This thesis evaluates an exhibition at the Allard Pierson Museum in Amsterdam called Face to Face: The People Behind Mummy Portraits. Mummy portraits were made on wooden panels or linen in Egypt...Show moreThis thesis evaluates an exhibition at the Allard Pierson Museum in Amsterdam called Face to Face: The People Behind Mummy Portraits. Mummy portraits were made on wooden panels or linen in Egypt during the Roman period. They were inserted in a mummy or a cartonnage case. After their discovery in the late nineteenth century, most of the portraits had been collected, without proper documentation of their find contexts. Because of this, much is unknown about the mummy portraits. Additionally, they were also often removed from their mummies; thus only few portraits are together with their corresponding mummies. The naturalistic portrayal of the dead in wooden panels did not just gain attention from collectors. Many exhibitions have been held that showcased the portraits, sometimes without much information on their funerary context. Even the word mummy was avoided in some cases. These past exhibitions, along with recent new research collaborations on the portraits make the temporary exhibition at the Allard Pierson an interesting topic to study. Just how does the museum represent the portraits? To answer that question, the paper combines literature and the contents of the exhibition. The literature is used to provide an archaeological and museological context to the mummy portraits. In the archaeological context, the portraits are described and the terminology is explained. Related topics such as funerary art, ancient Egyptian history and identity are all discussed extensively. As for the museological background, this chapter focusses on the portraits in terms of their provenance, provenience, and exhibition history. Though this chapter also discusses museum theory. After both chapters on contextual background, the contents of the entire exhibition is described. Here, the halls and their contents are mentioned but not yet discussed. That is done in the discussion chapter, it which some of the choices in designing the exhibition are analyzed and critiqued. Finally in the conclusion, several key points of the presentation choices from the exhibition are analyzed. The way the museum portrays the portraits in terms of object category is an important example of that. It is argued that the museum presents the mummy portraits as art. The conclusion of the research is that the museum presents the portraits corresponding to the topic of the hall they are in, with much focus on all the different groups of people that were part of their history.Show less
This thesis compares the archaeobotanical remains from two Roman-era, Egyptian port sites: Berenike and Myos Hormos. A focus is put on the origin of the discovered materials, particularly in the...Show moreThis thesis compares the archaeobotanical remains from two Roman-era, Egyptian port sites: Berenike and Myos Hormos. A focus is put on the origin of the discovered materials, particularly in the context of the Silk Routes trade network of which these ports were a part. It concludes that Berenike seemingly had a larger focus on trade with Africa than Myos Hormos. Also, while both ports had Indian goods in their record, none seemed to have had a more pronounced focus on that subcontinent, although that was hypothesized beforehand. Furthermore, Berenike shows a decrease in the variety of goods traded after its period of inactivity in the 2nd and 3rd century, especially in regards to Indian goods. However, the variety and amount of local and African goods increased. The concurrent demise of Myos Hormos in this period did not seem to have an effect on the traded goods. Finally, this thesis served as a good example of how comparitive research beyond the level of the individual site could benefit the field of Silk Routes research, and which challenges this approach faces.Show less
Palmyra, the ancient major city and moderator in trade between the East and the Roman West. Over the last decades it has become clear that Palmyra flourished from a tiny settlement into a large...Show morePalmyra, the ancient major city and moderator in trade between the East and the Roman West. Over the last decades it has become clear that Palmyra flourished from a tiny settlement into a large trading centre due to its trade along the Silk Road during the first three centuries CE. This research dives into the relationship between the material culture and the international engagement of Palmyra culturally. By studying a few samples of materials in three different case studies, the objects showed evidence for cultural fusion. However, the results are far from complete, as there is an insufficient amount of materials available. Future research should include the excavation of the residential area in Palmyra. The downside of the story is that no further research can be conducted on site since the Syrian civil war. In addition, the political turmoil saw the rise of Islamic State, a group that has caused severe damage to the Palmyrene heritage, by blowing up the ancient remains of the city, destroying the museum and looting the area. To this day, Unesco and the World Heritage Committee try to protect the heritage, but with little result so far. Media and science tried to spread awareness for the situation, but concrete plans for the Palmyrene heritage are not visible. The research puts forward a suggestion in order to continue archaeological research, it is important to create better access to the already available Palmyrene material that is now scattered across many museums and private collections around the globe.Show less
The Belitung Shipwreck, discovered off the coast of Belitung in 1998, sheds light on the complexities of trade and cultural integration during this era. The artefacts recovered from the shipwreck...Show moreThe Belitung Shipwreck, discovered off the coast of Belitung in 1998, sheds light on the complexities of trade and cultural integration during this era. The artefacts recovered from the shipwreck provide valuable insights into the diverse trade relationships and the fusion of cultural elements within the Indian Ocean region. However, the salvage operation for the shipwreck faced numerous challenges, including the preservation and storage of the vast array of artefacts. Limited experience and resources posed difficulties in maintaining the integrity of the findings. Regrettably, the historical value of the site suffered further damage due to unregulated visits by local divers, emphasising the importance of responsible preservation and conservation efforts. During the 9th century CE, when the Belitung Shipwreck was active, the Tang dynasty in China experienced a period of