Diversity and standardization

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The ancient Near East is a construct shaped by ongoing scientific research, with its temporal and spatial boundaries continually evolving due to new empirical data and advanced analytical methods. The objects of investigation, including those long housed in museums, are dynamic, reflecting the region's rich cultural, geographical, ethnic, and social diversity. This complexity challenges the identification of commonalities, yet it is these commonalities that prompt inquiries into Diversity and Standardization as frameworks for cross-cultural and trans-historical analysis. As we explore the varied landscapes of antiquity, we must consider the analytical power of these categories. For example, the introduction of new measurement systems, bookkeeping techniques, or standardized pottery forms demonstrates how standardization can stabilize political entities. However, we must also examine the fundamental role of concepts, methods of standardization, and sign systems in reshaping cultural, political, religious, scientific, and social spaces. This volume emerges from a symposium organized by the TOPOI Research Cluster, which unites leading archaeologists, philologists, historians, and linguists to investigate historical examples that illuminate the themes of Diversity and Standardization in the ancient Near East.