Conference "Who knows what actually happened? Healers and shamanistic practicesin historical and archaeological evidence.

The Institute of Archaeologies, Department of Medieval and Modern Archaeology at the University of Innsbruck and the Association of Urban Archaeology Hall i.T. organized a conference on 21 and 22 June 2024 on the topic "Who knows what actually happened? Healers and shamanistic practices in historical and archaeological evidence".

Ten speakers from six nations (Austria, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Israel and the USA) presented their current results from archaeology, ethnology, theology, medicine and history and answered questions from the audience on June 21, 2024 in the Urban Archaeology Hall i.T. in Hasegg Castle in Hall in Tirol.

On 22 June, the program included an excursion to the Gurgltal miners' world in Tarrenz with the Museum of the Healer and the Winkler Pharmacy Museum in Innsbruck. The international colloquium aimed to provide an overview of archaeological and historical evidence and finds in the context of healers and healing practices from stone age until 20th century, primarily in Europe. Dubious findings were also discussed and debated.
The interesting presentations and informative contributions made the conference an extremely exciting, instructive and insightful event for all participants.

Thanks to the financial support of AIANI - Austria-Israel Academic Network Innsbruck. So it was also possible to invite Leore Grosman (Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel) to Tyrol. In her lecture "A 12,000 year old Shaman burial from the Southern Levant (Israel)", she reported on a burial in the Hilazon Tachtit cave in Western Galilee, Israel from the late Natufian period, which is unique due to the number and type of grave goods and probably refers to a shaman with a special social status.
A total of 54 people from Austria, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Israel and the USA took part. This provided a wonderful opportunity for mutual acquaintance, lively scientific exchange, international networking, new project ideas and future cooperation in research work.

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Harald Stadler