Crossed perspectives on the notion of time in the historical sciences
The duration of an occupation, dating of a source, division into phases, or the time of our own research. What are the sciences of the past, if not understanding and positioning events in human history?
If the notion of time is inherent to our disciplines, it can be conceived in many ways depending on our fields, the objects we study, our sources and the tools at our disposal. In addition, the question of the complex interweaving of numerous scales must be asked. While these questions constitute a major methodological challenge, they are also an opportunity to study the past from a new angle, particularly through diachronic and interdisciplinary approaches. Moreover, the notion of time addressed here remains closely linked to other elements of our considerations, such as study areas, the environment, or the socio-cultural framework.
From this realisation, several issues naturally arise. What are the different temporalities of the objects we study and how can we apprehend these time scales? Do we approach a long-term occupation and a one-off event in the same way? How can we integrate discontinuities and how can we cross-reference such diverse data? From a methodological point of view, what tools do we use to address these issues? What about dating methods and the relationship between relative and numerical chronology? Finally, we can also question the temporality of our work and of the research.
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