Internationales Sachsensymposion
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''Internationales Sachsensymposion. Arbeitsgemeinschaft zur Archäologie der Sachsen und ihrer Nachbarvölker in Nordwesteuropa'' ("International Saxons Symposium. Research network for the archaeological study of the Saxons and their neighbouring peoples in northwestern Europe"), is an international society for "the continuous, joint – international – study of the history and ethnic origins of the Germanic
Saxons The Saxons ( la, Saxones, german: Sachsen, ang, Seaxan, osx, Sahson, nds, Sassen, nl, Saksen) were a group of Germanic * * * * peoples whose name was given in the early Middle Ages to a large country (Old Saxony, la, Saxonia) near the Nor ...
". A secondary stated goal "is to discuss the relevant relationships that existed between all these populations and that can be detected in the countries bordering the North and Baltic Seas." The organisation has been credited with stimulating the publication of material from both the collections of museums, and contemporary excavations, and is considered the authoritative forum for the discussion of the archaeology of northwestern Europe in the first millennium AD. Membership is by election; today the organisation comprises approximately 180 members, from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and the United States.


History

The ''Internationales Sachsensymposion'' was founded in
Cuxhaven Cuxhaven (; ) is an independent town and seat of the Cuxhaven district, in Lower Saxony, Germany. The town includes the northernmost point of Lower Saxony. It is situated on the shore of the North Sea at the mouth of the Elbe River. Cuxhaven has ...
, Germany, in 1949, although it is currently organised under Belgian law. It was initially known as the ''Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Sachsenforschung'' (Study Group for Saxon Research), and was formed at the instigation of Karl Waller, then the head of the office for the protection of prehistoric monuments in urban Cuxhaven, as a way to facilitate the study of ancient Saxons. The organisation was also intended to help reestablish post- War relations with the
North Sea The North Sea lies between Great Britain, Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. An epeiric sea on the European continental shelf, it connects to the Atlantic Ocean through the English Channel in the south and the Norwegian S ...
countries by focusing on shared archaeological problems. Fourteen scholars were invited to the first symposium, held from 21 to 23 November 1949 in Cuxhaven. Following the death of Waller in 1963, meetings continued under the leadership of Albert Genrich ( de), who had been a co-founder and active participant. Later, from 1996 to 2002, Hans-Jürgen Häßler served as chairman. With few interruptions the ''Sachsensymposion'' has met annually since 1949, most recently holding its 68th symposium over five days in September 2017, in
Canterbury Canterbury (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated in the heart of the City of Canterbury local government district of Kent, England. It lies on the River Stour, Kent, River Stour. ...
. It was the first time the conference was held in that city, as was co-hosted by
Canterbury Christ Church University , mottoeng = The truth shall set you free , established = 2005 – gained University status 1962 – teacher training college , type = Public , religious_affiliation = Church of England , city ...
,
Canterbury Archaeological Trust Canterbury Archaeological Trust (CAT) is an independent charity formed in 1975 to undertake rescue excavation, research, publication and the presentation of the results of its work for the benefit of the public. The Trust's main activities are ...
and the
University of Kent , motto_lang = , mottoeng = Literal translation: 'Whom to serve is to reign'(Book of Common Prayer translation: 'whose service is perfect freedom')Graham Martin, ''From Vision to Reality: the Making of the University of Kent at Canterbury'' ...
. The symposia have broadened over time, and now function as a forum to discuss the archaeology of early northwestern Europe; though generally held in Germany, other hosts have included the
Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
,
Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...
, the
Scandinavia Scandinavia; Sámi languages: /. ( ) is a subregion#Europe, subregion in Northern Europe, with strong historical, cultural, and linguistic ties between its constituent peoples. In English usage, ''Scandinavia'' most commonly refers to Denmark, ...
n countries, and, multiple times, England. The 24th rendition, held in London in September 1973, was the occasion for the "theatrical" unveiling of the Royal Armouries replica of the
Anglo-Saxon The Anglo-Saxons were a Cultural identity, cultural group who inhabited England in the Early Middle Ages. They traced their origins to settlers who came to Britain from mainland Europe in the 5th century. However, the ethnogenesis of the Anglo- ...
Sutton Hoo helmet. Preceding an evening address, the lights were dimmed; down the aisle came Nigel Williams holding a replica of the Sutton Hoo whetstone; and behind him followed Rupert Bruce-Mitford, wearing a carriage rug and with hands hieratically crossed, wearing the Royal Armouries helmet and reciting the opening lines of ''
Beowulf ''Beowulf'' (; ang, Bēowulf ) is an Old English epic poem in the tradition of Germanic heroic legend consisting of 3,182 alliterative lines. It is one of the most important and most often translated works of Old English literature. The ...
''. Members of the ''Sachsensymposion'' hail from eleven countries, and include
Martin Carver Martin Oswald Hugh Carver, FSA, Hon FSA Scot, (born 8 July 1941) is Emeritus Professor of Archaeology at the University of York, England, director of the Sutton Hoo Research Project and a leading exponent of new methods in excavation and surve ...
, Helena Hamerow, Barbara Yorke, and
Alex Woolf Alex Woolf (born 12 July 1963) is a British medieval historian and academic. He specialises in the history of Britain and Ireland and to a lesser extent Scandinavia in the Early Middle Ages, with a particular emphasis on interaction and compa ...
. Nancy Wicker of the University of Mississippi, as of 2017, is the only American ever elected a member. Early participants in the ''Sachsensymposion'' included Fritz Tischler ( de) and Joachim Werner.


References


Bibliography

* * * * * * * * * * * {{free access Anglo-Saxon archaeology International learned societies History organisations based in Belgium Organizations established in 1949 1949 establishments in West Germany