This thesis analyses the implementation of the Malta Convention in the European overseas countries and territories in the Caribbean. The European overseas countries and territories in the Caribbean...Show moreThis thesis analyses the implementation of the Malta Convention in the European overseas countries and territories in the Caribbean. The European overseas countries and territories in the Caribbean are a handful of islands still legally connected to either France, the Kingdom of the Netherland, or the United Kingdom. These islands have different constitutional relations with Europe and often the European nation is responsible for the signing of international conventions. One of these conventions is the European Convention on the protection of Archaeological heritage (revised) from the Council of Europe (Valletta 1992). This convention has a large impact on the archaeological heritage management in Europe. Important aspects of the Malta Convention are placing archaeology in the urban planning process, in situ preservation, financing of archaeological work (which has resulted in the developer pays principle); it also focuses on public outreach, scientific collaboration, and the prevention of illicit circulation of archaeological elements. The aim of the Malta Convention is “to protect the archaeological heritage as a source of the European collective memory..” (Malta Convention, Article 1.1). This raises the question of how well this convention could be applied to another context, such as the Caribbean. To analyse how the Malta Convention applies to the OCTs in the Caribbean, the legislation of the islands has firstly been analysed. Are the concepts of the Malta Convention present in the legislation? And secondly, is what is written in the legislation also executed on the islands? The effects of the Malta Convention on the daily basis of archaeological heritage management has been analysed through interviews with archaeologist working in the region.Show less
The remains of the battlefields of World War II have been a great problem since the end of the war. They often bring dissonant memories for both individuals and groups of people. This thesis...Show moreThe remains of the battlefields of World War II have been a great problem since the end of the war. They often bring dissonant memories for both individuals and groups of people. This thesis examines the dissonance of the Death Railway (Thailand-Burma Railway), a major site of wartime heritage in Kanchanaburi province, Thailand. It focuses on one of the issues concerning the site’s interpretation. The main question that will be answered in this thesis is ‘What is the effect of the contemporary display of the Death Railway on the image visitors have?’ For this reason it is important to explore the visitors’ perceptions about the site and investigate whether their perceptions change after their visit. The survey was conducted in February 2015 at Kanchanaburi; a questionnaire was handed out to visitors before and after they visited the site. The perspective of the local community will also be discussed in this study. To do so, a questionnaire was used to gain insights into the general views from local people, while interviews were used to collect answers from members of the wartime generation in Kanchanaburi province. Comparing the results from this survey to the literature review from the same area of study, it can be concluded that the display presentation and activities at the site have little effect on the tourists’ perception towards the site. The visitors’ nationality and knowledge about the war more strongly affect the way in which visitors experience the site. The majority of international visitors, especially those who come from countries involved with the Railway’s construction, are well aware of the site’s historical value. On the other hand, Thai visitors and visitors from other countries just want to have fun and enjoy the natural beauty during the train trip. However, it can be argued that what is presented is very important too. The current display of the Death Railway and its associated museums and cemeteries mainly capture the memory of the prisoners of war, but gives little attention to Japanese soldiers and local Thai history. This affects the sense of belonging among Thai citizens, for they know very little about the importance of their heritage and lose the interest to learn about it. It would be beneficial to include more historical viewpoints and to present a wider view of the site’s heritage in both the historical and ethnical sense. In this way, the Death Railway can be seen from multiple perspectives and at the same time create a sense of belonging among Thai citizens.Show less
This thesis aims to fill the gap in research on the role of plants in Pre-Columbian societies in the Andes. In this thesis, the role of plants in Moche iconography was studied. An analysis was...Show moreThis thesis aims to fill the gap in research on the role of plants in Pre-Columbian societies in the Andes. In this thesis, the role of plants in Moche iconography was studied. An analysis was conducted on a corpus of 95 roll-out drawings. The roll out drawings are made of pots that belong to phases III and IV. In this thesis a method conceptualized by Luis Jaime Castillo was used. As a distinction was made between three stages in the analytical process, attention was paid to different aspects. First of all, the context in which the pots were produced and distributed was described. This stage was called the pre-iconographic analysis. Subsequently, the images on the pots were examined in the second stage, called iconographic analysis. The recurring plants were identified and described, their known uses were given and at last their iconographic situation was explored. In the third stage, the plants were compared. The small amount of depicted plant species was striking, for only the tillandsia, browningia, opuntia, cereus and echinopsis species were identified, despite the enormous area in which the Moche lived. A comparison between the physical description of the plants and its iconographic representation showed a striking lack of details. This was not expected if these plants had implied specific regions within the landscape and makes it doubtful whether the plants played a possible role as location indicators. The presence of roots, their floating positions and the relation between cacti and scenes that are connected with death, fertility and afterlife suggest a symbolic system of which these plants also formed part. Whereas the cacti were mainly connected to scenes of violence, the tillandsias were often shown with ritual runners, a result for which no explanation could be given.Show less
