Crisis, what Crisis? Collapses and Dark Ages in Comparative Perspective
An International Conference

McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research
24-26th September 2010

Do collapses and ‘dark ages’ really happen? Can archaeological and historical evidence regarding rapid and extensive social, economic, demographic and/or ecological change be reconciled? Do the consequences of one ‘collapse’ influence subsequent cycles of ‘boom’ and ‘bust’ over the longue durée? Are there cross-cultural convergences in the causes, consequences and/or perceptions of collapse?

Sponsored by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation’s Sawyer Seminar programme