Bioarchaeology of Inequality: Unequal Pasts, Shared Futures

About the Workshop

This Lorentz Center workshop brings together international experts, early‑career scholars, and interdisciplinary researchers to shape the future of research on inequality in bioarchaeology. Over five days, participants will critically examine prevailing assumptions, assess recent methodological advances, and develop shared theoretical perspectives. Discussion will focus on themes ranging from life‑course approaches to comparative and global narratives.

The workshop aims to create an open‑access publication, a shared research agenda, and a roadmap for future studies. These efforts will strengthen the field of bioarchaeology and advance our understanding of inequality across deep time, from approximately 5,000 BCE to 1850 CE. This long‑term perspective offers important insights for contemporary conversations about health disparities, structural violence, and systemic inequality in past societies.

Aims and Scope

The primary aim of the workshop is to consolidate and advance the bioarchaeological study of inequality by fostering integrative dialogue across theory, methodology, spatial and temporal scales, and world regions. By encouraging collaboration and exchange among scholars at different career stages, the workshop will enhance the field’s ability to engage with broader interdisciplinary research and with pressing societal debates surrounding inequality and health.