1–2 October 2026
University of Bern
Haus der Universität
09:00–09:20 Welcome Coffee
Katarzyna Langenegger & Sebastian Borkowski (BernBabylon OC)
09:20–12:20 Workshop: Recognizing and Preventing Colonial Practices
in Archaeology
Sebastian Borkowski (University of Bern, CH)
Albane Desbordes (University of Strasbourg, FR)
Katarzyna Langenegger (University of Bern, CH)
Jade Meyer (University of Strasbourg, FR)
12:20–14:00 Lunch Break
Session Pythia | Chair: Felicitas Stec
14:00–14:20 How to Make a Pot
Juuli Ahola (University of Bern, CH)
14:20–14:40 An Analysis of Plants with Medicinal Properties in
Lakeside Settlements
Sascha von Niederhäusern (University of Bern, CH)
14:40–15:00 The ‚Knowing Ones‘ as Spirit Whisperers
Alinda Damsma (University College London, UK)
15:00–15:20 Unwrapping the Divine Message
Netanel Anor (University of Hamburg, DE)
15:20–15:40 Coffee Break
Session Metis | Chair: Giulia Muti
15:40–16:00 The Hittite King Muršili and the King of Aleppo
Šarka Velhartická (University of Bern, CH)
16:00–16:20 Theoretical Approaches to the Archaeology of Feasting
Julien Rösselet (University of Bern, CH)
16:20–16:40 Lamps in Cilicia
Seda Aknur (University of Bern, CH)
16:40–17:00 Pythion, the “Middlest”
Anna Bertelli (Ruhr University Bochum, DE)
Antikensammlung Bern
18:30 Apéro
19:30 Theater Performance: Waiting for Innana
20:00 BernBabylon Dance
Friday MorningHaus der Universität
Session Persephone | Chair: Adrianna Gizińska
09:00–09:20 Tenikiy and the Early Populating of Madagascar
Vincent Serneels (University of Fribourg, CH)
Chantal Radimilahy (Institut des Civilisations, Antananarivo MG)
Guido Schreurs (University of Bern, CH)
Léonard Kramer (Service Archéologique Cantonal de Fribourg, CH)
09:20–09:40 The Graves of the Archaeological Mission in the
Maziyyad-Sublaybiyya Area
Albane Desbordes (University of Strasbourg, FR)
Jade Meyer (University of Strasbourg, FR)
09:40–10:00 Introduction to the Study of Occpational Levels at Ur
Brice Suignard (University of Strasbourg, FR)
10:00–10:20 From Site Spacing to Movement Space
Fatemeh Javanmardi (University of Bern, CH)
10:20–10:40 Coffee Break
Session Našše | Chair: Fatemeh Javanmardi
10:40–11:00 ‚Great Water. How to Tame an Unpredictable Element in
the Ancient World?‘
Hannah Tręda (University of Warsaw)
11:00–11:20 Reconstructing the Pre-Modern Floodplain
Francesco Lucano (University of Bern, CH)
Eveline C. Zbinden (University of Bern, CH)
Tadeáš Červík (University of Bern, CH)
Andreas Zischg (University of Bern, CH)
11:20–11:40 Protective Entities and Idealized Masculinity
Raquel Robbins (University of Toronto, CA)
11:40–12:00 Female Deities under Gudea
Louise Price (University of Strasbourg, FR)
12:00–13:20 Lunch Break