In modern research of the Central Mexican manuscripts, the Codex Laud has always remained in a position of obscurity. Barely a handful of comprehensive studies of this codex have been published...Show moreIn modern research of the Central Mexican manuscripts, the Codex Laud has always remained in a position of obscurity. Barely a handful of comprehensive studies of this codex have been published over the past century. Mostly, the Codex Laud is only mentioned briefly in studies of other divinatory codices, and simply regarded as one of the Borgia Group codices, often serving as material for comparison with the other codices of this group. As such, a closer look at this codex is warranted. In this thesis, a single page of the Codex Laud takes the centre stage: page 23, the second-to-last page of the codex, which features a complex composition of calendrical and various other elements around a single central figure. This page forms the subject for a detailed analysis using the iconographical method of Panofsky in order to gain insight into the various layers of meaning hidden within its imagery. In this manner, this thesis will attempt to do what the ancient Mexican diviners did – to determine the associations and meaning(s) of the page in all its aspects and contexts.Show less
This thesis focusses mainly on Neolithic ornaments made of jet and seeks to interpret these finds by addressing two objectives. The first objective of this thesis is concerned with characterizing...Show moreThis thesis focusses mainly on Neolithic ornaments made of jet and seeks to interpret these finds by addressing two objectives. The first objective of this thesis is concerned with characterizing the black shiny ornaments of Schipluiden and Ypenburg which have preliminarily been termed jets and to further investigate the possibilities of provenance studies for Dutch Neolithic jet ornaments with the use of XRF. The second objective of this thesis is to investigate the possibility of distinguishing between an intentional polish and use-wear related shine on the basis of macroscopic analysis. For this purpose a series of experiments has been designed involving experimentally made ornamental beads and a rock tumbler. An XRF distinction shows that the finished ornaments of Ypenburg are possibly all true Upper Lias jets. A large amount of the objects under investigation are probably not, however, including all finished ornaments from Schipluiden. It has proven possible to distinguish between an intentional polish and a use-wear related shine. This experiment, although insightful, is incomplete as it lacks the evidence to conclusively distinguish an intentional polish from a use-wear related shine. Similar experiments could be set up for future research with longer tumbling durations and allow the use of different polish materials.Show less
This research will address the influence of postcolonialism within the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, an archaeological museums. Postcolonialism is a frequently discussed topic in...Show moreThis research will address the influence of postcolonialism within the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, an archaeological museums. Postcolonialism is a frequently discussed topic in museology, however, the discussed museums are mainly ethnological. In this thesis I have explored different aspects of the National Museum of Antiquities on the basis of year reports and other archival material, and interviews. The permanent presentation, the temporary exhibitions, the field research, the collecting policies and the public attitude of the museum all seem to have made certain postcolonial changes. The strongest change made lies in the museum’s attitude towards its public. The National Museum of Antiquities is connecting past societies to the people of the present by making its collection open to visitors from different ages, nationalities and backgrounds. In doing so, the museum globalizes towards the public.Show less
This study explores folk art through Elisabeth Houtzager’s collection of Native American folk art at the National Museum of Ethnology (NME) in Leiden, Netherlands. The Houtzager collection at the...Show moreThis study explores folk art through Elisabeth Houtzager’s collection of Native American folk art at the National Museum of Ethnology (NME) in Leiden, Netherlands. The Houtzager collection at the NME is comprised of circa 4,000 objects of folk art from around the world, and was acquired from Houtzager by the NME in 1993. Research began as part of an internship project held at the NME. The objects of focus comprise a sample of Native American Pueblo pottery and its makers from the Southwestern United States. During initial research of the collection, it became apparent that folk art is a relatively complex matter and occupies a unique position in the world of material culture. This thesis expands on the results of the internship, and seeks to answer questions primarily including: What motivated Houtzager to collect folk art so extensively? Why did the NME accept Houtzager’s large collection of folk art in 1993? In order to broach these questions, one must investigate: What is folk art, and how does it relate to other objects such as ethnographic artefacts and art? The concept of folk art eludes a concrete definition, and can be best understood by recognizing a conglomeration of interpretations. An examination of the Native American art market in 20th century Southwest United States reveals a host of dynamics that may have influenced individuals and institutions to collect objects like folk art. Changes in the lives and careers of the makers of the Pueblo pottery in Houtzager’s collection led to innovations, individuality, and competition in the folk art community in the American Southwest, and created the setting in which Houtzager was traveling, socialising, and thus