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by Robert Busch and Joris Starke
On March 28, the PreDoc-workshop of TransPergMicro brought together early career researchers from across the project to present and discuss their ongoing work related to Pergamon. The workshop was hosted by Freie Universität in the so-called “Holzlaube” and was attended by 18 participants in person and 11 online. A wide range of disciplinary approaches and research progress was presented and discussed. The focus was on finding points of contact to exchange ideas and information and to develop collaborations. The workshop served as a platform to connect the different disciplines involved in TransPergMicro – Physical Geography, Historical Architecture, Classical Archaeology, and Ancient History. New members working on Pergamon for the first time had the opportunity to present their perspectives, while more experienced participants shared insights and practical advice to support a smooth start to the upcoming field season.
After a brief welcome, the first session focused on “Regional Developments,” with papers on Attalid bureaucracy and the spatial reconstruction of ceramic production. After a short coffee break, the “Constructing the Past” session focused on architectural studies, with papers on mortar analysis, bath reconstructions, and the remodeling of the Roman gymnasium. After lunch, we “closed the gaps” with the final session, which focused on previously open research questions: How did Late Byzantine to Early Ottoman ceramics change at Pergamon? Were there Persian military outposts under the Attalids? And how did the course of the Bakırçay River change over time?
Finally, there was an open poster session where the participants could exchange ideas. All in all, it was an exciting day with many new insights into Pergamon’s transformation!
