18 research outputs found
Equipping and stripping the dead. A case-study on the procurement, compilation, arrangement, and fragmentation of grave inventories in New Kingdom Thebes
This contribution investigates the procurement, assembly, arrangement, and fragmentation of grave inventories on the basis of so-called intact burials in the elite cemeteries of New Kingdom Thebes. After introductions to the state of research, the material under investigation, and the course of Egyptian funerals, two phenomena of fragmentation, namely grave robbing and the redeposition of burials, are discussed. It is argued that most of the burials classified as âintactâ are in fact affected by them in some way. The procurement of burial equipment is studied on the basis of concrete examples. They show that religious, social, and emotional motivations guiding its assembly were complemented by practical necessities and contingencies. These and the aforementioned forms of fragmentation are defined as analytically relevant criteria under the keyword âarchaeology of the profaneâ. It is argued that they do not only shape the archaeological record in an equal measure, but are also integral and significant parts of the funerary practice, whose identification widens our understanding of death in Ancient Egyptâand beyond
Structures and realities of Egyptian-Nubian interactions from the late Old Kingdom to the early New Kingdom
ross-disciplinary studies in cultural history require regions with unusually favorable conditions of preservation as well as relevance to the disciplines and cultures involved. The first cataract of the Nile offers precisely such a combination, and this work employs a diverse set of academic perspectives to present a diachronic picture of its cultural and geographic history over a period of more than 5,000 years
On the Analysis and Interpretation of Pottery Production and Distribution
Ceramics are particularly well suited for investigating general patterns of
the distribution of premodern products. Archaeometric methods, used to
determine raw materials and production techniques, permit the identification
of places of production. The work of the research group presented here pursues
two objectives: (i) to investigate the usefulness of portable X-ray
fluorescence equipment for the analysis of ceramics and (ii) to identify,
interpret and study distribution areas of ceramic products in comparative
prospective. The paper discusses key economic concepts, sets out the
archaeometric methodology and presents initial results in the context of two
examples
Authenticity and Communication
Authenticity is not an absolute and constant quality inherent in an object or
an experience; it is constructed in the process of research. Actors inscribe
and attribute it to both material objects and subjective processes like
communication and consumption. This article from the research group seeks on
the one hand to reflect on the historical scope of action and action patterns
among actors from various disciplines between the conflicting priorities of
authentication and communication, and on the other to find ways to visualize
and operationalize attribution processes through joint reflection. When we
look at both history and the discussions fifty years after the Venice Charter,
its idea to hand on historic monuments âin the full richness of their
authenticityâ has turned into an abundance of vibrant action and decision-
making
A Comparative Analysis of Case Studies from the Old World
The present contribution deals with the concepts of marginal habitats in
selected regions of the ancient world, ranging from modern Spain to the
Jordanian desert and from Turkey to the Ethiopian highlands. Central to this
research is the hypothesis that the occupation of areas beyond the ânormalâ
settlement patterns corresponds to colonization processes which reflect
specific social strategies and may have stimulated the development of new
technological skills. A review of âmarginalityâ research in various
disciplines indicates that there is no comprehensive definition of the
concept, which can be approached from a multitude of perspectives and with
manifold objectives. A survey of the eight case studies and two more in-depth
discussions of the sites of Musawwarat (Sudan) and Ayamonte (Spain) highlight
the potentials as well as the limits of the archaeological investigation into
past marginalities. Patterns of spatial marginalization are the easiest to
detect. The studies also show that we must not limit our analysis to the
adverse factors connected to different kinds of marginalities. Instead, our
analyses suggest that spatially marginal areas were deliberately chosen for
settlement â an integration with core-periphery approaches may help us to
understand these scenarios, which have received little attention in
âmarginalityâ research in archaeology or elsewhere so far
Die Humboldt University Nubian Expedition am Vierten Nilkatarakt
Nubien und der Sudan sind erst verhĂ€ltnismĂ€Ăig spĂ€t in den Fokus der modernen Wissenschaft getreten. Zwar war die Existenz der meroitischen Kultur durch die klassischen Schriftsteller bekannt, denn Griechen und Römer (5.Jh.v.Chr.-4.Jh.n.Chr.) erwĂ€hnen die âfernen Ăthiopenâ in ihren Schriften. Die pharaonische (1500-1080 v. Chr.) und die napatanische (etwa frĂŒhes 8. Jh.-frĂŒhes 3.Jh.v.Chr.) Zeit Nubiens wurden erst durch die Forschung der Ăgyptologie bekannt. Seit Beginn des 18. Jahrhunderts verdankt man EuropĂ€ischen Reisenden das Wissen um imposante DenkmĂ€ler und archĂ€ologische Hinterlassenschaften. Umfangreichere ForschungsaktivitĂ€ten begannen dann erst mit dem Bau des Assuan-Staudammes.
Der erste Teil dieses Bandes stellt Nubien historisch vom PalÀolithikum bis zur christlichen Zeit vor. Der zweite Teil prÀsentiert die beeindruckenden Ergebnisse der deutschen AktivitÀten vor Ort.
Dieses Buch soll sowohl einer interessierten Ăffentlichkeit, als auch dem Fachpublikum einen umfangreichen Ăberblick ĂŒber die Geschichte und Kultur Nubiens geben
Die C-Gruppe. Unternubien im 3. und 2. Jahrtausend v. Chr.
Nubien und der Sudan sind erst verhĂ€ltnismĂ€Ăig spĂ€t in den Fokus der modernen Wissenschaft getreten. Zwar war die Existenz der meroitischen Kultur durch die klassischen Schriftsteller bekannt, denn Griechen und Römer (5.Jh.v.Chr.-4.Jh.n.Chr.) erwĂ€hnen die âfernen Ăthiopenâ in ihren Schriften. Die pharaonische (1500-1080 v. Chr.) und die napatanische (etwa frĂŒhes 8. Jh.-frĂŒhes 3.Jh.v.Chr.) Zeit Nubiens wurden erst durch die Forschung der Ăgyptologie bekannt. Seit Beginn des 18. Jahrhunderts verdankt man EuropĂ€ischen Reisenden das Wissen um imposante DenkmĂ€ler und archĂ€ologische Hinterlassenschaften. Umfangreichere ForschungsaktivitĂ€ten begannen dann erst mit dem Bau des Assuan-Staudammes.
Der erste Teil dieses Bandes stellt Nubien historisch vom PalÀolithikum bis zur christlichen Zeit vor. Der zweite Teil prÀsentiert die beeindruckenden Ergebnisse der deutschen AktivitÀten vor Ort.
Dieses Buch soll sowohl einer interessierten Ăffentlichkeit, als auch dem Fachpublikum einen umfangreichen Ăberblick ĂŒber die Geschichte und Kultur Nubiens geben