The Archaeologists' City / La città degli archeologi.

Since its emergence as a recognised field of study, urban history has sought to be interdisciplinary. In the wake of this innate but problematic vocation AISU is organising a new cycle of doctoral seminars dedicated to the city as a complex issue: the aim is to stimulate dialogue between all historical disciplines that deal with the urban dimension, opening up a debate on the themes, results, and perspectives of ongoing or recently completed research.

The 2026 edition will focus on the city through the archaeologists’ gaze — not only the ancient or medieval city, but all forms and temporalities of the urban dimension, from abandonment to transformation, from persistence to industrial and contemporary landscapes. The aim is to reconstruct, through multiple perspectives and different types of sources (archaeological, written, epigraphic, art-historical, etc.), an interdisciplinary reading of urban evolution, its rhythms, interruptions and material expressions.

The call for papers is now open to proposals on any topic in line with the above guidelines, in any Italian, European or global context. However, in selecting the proposals, the scientific committee will give priority to studies that are presented in a comparative perspective and that raise cross-cutting interests. Topics could include, but are not limited to:
- the phenomenon of urbanism at the national, regional, or zonal level, analyzed from a diachronic perspective or with reference to specific phases
- forms of monumentality and their transformations over time
- agents and modalities of euergetism in the urban context
- the maintenance of infrastructure (walls, roads, sewage systems, and more)
- transformations in residential architecture over time
- the phenomenon of abandonment and its archaeological evidence
- the articulation of social structures in light of archaeological findings
- case studies and experiences of urban archaeology in specific centres
- production and craftsmanship within the urban environment
- the archaeology of architecture
- industrial archaeology
- contemporary archaeology
- landscape archaeology
- archaeological sites in urban contexts

Proposals must be sent to the Scientific Committee by e-mail (segretarioaisuinternational.net) by the deadline of 7 December 2025, accompanied by a title, a short abstract (max 1000 characters) and the author’s CV (max 1000 characters). Acceptance will be notified by 21 December 2024.

PARTICIPATION FEES
Participation in the seminars is reserved for PhD students, new PhD graduates or young researchers members of AISU.
- For members: free of charge
- For non-members: 2025 membership fee (https://aisuinternational.org/register/)

DEADLINES
- Opening of the call for papers 9 November 2025
- Closure of the call for papers 7 December 2025
- Notification of the acceptance of proposals 21 December 2025

For further information: marco.folinunige.it