The 4th Edition of the Conference of the Association of Use-Wear and Residue Analysts
We are delighted to announce that the University of Pisa will host the upcoming AWRANA Conference in April 2026. This will be the 4th edition of the Association of Use-Wear and Residue Analysts Conference, following successful meetings in Leiden, Nice, and Barcelona. The theme, “Breaking Patterns in Archaeology,” highlights the transformative role that macro- and microscopic approaches to wear and residue analysis play in reshaping archaeological interpretations.
We warmly invite contributions that demonstrate how these methodologies can challenge established perspectives and offer new insights, reinvigorating archaeological research. Wear and residue analysis has significantly advanced our understanding of human evolution, behavioral sciences, human-environment interactions, past cultures, and technologies. These approaches have also been instrumental in uncovering processes of economic change, technological innovation, social transformation, and symbolic behavior.
The conference welcomes presentations spanning early prehistory to contemporary times, with no chronological boundaries, and embraces all disciplines that examine wear marks and residues. In addition to presentations on experimental and archaeological studies of wear and both organic and inorganic residues on artifacts, we also welcome contributions on topics such as dental wear and bone cut-marks, with an emphasis on submissions that maintain a strong archaeological focus.
We look forward to welcoming you to Pisa for what promises to be a stimulating and intellectually enriching event.