From Origins to DNA: Genetics, Palaeontology, and Zoology
The first day is dedicated to the scientific investigation of the cat's evolutionary origins and dispersal. The GENETICS & ISOTOPES session delves into the deep past, using the latest techniques in palaeogenomics and stable isotope analysis to trace the path of domestication.
The Keynote Lecture by Prof. Claudio Ottoni (Tor Vergata University) will lead the discussion on the dispersal of domestic cats in Europe over the past 2,000 years. This will be followed by international contributions, such as that from the team of Jeanne Mattei, Thierry Grange, and Eva-Maria Geigl, who will illustrate how ancient genomes reveal the evolution of the human-cat relationship, and the analysis by Gene T. Shev et al. on human-cat interactions in Sagalassos, Turkey, through isotopes.
In the afternoon, the PALAEONTOLOGY & ZOOLOGY section casts a gaze over 35 million years of felid evolutionary history, with a Keynote Lecture by Prof. Raffaele Sardella (Sapienza University of Rome). New discoveries will be presented, such as the Pleistocene skull of Felis silvestris from Ingarano (Puglia) and in-depth studies on the survival of the Sardinian Wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica), highlighting the fundamental importance of felines in environmental evolution.
The Cat in History: Archaeozoology and Archaeology
The cat is not only a biological species but a cultural artefact. The ARCHAEOZOOLOGY (Wednesday afternoon) and ARCHAEOLOGY (Thursday morning) sessions analyse the physical and cultural traces left by the feline.
The Keynote Lecture by Marco Masseti opens the archaeozoology section, focusing on the zoological and archaeological history of Italian felids. Crucial themes will be explored, such as the exploitation of the cat in Palaeolithic Italy (Ursula Thun Hohenstein et al.) and its transition from a rarely considered or wild animal to an elite domestic companion (Claudia Minniti, Chiara Assunta Corbino, and Ilaria Lonegro et al.) between the Iron Age and the Middle Ages. An interesting international focus (Eduards Plankājs) will offer archaeological evidence of the earliest domestic cats in Latvia.
On Thursday, Prof. Franco D’Agostino (Sapienza University of Rome) will open the archaeology section with a Keynote Lecture on Cats in Mesopotamia, a crucial area for the history of animal domestication. The focus will then expand to wild felines, such as leopards in the Eastern Mediterranean (Malgorzata Grebska-Kulow), laying the groundwork for understanding the context from which the domestic cat emerged.
Society, Myth, and Daily Life: Ethnoarchaeology and Anthropology
The following days will deepen the cat's impact on the social, ritual, and immaterial spheres.
The discipline of Ethnoarchaeology, represented by one of the organizers, Ivana Fiore, will offer tools to interpret the human-cat relationship through the observation of contemporary cultures.
The Anthropology, Ethnography, and Folklore sections will explore the cat in myth, popular belief, and the collective imagination. From its earliest appearances in ancient societies as a ritual entity (consider the Egyptian cult of Bastet) to its role in urban legends and shamanic traditions, the cat is a powerful symbol of mystery and duality. The presence of a specific focus on ethical-social management, such as the discussion on Rome's cat colonies (Astrid D’Eredità, Barbara Nazzaro), highlights the conference's relevance to understanding the cat in the non-human democracy of the contemporary city, a topic addressed in the opening Keynote Lecture by Prof. Simone Pollo (Sapienza University of Rome).
Beyond Science: Art, Literature, and Psychology
The conference extends its analysis to creative languages and the human psyche, confirming its deeply interdisciplinary nature. The sections on Art History, Literature, Philosophy, Psychology, and Performing/Visual Arts will analyze how the cat has been portrayed, understood, and idealized.
From cryptic representations in rock art to Renaissance portraits, all the way to its omnipresence in contemporary iconography (including social media), the cat is a mirror of human aspirations and fears. Its presence in philosophy, for example, raises questions about animal consciousness and non-human rights. Psychology will study the therapeutic effect and the affective bonds created with felines, investigating the Pet-Human Bond and the cat's influence on human well-being.
The Committee and Organization
The success of the conference is guaranteed by a high-level Scientific and Organizing Committee, which includes prominent figures such as Francesca Alhaique (Museum of Civilizations, Rome), Ursula Thun Hohenstein (University of Ferrara), and Massimo Vidale (University of Padua). The main organizers, Francesca Lugli and Ivana Fiore (AIE), have expertly orchestrated a program held across prestigious venues like the CNR and the Dipartimento Istituto Italiano di Studi Orientali (ISO) of Sapienza University of Rome.
“CATS – PAST & PRESENT” is not just a conference, but a celebration of human-feline coexistence, a unique opportunity to uncover the secrets of a millennia-old relationship, enriched by the collaboration of brilliant minds from all over the world.
The event will take place in Rome, from November 19 to 21, 2025. Further information is available on the website of the Associazione Italiana di Etnoarcheologia.
http://www.ethnoarchaeology.net/
https://www.cnr.it/it/evento/20114/cats-past-and-present-an-interdisciplinary-perspective
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