VIII International Congress “The Art of Prehistoric Societies” – Salamanca 2024

The International Congress “The Art of Prehistoric Societies” (ASP) was initiated more than fifteen years ago (2008) in Toulouse (France) by the members of the Centre de Recherche et d’Étude de l’Art Préhistorique (CREAP). Since then, the venue has changed throughout Western Europe, including France, Portugal and Spain. Salamanca (Spain) has been chosen as the venue for 2024.

This congress, which takes place every two years or so, is a meeting place for specialists in the graphic activity of cultures without a written language and in particular that of prehistoric groups. One of its main objectives is to give young researchers the opportunity to present their work and to bring these new generations into contact with experts in the discipline at an international level, in order to promote the exchange of experiences, encourage future collaboration and debate hypotheses and original proposals. It is also an opportunity to communicate new discoveries, propose new lines of research or disseminate innovative interpretations of this type of cultural manifestation.

Through a series of holistic sessions, the 8th edition presents a unique opportunity to globally communicate research on a diverse range of topics. These include the analysis, interpretation and dissemination of art in non-written language societies and particularly those belonging to prehistoric chronologies. Each session will commence with a guest speaker, who will be a renowned expert in the field and who will present his research on the subject in question. Finally, in order to showcase the main examples of Palaeolithic rock art in Salamanca and the Castilla y León region, a visit to Siega Verde and Las Batuecas, two exceptional open-air rock art stations situated in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula, has been scheduled. There will also be an excursion to the Museu do Côa and some of the nearby archaeological sites. We will also visit the Escuelas Mayores and Menores of the University of Salamanca. This historic institution, founded in 1218 as one of the first universities in Europe, is a prominent symbol of the World Heritage city.

Papers may be submitted in Spanish, French, or English, the official languages of the conference. Those unable to attend in person can follow the proceedings through our live streaming service on various social media platforms. The event will be hosted by the Faculty of Geography and History under the direction of Miguel García Bustos and Olivia Rivero.

We invite researchers to submit their papers and prepare themselves for a truly memorable experience.