1st Iberian Meeting of Gender Archaeology “Intersections with the past”

I Iberian Encounter of Gender Archaeology “Intersections with the past”

May 12 and 13, 2025

Faculdade de Letras da Universidade do Porto

Meeting presentation

The adoption of gender theories in archaeology has followed an uneven path depending on the country and archaeological tradition. However, Gender Archaeology has become a dynamic and recognized field of study, which has brought important empirical, interpretative and methodological innovations to the discipline, both in Spain and Portugal. With the aim of creating a space for debate and promoting research from a gender perspective in the Iberian Peninsula, the 1st Iberian Meeting of Gender Archaeology will be held in Porto in May 2025. The main theme of the event will be “Intersections with the Past” and it will be structured around two main sections:

– Materiality of women in the past

– Feminist and gender currents in archaeology

MATERIALITY OF WOMEN IN THE PAST

The study of materiality provides a privileged approach to the power relations established in past communities, and archaeological evidence is a key factor in reconstructing the role that women may have played in each society and in questioning the various ways of being a woman. In addition to the visibility of women in the archaeological record, we highlight the need to incorporate an intersectional feminist perspective into the study of the past. This perspective considers as categories of analysis not only gender, but also others such as class, age, ability, origin, religion, sexuality, among others, since these conditions influenced the experiences and agency of the people we study. In addition, we can gain a more complete understanding of social organization and the (in)existence of hierarchies in past societies, while contributing to the creation of a historical discourse that questions dominant narratives and recognizes the diversity also found in the past.

The proposed gender approach is applicable to archaeological research regardless of the scope, period or object of study, so the contributions at this meeting are not limited by a specific chrono-geographical framework. The papers will be based on the following themes:

• Gender identities
• Sexuality, sexual practices and norms
• Gendered review of the archaeological record and published research
• Maintenance activities
• Queer Archaeology
• Archaeology of childhood

FEMINIST AND GENDER CURRENTS IN ARCHAEOLOGY

The end of the fascist regimes in the Iberian Peninsula represented a major qualitative leap in the incorporation of women into archaeology. However, even today we find barriers that limit – directly or indirectly – the professional careers of female archaeologists. Recognizing the existence of these inequalities and integrating a gender perspective into daily archaeological practice facilitates a more inclusive and diverse organizational culture. It is precisely this diversity that confronts the stereotype of the archaeologist as “the cowboy of science” or “Indiana Jones”, while promoting active and community participation in the creation of knowledge, valorization and use of archaeological heritage.

The papers will focus on organizational policies, praxis and disciplinary culture from a gender perspective, as well as presenting case studies and projects that break with the androcentric logics of traditional archaeology. The following topics will be covered:

• Feminist perspectives on archaeological heritage management
• Public archaeology, community projects andbottom-upprojects
• Analysis of employability in archaeological and cultural organizations
• History of Archaeology

Executive Committee

Ana Vale (CITCEM, FLUP)

Paloma Zarzuela Gutiérrez (UAB)

Scientific Committee

Andreia Arezes (CITCEM, FLUP)

Maria Jesus Sanches (CITCEM, FLUP)

Sara Simões (UNIARQ)

Clara Masriera Esquerra (UAB)

Paloma González Marcén (UAB)

Alba Comino Comino (New)

Ana Belén Herranz Sánchez (UJaen)