For many years, the Institute of Near Eastern Archaeology of the FU Berlin maintains a student exchange (MA and PhD students) with the Department of Cross-cultural and Regional Studies of the University of Copenhagen. In the framework of simultaneous seminars at both universities, two colloquia are developed on a common topic. At the beginning of winter, the Copenhagen students visit Berlin and present their papers during the first colloquium. Then, at the end of the winter, the Berlin students travel to Copenhagen and talk about their papers at the second colloquium.

The event in the scope of the course “Interdisciplinary Perspectives” has a long tradition: Already Prof. em. Hans Nissen began the exchange in the late 1990s, afterwards it was continued for many years by Prof. Susan Pollock and Prof. Reinhard Bernbeck. Prof. Dominik Bonatz has also led the course in recent years. Since the winter semester of 2024/25, Prof. Elisa Roßberger and Valery Schlegel are upholding the tradition on the side of Berlin. The Copenhagen side is represented by Prof. Susanne Kerner since the very beginning, filled in for by Prof. Scott Haddow.

The topics of the course focus on current and relevant theories and methodologies from Near Eastern Archaeology and adjacent disciplines. The students develop research questions and aims for their own focus point, which is presented in English and discussed in plenum. This form promotes practical experience in international research collaborations as well as the formulation, representation and defense of individual scientific positions.

A variety of topics were/are offered:

 

1998-99 The Evolution and Structure of Public Space and Ideology in the Ancient Near East

1999-2000 The Organization of Labor in the Early Periods of the Ancient Near East

2000-01 Visual Communication in the Ancient Near East

2001-02 Ritual Practices in the Ancient Near East

2002-03 Transitional Periods and Phases in the Ancient Near East and in Ancient Egypt

2003-04 Landscape Archaeology

2004-05 Water in the Ancient World I

2005-06 Water in the Ancient World II

2006-07 Conflicts in the Ancient World

2007-08 Architecture in the Ancient World

2008-09 Gender Studies in Ancient Near Eastern Archaeology and History

2009-10 Commensality in Ancient Western Asia

2010-11 The Social Life of Things

2011-12 Memory in and of the Ancient World

2012-13 Ritual Practice

2013-14 Opposition and Resistance

2014-15 Humans, Animals and Monsters

2015-16 Visualizing the Past: Images and Text

2016-17 Archaeologies of the Senses

2017-18 Borders and Walls

2018-19 Gender in Archaeology

2019-20 Storage: Planning for the Future

2020-21 Between Drought and Flood: Water and Water Management in the Ancient World

2021-22 How We Become Who We Are: Learning and Socialization in Ancient Societies

2022-23 Routes and Travels

2023-24 Rituals

2024-25 Exploring Identity in Archaeology and Archaeological Material