I wanted to bring the upcoming Visiting Scholar conference, 'The Archaeology of Slavery: Toward a Comparative, Global Framework,' to your attention. It will be held March 30-31, 2012 here at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL.

Our keynote is Theresa Singleton, the discussants are Christopher Fennell and Joseph Miller, and other speakers include Mark W. Hauser, Chapurukha M. Kusimba, Liza Gijanto, Sarah K. Croucher, Debra L. Martin, Catherine M. Cameron, Laura Lee Junker, Neil L. Norman, and J. Cameron Monroe. A full conference schedule can be found here:
http://cai.siuc.edu/vspages/marshall/schedule.html

You can register for the conference at https://www.dce.siu.edu/index.php/Conferences/the-archaeology-of-slavery-toward-a-comparative-global-framework

Preregistration is encouraged. After March 21, a $10 late fee will be added to registration costs. We hope you'll join us in Carbondale for this exciting event! I've pasted a conference description below.

Thanks, Lydia Wilson Marshall

Announcing the 28th Annual Visiting Scholar Conference, Center for Archaeological Investigations, Southern Illinois University Carbondale

The Archaeology of Slavery: Toward a Comparative, Global Framework

As archaeologists begin to investigate slavery in settings as diverse as contact-period Philippine chiefdoms and ancient Rome, the need for a comparative interpretive framework has never been more apparent. The goals of the 2012 Visiting Scholar Conference are (1) to develop an interregional and cross-temporal framework for the archaeological analysis of slavery and (2) to promote a diachronic approach to the topic, extending from before the moment of capture to beyond emancipation. Sessions will assess the challenge of recognizing material signatures of slavery, explore the practice of slavery in non-state societies, pursue comparative approaches to slavery in colonial America, and analyze the instability of social boundaries and identities through a consideration of slaving and emancipation.