27Aug27 Aug 2021
14th Conference of The Worked Bone Research Group

14th Conference of The Worked Bone Research Group

30 August to 3 September 2021

Online via Zoom

PAST is a proud supporter of The 14th Worked Bone Research Group (WBRG) conference is proudly hosted by the University of Johannesburg. We look forward to welcoming you during the week of 30 August to 3 September 2021. Please note that registration for the conference has now closed as we have reached capacity. Links to join the Zoom sessions will be sent via Email to registered participants a day or two before each session.

We are pleased to be welcoming 38 presenters from 24 countries, including eight speakers who will be presenting research from the African continent – the largest number in the 24-year history of the WBRG. This is the first time the conference will be hosted by an African institution, the first time by an institution in the Southern Hemisphere, and the first time that it will be online.

The purpose of the WBRG is to improve communication between individuals studying worked animal hard tissues (especially bone, antler, and ivory) with a special emphasis on archaeological finds. A broad diachronic and multi-disciplinary approach is emphasized in order to promote the exchange of ideas concerning attitudes to and procurement of raw materials, technology, and cognitive aspects of bone working.

This first African-hosted WBRG conference is generously sponsored by the Palaeontological Scientific Trust, who have agreed, in light of the move to the online format, to convert part of the conference grant to presenter prizes and student bursaries. Further information will be announced at the opening session on Monday 30 August. We are also delighted to be able to screen a short, not-to-be-missed theatrical production that highlights the value of archaeology and palaeosciences in confronting current issues in society.

Final Programme

The final conference programme is available for download here. The presentation schedule also appears below. The times indicated are in South African Standard Time (GMT+2). Sessions will open 15 minutes before the starting times indicated.