Welcome
The Eighth International Conference on the Mesolithic in Europe will be held in Santander from 13th to 17th September 2010, organised by the Cantabrian International Institute for Prehistoric Research with the support of the Department of Culture, Tourism and Sport of the Cantabrian Government and the University of Cantabria.
This is the first time this prestigious series of conferences is held in southern Europe; furthermore, in a region with a long tradition in prehistoric studies, particularly on the Mesolithic. Santander is situated in the centre of the north coast of Spain and is one of the classic areas for the study of hunter-gatherers in southwest Europe, not only because of its famous Palaeolithic sites and its outstanding collections of cave art, but also because of its concentration of Mesolithic sites. The study of these sites has been decisive in shaping current ideas about the Mesolithic in the south of Europe. Since 1910, when the Count of Vega del Sella began his exploration of shell middens in the east of Asturias, Cantabria’s Mesolithic remains have been the object of sustained research which, in recent years, has culminated in the intense activity of a young, dynamic community of researchers. We are sure that the Santander Conference will be an excellent opportunity for colleagues from other parts of Europe to get to know at first hand the research and sites of this corner of Atlantic Europe.
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The Santander Conference will attempt to reconcile the challenge set by increasing research specialisation, with the tradition of this series of conferences. It will try, therefore, to maintain the ethos set by the previous seven successful conferences. The Santander Conference has, therefore, been deliberately designed to be open and non-specialised. The conference aims to act as a forum for delegates from many different places and at different stages in their careers to meet and discuss any topic related to the Mesolithic on our continent. Delegates will also have the chance to attend as many lectures and debates as possible. Parallel sessions will, therefore, be kept to a minimum and an effort will be made to ensure that timetables are respected as strictly as possible.
There is, however, a growing interest in using this type of meeting in the discussion of highly specialized topics. Consequently, the Santander programme includes a new aspect: two sessions set aside for workshops and round tables based on topics proposed by delegates.
An important aspect of these conferences is the direct contact with the archaeology of the host region and, of course, the possibility to meet colleagues in a more informal setting. The Santander Conference will try to maintain this tradition by including a day trip to Mesolithic sites in the region and a full social programme. Those who would like to get to know the archaeology of Cantabria even better can join the post-conference fieldtrip to be held the weekend after the conference.
The Organising Committee and supporting institutions are honoured to invite the community of researchers to the Eighth International Conference on the Mesolithic in Europe.