robust trade facilitated by an extensive canal system that connected major cities and ports. One significant hub for Western merchants was Guangzhou, which served as a crucial gateway for trade. Ceramics emerged as a prominent Chinese export, while silk, although a primary commodity, had limited evidence of its role in maritime trade during this period. Srivijaya, a powerful maritime kingdom located in present-day Indonesia, emerged as a prominent trade centre during the 9th century CE. It imported substantial quantities of Chinese ceramics, which were highly sought after in the region. Additionally, Srivijaya attracted pilgrims, particularly from China, who travelled to the kingdom for religious purposes, further facilitating cultural exchange. The Abbasid Dynasty, with its capital in Baghdad, played a vital role in the trade networks of the time. Ports such as Basrah, Al-Ubullah, and Siraf served as crucial hubs for sea trading, connecting the Arabian Peninsula to various destinations across the Indian Ocean region. These ports were bustling centres of commerce, where goods from China, India, and other regions were exchanged. This thesis aims to explore the cultural fusion observed in trade objects from the Belitung Shipwreck, focusing on the convergence of various cultural elements of the above-mentioned empires. Fusion artefacts, arising from exchanges between different societies, embody this blending of cultural elements, including production centre locations, materials used, and decorations. Through the research of these objects, a deeper understanding of the complex interplay of cultures and the reciprocal influences that shaped trade and cultural exchange in the Indian Ocean region can be achieved.Show less
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) represents China’s biggest infrastructure development project ever, which aims to enhance the connection between China and the rest of the world. This initiative...Show moreThe Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) represents China’s biggest infrastructure development project ever, which aims to enhance the connection between China and the rest of the world. This initiative is based on the trade network that connected Afro-Eurasia in antiquity, today commonly referred to as the Silk Road(s). This thesis aims to investigate the influence that Chinese politics have on archaeological work in the countries involved in the BRI, and how these are used to legitimize narratives of historical “friendship” between China and these countries. By studying the modern literature about the use of archaeology and history in the design of the BRI, as well as discussing the BRI-Chinese archaeological campaigns within the framework of heritage and archaeological theory, this thesis is a contribution to the wider topic of the political use of archaeology. Many joint Sino-foreign archeological projects have been started in correspondence and after the presentation of the BRI in 2013. Two examples are the projects in Kenya and Oman, aimed at identifying the passage of the Ming admiral Zheng He and his fleet in these countries as reported in the historical records. The methodology adopted by Chinese archaeologists presents several controversial issues. Their theoretical and practical approach echoes the culture-historical paradigm of 19/20th-century Western nationalist archaeology. This can be seen as the result of the influence of Chinese nationalism on archaeological work. Chinese archaeology has a heavy nationalist imprint, and aims to strengthen the Chinese national identity and its cultural roots. This aspect is going to characterize the essence of Chinese archaeology more and more in the future, as advocated by President Xi Jinping and supported by Chinese archaeologists themselves. Even though there is a will by the Chinese to enhance cooperation in the field with other countries, this thesis demonstrates that their methodology is mostly incompatible with modern world archaeology. Furthermore, I state the importance for archaeologists to separate their political views from their work, in order to carry on scientifically objective research. Further discussion is needed on the topic of international archaeological cooperation and its inclusion in academic education, especially regarding countries characterized by a high nationalist sentiment like in the case of China.Show less
The general focus of this thesis is the international exchange during the early Medieval period, with an emphasis on the relation between the Near East (eastern Mediterranean, Egypt, Levant and...Show moreThe general focus of this thesis is the international exchange during the early Medieval period, with an emphasis on the relation between the Near East (eastern Mediterranean, Egypt, Levant and Mesopotamia) and the south-eastern Netherlands. Since historical sources are scare the study relies on archaeological material. The bead assemblages of twenty sites are examined to provide an insight in the actual numbers and percentages of Near Eastern beads in the research area. These beads are recognized based on their production technique and raw material, which can be traced back to workshops/geographical sources in the Near East. The distribution patterns of these beads reflect the availability of Near Eastern beads, and thus the changes and continuity in exchange networks in which these beads circulated. The Near Eastern beads are evident throughout the complete research area, though they occur not in every site and their numbers differ significantly. The results of this study show a higher occurrence of Near Eastern beads before the seventh century, followed by a decline during the seventh century. The distribution patterns display a higher number of Near Eastern beads at the cemeteries near major rivers, especially in the vicinity of Nijmegen and Maastricht. The mainly seventh century sites of Noord-Brabant contain less Near Eastern beads. These observations suggest a change in the exchange network around the end of the sixth century. The cause of this remains subject of discussion. The increasing control on the rural population by the church, rising powerful families and a change in ideology associated with burial practices, are possible factors that decreased the accessibility of the Merovingian population to Near Eastern beads on a local scale. On an international scale the regression of the Byzantine Empire, which hold a primary position in the exchange network between north-western Europe and the Near East, combined with the power struggles around the Mediterranean Basin could very well have influenced the exchange connections with Europe. At the end of the seventh century, the Near Eastern beads have disappeared from the Dutch Merovingian grave context.Show less
