Current World Archaeology/Great Arab Revolt Project
one-day conference
Lawrence, the Arabs, and the genesis of modern guerrilla warfare
Saturday 15 May 2010
Clore Management Centre
Birkbeck University of London
Bloomsbury
On the 75th anniversary of T E Lawrence’s death, three leading academic specialists assess his role in the desert war of 1916-1918 and his relevance in understanding the conflicts of the last 90 years. Neil Faulkner and Nick Saunders are joint directors of a pioneering new field project that is investigating the archaeological remains of the conflict along the line of the former Hijaz Railway. Jeremy Wilson, author of Lawrence of Arabia: the authorised biography of T E Lawrence, is widely recognised as the world’s leading authority on his subject. Together, on the basis of radically new evidence and interpretation, they offer a day of illustrated talks and discussion that will reassess Lawrence, his role, and his legacy. And they will draw some stark lessons: about the parallels between the failure of the Ottoman Empire in 1918 and unfolding disaster of the ‘war on terror’ today.
9.30-10.00: registration (tea and coffee available)
10.00-10.15: introduction to the day
10.15-11.30: Jeremy Wilson: A legend on record?
Researching the archive of Lawrence’s war
11.30-11.45: short break
11.45-1.00: Nick Saunders: Fire on the desert:
conflict archaeology of the Great Arab Revolt
1.00-2.15: lunch (not included)
2.15-3.30: Neil Faulkner: Lawrence: seminal theorist of modern guerrilla warfare
3.30-4.00: tea and coffee
4.00-4.30: Images from Lawrence of Arabia’s war
The price of the conference for early bookings is £29 (before 31 March). Standard booking price (after 31 March) is £39. Payment can be by cheque in the post (payable to Current Publishing) or credit/debit card over the phone: Current Publishing, Lamb House, Church Street, London, W4 2PD, 08456 447707 or 0208 819 5580.
(Note - previous GARP team members, i.e. those who have been part of any of the fieldwork seasons in Jordan, are entitled to a discount. Please contact Angie Hibbitt (angie@gwag.org) for information and to register)