Author Description

"The International colloquium "Broadening Horizons", the first conference which took place at Ghent University (Belgium) on February 27 and 28, 2006, brought together young researchers (Ph.D. and post-doctorate level) in geography, archaeology, geomorphology, and history, who were actively studying past landscapes within the Mediterranean region and the Near East. Interdisciplinary research favors a systematical approach of landscape archaeology, a complex research theme placed at the frontier of human and environmental sciences. Broadening Horizons meetings focus on interdisciplinary research problems taken from case studies in the Near and Middle east. They aim to favor the confrontation of researchers' ideas, projects and interrogations, especially when coming from different fields or specialities. Such diversity contributes to a better knowledge of ancient landscapes, of their evolution and of their perception within human societies; and we believe that it also contributes to further develop research and methodologies within the group of "young researchers". This volume presents the acts of the colloquium organized in Lyon in June 2007, where 32 participants, two keynote speakers and abou a hundred listeners gathered together"--