follow up to the fieldtrip, we will offer an in-depth microscopy session examining thin sections collected over the years from the excavations at Hohle Fels, Geißenklösterle, and other cave sites in the region. Participants will get a chance to view samples under the microscope illustrating topics presented during the field trip. Due to limited space and availability of microscopes, the number of participants is capped at 25.
Past DIG meetings:
2023 - 10th DIG - University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
2021 – 9th DIG – University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal
2019 – 8th DIG – Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
2017 – 7th DIG – Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
2015 – 6th DIG – Alghero University, Sardinia, Italy
2013 – 5thDIG – University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
2011 – 4th DIG – University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA
2009 – 3rd DIG – McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
2007 – 2nd DIG – Cambridge University, Cambridge, United Kingdom
2005 – 1st DIG – University of New Brunswick, New Brunswick, Canada
Past AK Geoarchäologie meetings:
2024 - 19th Meeting - Wilhelmshaven, together with AG Paläopedologie
2023 - 18th Meeting - Würzburg, together with AG Paläopedologie
2022 - 17th Meeting - Mainz
2021 - Virtual meeting (Flensburg/Tübingen)
2020 - 16th Meeting - Wihelmshaven (cancelled)
2019 - 15th Meeting - Heidelberg
2018 - 14th Meeting - Munich
2017 - 13th Meeting - Erlangen
2016 - 12th Meeting - Tübingen
2015 - 11th Meeting - Kiel
2014 - 10th Meeting - Aachen, together with AG Paläopedologie
2013 - 9th Meeting - Cottbus
2012 - 8th Meeting - Leipzig, together with AG Paläopedologie
2011 - 7th Meeting - Heidelberg
2010 - 6th Meeting - Frankfurt, together with AG Paläopedologie
2009 - 5th Meeting - Dresden, Geoarchaeology of Central Europe, International Meeting
2008 - 4th Meeting - Trier
2007 - 3rd Meeting - Regensburg
2006 - 2nd Meeting - Marburg
2005 - 1st Meeting - Bayreuth
2004 - Founding Meeting, Tübingen, at Eastern Mediterranean/Near Eastern Geoarchaeology Meeting