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International researchers come together at 'Jealous Laws' conference: brief report

4 June 2024
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View from a back of a full lecture theatre with tiered seating. One conference organiser stands on the central steps halfway up the theatre, another stands in the front of the lecture theatre. People are engaging in discussion and many have their laptops open or paper out on the tables to take notes. There are screens at the front of the lecture theatre with people attending the event online.

Organised by our final-year PhD researchers, Pertev Basri and Batuhan Özdemir, and our Digital Archaeology and Heritage Technician Alexander Jansen, the conference titled 'Jealous Laws': Collecting, Studying, and Managing Antiquities in the Ottoman Mediterranean during the Long 19th Century took place on Friday 17th May, in the Department of Archaeology (D110). The conference featured nine distinguished speakers from around the world, each presenting unique perspectives on the subject.

The conference was highlighted by a keynote address from Professor Edhem Eldem of Boğaziçi University. His talk, 'Politics, Diplomacy, Custom, and Law in the Management of Antiquities in the Ottoman Empire, 1800-1920', provided deep insights into the intricate relationship between the management of antiquities and politics, diplomacy and custom in the Ottoman Empire during the long 19th century.

A man in a grey suit, standing behind a Durham University lecture podium, holding a microphone and presenting to an out-of-frame lecture theatre.Professor Edhem Eldem of Boğaziçi University. Image credit: Alexander Jansen.

Eight people stand in front of two screens and whiteboards, at the front of a lecture theatre.From left to right: Edhem Eldem, Alexandra Solovyev, Batuhan Özdemir, Pertev Basri, Lucia Patrizio Gunning, Anna Reeve, Thomas Kiely, and Sebastian Marshall. Image credit: Alexander Jansen.

Debbie Challis speaks into a microphone behind a Durham University lecture podium, next to several projector screens, presenting to an out-of-frame lecture theatre audience.Dr Debbie Challis, Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and Honorary Research Fellow, University of Liverpool. Image credit: Alexander Jansen.

Lucia Patrizio Gunning and Batu Ozdemir stand behind a Durham University lecture podium, presenting to an out-of-frame lecture theatre audience.Dr Lucia Patrizio Gunning, University College London. Image credit: Alexander Jansen.

Pertev Basri stands at the front of a darkened lecture theatre presenting to an out-of-frame lecture theatre audience.Pertev Basri, Durham University. Image credit: Alexander Jansen.

Pertev Basri and Batu Ozdemir stand behind a lecture podium, working with slides projected onto a screen visible in the upper right of the image.Pertev Basri and Batuhan Özdemir, Durham University. Image credit: Alexander Jansen.

Group of smiling people gathered at the front of a lecture theatre. Behind them are screens with text reading Attendees at the Jealous Laws conference. Image credit: Alexander Jansen.

We are pleased to announce that a more comprehensive debrief will be published soon, either as an article or a full publication.

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Our Department of Archaeology is a leading centre for the study of archaeology and is ranked =5th in the world (QS World University Rankings by subject 2024). We are an inclusive, vibrant and international community. Our students develop knowledge and gain essential and transferable skills through research-led teaching and lab-based training.