This one-day symposium invites Arts and Humanities scholars working in relation to
Neolithic or other ancient stone structures to submit an abstract for a short
presentation (15 minutes) or a longer presentation/paper (25 minutes) on the themes of
materiality, mythology, aDect and temporality.

Ritual/sacred stone structures, such as henges, dolmens and cairns of the Neolithic
and Mesolithic era have been (re)visited, (re)used and (re)invoked by societies over the
centuries in relation to spiritual, cultural and functional needs and desires. In the 20th
century, within a British context, Stonehenge featured prominently in visual and popular
countercultures, whilst in the 21st century, stone-specific or folklore zines and
wanderlust communities have emerged in relation to these stone sites. We are
interested in the ways in which these structures and/or the materiality of the stone/the
lithic itself merges, redefines or shifts historical and mythological narratives,
particularly in relation to their manifestations within global visual cultures and artistic
practices.

Scholarly and artistic approaches to stone sites may include but are not limited to the
fields, concepts and methodologies of: art, aDect studies, archaeology, anthropology,
art history, ceramics, cultural studies, craft, creative writing, design, decolonisation,
drama, film, folk studies, folk horror, history, gaming, gender, gothic studies, literature,
material culture, new materialism, photography, queer studies, reindigenisation, screen
studies, site-writing, social geography, social media, sociology, walking and visual
culture.

This call for papers is organised by The Stones Project, based at the Visual Culture research
group at Manchester Metropolitan University. The research collective examines how we
represent and experience ancient and modern British and Irish standing stones and ritual stone
structures in their contemporary contexts, through a sensory and embodied research approach.
https://www.instagram.com/scholarsofthestones/
Please indicate your preference regarding presentation length (15 minutes or 25 minutes) and
what your preferred delivery style is; this might include a PowerPoint presentation, spoken
paper, performance, film, artefact or artwork show and tell. We reserve the right to direct on
timing allocations. We plan to publish selected presentations from the symposium within a
special edition journal.
There will be time chaired for questions at the end of each panel session.

Friday 28th March: Deadline for applications

Guidance on submission.

Please include:
Your Name
Job Title / University/institution if you are a8iliated to one
Title of your presentation/paper/artefact/artwork
Preferred format: 15 minute presentation / 25 minute paper / presentation / displayed artefact or artwork
(limited space, so please provide dimensions) with 15 minute or 25 minute presentation.
An Abstract of 300 words maximum
Any requirements: equipment / access
Email to send submissions to scholarsofthestones@gmail.com

All applicants to be contacted with outcomes by Saturday 5th April.