New meeting: Boundless. The limits of cognition in archaeology.

26 03 2026

We cordially invite all doctoral students of the Doctoral School of Humanities and students of other degrees interested in the topic to a meeting with Dr. Juia Burdajewicz (Facukty of Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art, Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw), who has conducted numerous multidisciplinary studies at the intersection of archaeology, heritage conservation, iconography and chemistry at archaeological sites in Egypt, Lebanon, Georgia, Armenia and Italy. Her presentation will focus on advanced methods of analysing wall decorations, including the use of AI, in the context of monuments from Lebanon and Egypt. The event will take place as part of the doctoral seminars held at SDNH Boundless. The limits of cognition in archaeology.

The meeting will take place on Monday, 30 March 2026 at 3:00 PM, in the Faculty of Archaeology building (Main School) in room 211.

We cordially invite you to attend!

dr hab. Małgorzata Kot, prof. ucz.                     dr hab. Tomasz Waliszewski, prof. ucz.

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Abstract

Julia Burdajewicz, Reading fragments

The presentation will address the challenges and limitations of studying wall decoration (including wall painting, wall and floor mosaics, opus sectile, and stucco), which often survive only in a fragmentary state. Specifically, it will examine three aspects: the methodology of working with such fragments; their interpretation, including the use of AI tools; and the question of context, which, in the case of wall decoration, is especially complex and easily lost once the decorations are detached from their architectural setting. These issues will be illustrated through two research projects on Late Antique wall paintings: those from Jiyeh (Lebanon) and Marea (Egypt).