The World Heritage Site of Aksum represents one of Late Antiquity’s most impressive civilizations. Yet, the archaeological materials representing Africa's impressive ancient civilization are...Show moreThe World Heritage Site of Aksum represents one of Late Antiquity’s most impressive civilizations. Yet, the archaeological materials representing Africa's impressive ancient civilization are scattered across museums worldwide, with inadequate categorization, documentation, and ongoing research. Furthermore, the management of the Aksum World Heritage Site has consistently fallen short, as highlighted by both archaeological and ICOMOS reports. Its issues are fundamental and all-encompassing, ranging from urban encroachment and illicit excavating, to severe flood risks and destabilization of the site's iconic monuments. Additionally, political instability in Ethiopia has further hindered the preservation and recognition of Aksum's archaeological significance. This thesis aims to address these challenges by contributing to the study of Aksumite archaeology and proposing strategies to increase public awareness of the threatened Aksumite heritage. Firstly, this thesis endeavors to create a comprehensive overview of current historical, archaeological knowledge on ancient Aksum and its often overlooked Aksumite material collections, which have been dispersed due to Ethiopia's colonial history. By gathering and organizing this dispersed knowledge, the thesis seeks to shed light on the impressive materiality of ancient Aksum. Building on these findings, the research proposes a strategy to generate public outreach for Aksumite heritage by harnessing innovative digital technologies. By thoroughly researching the use of digital platforms, immersive experiences, and interactive tools, this thesis seeks to bridge the gap between the scattered material collections and the global heritage community, by aiming to make the Aksumite heritage more visible, accessible and interactive. By comprehensively addressing the issues of neglect, mismanagement, and lack of integration into global historical narratives, while simultaneously proposing practically applicable strategies towards effective heritage outreach, this research strives to revitalize the recognition and preservation of the Aksumite heritage. The thesis underscores the urgent need for concerted efforts to protect and showcase the Aksumite heritage before it remains forever hidden from modern science.Show less
Xinjiang is a region that functions as the heart of the ancient Silk Roads, but it finds itself in a state of in-betweenness. Judging from historical research and archaeological evidence, many...Show moreXinjiang is a region that functions as the heart of the ancient Silk Roads, but it finds itself in a state of in-betweenness. Judging from historical research and archaeological evidence, many outside influences and different peoples have affected Xinjiang from the second century B.C.E. to the thirteenth century C.E., and evidence of the presence of three relatively lesser-known religions appears in a spatial pattern along the different Silk Road routes. This thesis discusses these influences, the three religions, and the concepts of spatiality and in- betweenness, and through this lens, approaches the functioning of this turbulent region in the ancient Silk Roads era.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
open access
The Tang (唐) dynasty (618 – 907 C.E.), and to a lesser extent the Sui (隋) dynasty (589 – 617 C.E.) that directly preceded it, is often considered to be China’s premier ‘Golden Age’, the height of...Show moreThe Tang (唐) dynasty (618 – 907 C.E.), and to a lesser extent the Sui (隋) dynasty (589 – 617 C.E.) that directly preceded it, is often considered to be China’s premier ‘Golden Age’, the height of its cultural expression and the peak of its international trade. By contrast, the preceding period of disunity, often called the Six Dynasties period (六朝) (220 – 589 C.E.), stands out as a time of great chaos, uncertainty, and isolation in the minds of many both today and at the time of the Tang. A clear schism thus exists in our image of China in the first millennium C.E.. Yet this image comes to us mainly from written sources both ancient and modern, and is rarely independently analysed based on the archaeological remains of the periods. The aim of this thesis is to place archaeological material from China, which played a role in the ancient Silk Road trade network during the first millennium C.E., on a level with the historical sources, to find where they may coincide with or contradict each other, thus enriching our understanding of China’s role in the world of the first millennium C.E.. In order to do so, the thesis poses the question whether this schism of China’s active participation in international trade between the Six Dynasties and Tang periods can be traced in the archaeological evidence of trade from these periods, by studying a selection of Chinese archaeological material dating to the first millennium C.E. and analysing it through the lens of a world-systems and globalisation theoretical framework. The material used comes from Paul Ruitenbeek Art Gallery in Amsterdam, as well as several museum collections and academic and non-academic publications, as this is a topic not widely explored in academia. The Case Studies are organised into the themes of ‘Trade and travel represented’, ‘Exported items: luxury and practicality’, ‘Currency on the Silk Roads’, and ‘Influential style and beauty’. Ultimately, based on the combination of historical context, previous research, the case studies, and the theoretical framework, the conclusion is reached that while significant changes can be observed in China’s political situation and its involvement within the Silk Road trade network throughout the first millennium C.E., and these developments are at times closely influenced by each other, they are not intrinsically linked, as it was in fact the adaptability of the network and its various players that allowed the network to persist over such a long 128 period of time. Further research is needed to gain a true understanding of China’s role in the Silk Road trade network during the first millennium C.E..Show less
