The concept of cosiness has captured our modern attentions. We burrow into blankets and knitted jumpers, enjoy the gentle glow of a lit candle, or soothe ourselves with a warm brew. However, our perceptions of the past are rarely as comfortable or tender. Although there is often reason to paint the past as bleaker than our present, it biases our interpretations of how different peoples experienced these periods. The terminology is relatively new. The etymological roots of cosiness stem from the eighteenth century, and it has recently cemented itself in our current imaginations on a wave of hygge, but does this mean that people did not experience “cosiness” before this?
This session interrogates the easily-blurred lines between comfort and utility. For example, a hearth can serve very practical functions, but also provide comfort and more-than-tactile warmth. Furthermore, these spaces offer nexus points for the less tangible: shared stories, whispers, and laughter. When does a blanket become more than a means of negating the cold? How do the tools of our food production contribute beyond just sustenance? Is cosiness accessible to non-human persons?
We invite participants to explore the different ways we can investigate this complicated interplay in the archaeological record, ultimately broadening our appreciation of past experiences. How has our understanding of cosiness evolved? Does this notion transcend temporal boundaries? We welcome a variety of perspectives on this topic, from the usage of space, the affective properties of objects, and the presence of cosiness where we may not typically expect it (and many others). In doing so, this session will nuance our perceptions of the past—not by dismissing its dark spots, but welcoming its warm ones too.
9:20am | Homecooking? (re)creating homely foods in diaspora | Ben Davenport
9:40am | Miniatures and Emotional Cuteness: An Approach to Comfort in Archaeological Contexts | Tânia M. Casimiro & Ricardo C. Silva
10:00am | The Temporality of Cosiness | Ben Jervis
10:20am | Cosy Life Discussion |
11:10am | Embracing the Afterlife: Exploring Cosiness in Burial Practices at Deh Dumen Cemetery | Mahsa Najafi & Reza Naseri
11:30am | A Pillow for Your Head: “Comfortable” Deaths in Viking Age Denmark | Emma Louise Thompson,
11:50am | Cosy Cremation | Howard Williams
12:10pm | Cosiness in Death Discussion |
12:30pm | Common Cosy Discussion |
Full paper abstracts available here: https://tag2024.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/tag-2024-session-abstracts-1.pdf
