Review of the Programme by European Science Foundation independent experts

Evaluations and comments by peer reviewers

ARCANE. Associated Regional Chronologies for the Ancient Near East and the Eastern Mediterranean.

Application for an ESF à la carte programme 2005–2009

Proposers: Pierre de Miroschedji, Marc Lebeau & Elena Rova

1. Scientific quality of the proposal

Please mark as appropriate:

1: poor

2: average

3: good

4: very good

5: excellent

This is a very timely proposal, concerning an important episode in human history, and adopting an inter-regional approach. It combines several disciplines, but has a sharp focus and a well-defined goal. The participants are all experienced workers in their fields, and with a proven track-record in collaborative research. The goal is an important one, the expected quality of the work is high, and the chances of a worthwhile outcome are good. It is thus exceptionally worthy of support.

The project addresses an acute and real problem in Near Eastern Archaeology which is clearly stated in the proposal.

2. Qualification of the Chair Person, the Steering Committee Members and the Team Leaders in relation to the proposal

Please mark as appropriate:

1: poor

2: average

3: good

4: very good

5: excellent

The project is well structured, and at each level (from the principal named applicants to the individual regional coordinators) involves senior scholars with an excellent knowledge both of their specialist fields and their relevance to the common enterprise. It has an impressively wide range of expertise, with each constituent region being represented by a leading figure in the field. The Steering Committee includes representatives of a wide range of disciplines, and the applicants have demonstrated, both by their previous publications of focussed and co-ordinated research, and by their careful preparation of a wide and reliable range of regional representatives for this project, their skills in this respect. This degree of planning extends to a detailed specification of the published outputs, and the proposal already demonstrates an excellent grasp of the logistics of the enterprise. It will command great respect in the wider scientific community.

3. Originality of the proposal

Please mark as appropriate:

1: poor

2: average

3: good

4: very good

5: excellent

The proposal targets a critical phase in the development of human culture, during which cultural interactions are evident over the entire region covered by the proposal. A co-ordinated program of research, on the scale proposed, is the only way to make progress. A great deal of new information has recently been accumulated for each area, which requires systematic evaluation in the context of the whole. The new precision of radiocarbon dating in conjunction with dendro-chronology offers a firm framework for the synthesis, but requires extensive source-criticism and evaluation. This proposal marks a new level of co-ordinated research, on a scale which is necessitated by the nature of the problem and the degree of new information. It is an appropriate response to a major research opportunity, and addresses questions of major interest As far as I know, the project is the first of its kind. This issue was never addressed at this scale.

4. Feasibility of the proposal

Please mark as appropriate:

1: poor

2: average

3: good

4: very good

5: excellent

The programme requires the pooling of local knowledge and of complementary forms of information arising from different disciplines. The framework for this interaction has been precisely specified, and the roles have been clearly allocated. Moreover the individuals named in the proposal are all scientists of international reputation and with extensive experience of their respective territories and fields of work. The framework has been clearly specified, and the forms of collaboration clearly envisaged. Appropriate arrangements have been made for the exchange of information, meetings, and eventual publication. The perspectives of the constituent disciplines are complementary, and no aspect has been omitted. The proposed work is based on accumulated information, and the objectives have been clearly specified with appropriate targets for accomplishment. The work is both timely and feasible.
The project is extremely ambitious but there is a high probability that it will be completed. Its wide scope, long-term, and multi-disciplinary character seem to guarantee the outcome, if proper funding is secured.
The proposed methodology seems well-thought and adequate for the project. The fact that several meetings have already taken place suggests that many initial difficulties have already been overcome and that sound suggestions have already been discussed and adopted. The project seems to have reached its cruise speed.
Management and organization are the most crucial issues in this project because of the large numbers of people and specialties involved. This may be the Achilles Heel of the project. More should be invested in full-time researchers and coordinators because time commitment of the various partners, given their other occupations, will be an unavoidable source of concern. A good leadership is a a pre-requisite for a successful completion of the project.

5. Level of scientific international relationships of the research group

Please mark as appropriate:

1: poor

2: average

3: good

4: very good

5: excellent

The degree of forethought and co-ordination, as expressed in the preliminary meetings and precise definition of the tasks to be accomplished, demonstrates an exceptional degree of international collaboration, and the skilled orchestration of a wide range of expertise. It is a sustained attempt to produce the best team possible for the execution of the programme, and is characterised by a high degree of common understanding among the participants. This is a major achievement. Every member of the team fulfils an essential role in the overall framework of the project, in a comprehensive coverage of the problem.
All scholars involved in the project are well-known specialists in their respective fields and come from highly regarded academic institutions. They all enjoy high academic respectability and their credentials are beyond any suspicion. Their participation is a token of credibility.

6. Level of multi-disciplinarily (of the proposal)

Please mark as appropriate:

1: poor

2: average

3: good

4: very good

5: excellent

The proposal involves a number of distinct but related disciplines (archaeology, art-history, epigraphy, radiocarbon dating, geography) as well as a wide range of regional expertise in covering the area in a comprehensive way, each of which involves specialist knowledge of a particular region. It is thus "multi-disciplinary" in at least two dimensions, and includes a very comprehensive range of skills.
Every possible auxiliary multi-disciplinary collaboration is included in the project.

7. Comments on the requested budget

Please mark as appropriate:

certainly underestimated	probably underestimated
fully adequate
probably overestimated	certainly overestimated

The two boxes (fully adequate and probably underestimated) have both been marked in order to indicate that this is an appropriate order of magnitude of funding, but will probably require some supplementation from other sources if it is to maximise its potential. This is NOT to indicate that the project is not viable at the proposed budget level, nor that the core costs have been under-estimated, but that the rich possibilities of collaboration within a team of this size will generate their own needs. It would be appropriate, however, for the individual constituent teams to make use of the institutional support available to them in order to meet these needs, and this is a predictable outcome of a successful project. Indeed, it might be reckoned a measure of its success if such spin-offs were to take place. The core expenses of the essential parts of the programme, however, have been carefully calculated at an appropriate level.

8. Overall Grading and Appraisal:

Please indicate the most appropriate score between 1 (low) and 5 (high):

1

2

3

4

5

I recommend that this programme be launched

Standing Committee for the Humanities Conclusion:

This proposal is considered as a very good project worth being funded. The evaluations received have been very fine. It is a very professional proposal with no weak points. It will contribute to a very controversial research area.
The proposal has been granted and funding will now be sort for with the ESF member organisations.

EV/Oct 2004