influencing her purchases of folk art. Individuals collect objects for various reasons, whether as an obsession, a pursuit for a complete collection, an expression of identity, or a memento from events or souvenir from travels. Given the environment in which Houtzager collected, it may be speculated that her travels and personal connections with the pottery makers represented in her collection lent to feelings of nostalgia through the objects. On an institutional level, museums of all types including ethnology, art, folk art, natural history, serve a certain purpose to the collections, staff, and public. Choices in museum collecting are influenced by the interplay between these actors. Today, folk art can be found in many different types of museums. In this study, interviews with three curators from the NME with varied disciplinary backgrounds, reflected a variety of opinions of folk art, and its situation within the institutional setting of museums. With the already discussed indefinable aspect of folk art in mind, these current movements in museums of all types to collect or display folk art contributes to the story of folk art as an issue in the contemporary museum world.Show less
Central to this study are the osseous artefacts of the Merovingian site of Oegstgeest Nieuw Rhijngeest-Zuid. It is one of the rare microwear studies focusing on bone and antler artefacts from a...Show moreCentral to this study are the osseous artefacts of the Merovingian site of Oegstgeest Nieuw Rhijngeest-Zuid. It is one of the rare microwear studies focusing on bone and antler artefacts from a Dutch Medieval context. The sixty-one bone and antler artefacts were recovered between 2009 and 2012. The material consisted of the following (morphological) categories: two-pointed bone rods, pointed bones, hemispherical objects, long bones, irregular bones with holes, worked antler, small pieces of worked bone and antler, combs and pins. Some unfinished artefacts and waste was also found. The artefacts were subjected to both archaeozoological and microwear analyses. One of the aims was to bring into view the organisation and production of the osseous artefacts. The raw material was selected on the basis of the natural shape, weight and other properties like flexibility. Antler was relatively flexible and often used for the production of composite combs. With regard to the local production, it is likely that most bone objects were produced by the user when needed. While most bone objects probably derived from a household production, antler artefacts (mainly composite combs) would have been purchased or traded with travelling craftsmen or merchants. This study also examined to what degree the various artefact forms were function specific. The osseous tools can be linked to different activities, various contact materials and involve different directions of motion and activity zones. Especially pins and two-pointed bone rods appeared to have been used in several crafts or were reused or multifunctional. Finally, it was investigated in which (craft) activities the osseous artefacts were involved, and what they revealed about the role of Oegstgeest within the Early Medieval region of the Old Rhine. The osseous artefact assemblage could be connected to several activities and common spheres: transport, leisure activities, personal utensils, symbolic or ritual activities and craft activities. There are no indications that the production of osseous artefacts, nor the craft activities in which they were involved, transcended the needs of the local inhabitants. Based on the study of the osseous artefacts, a regional function within the former region of the Old Rhine in the domain of crafts and/or raw material is not implied.Show less
The entrance to a house has an important symbolical or mythological meaning in a great number of cultures around the world. When the placement of an entrance differs depending on the region in...Show moreThe entrance to a house has an important symbolical or mythological meaning in a great number of cultures around the world. When the placement of an entrance differs depending on the region in which it is found, it may indicate a different use and symbolic meaning. The aim of this research is therefore to search for functional differences and cultural values in the placement of an entrance using ethnographic examples, and determine whether these differences were also present during the Middle Bronze Age in the Netherlands. Broadly two different kinds of cultural value can be recognised, one that is related to an opposite meaning, or one that has a restricted use. Each of the selected study area’s shares similar constructional, geographical and external conditions with one other study area. The houses from the river area and West-Frisia show strong resemblances in the placement and appearance of the entrances. This could be related to a broadly shared cultural value. In the south, north and east of the Netherlands there does not seem to be a strong consensus related to the appearance and placement of entrances, despite of the similarities seen in the constructional characteristics of the houses, although this may be due to the lack of reliable data from this area. In conclusion, just as is seen in the ethnographic examples, the Bronze Age houses know differences in the placement of entrances related to a functional motivation or cultural value as well.Show less
This thesis focuses on the visualisation of the stories behind objects in the ethnological and archaeological museum. Objects form a fundamental part of our daily life, but we do not always know...Show moreThis thesis focuses on the visualisation of the stories behind objects in the ethnological and archaeological museum. Objects form a fundamental part of our daily life, but we do not always know the full stories behind them. Some objects possess an intriguing story about their use in indigenous communities or their impact on an historic civilization, but the stories that are sometimes of even more interest are the object biographies. These biographies consist of the people, places and events the objects encountered on its way to a (museum) collection. The research done for his thesis will provide new insights into the visualisations of stories behind object in the 20th and 21st century. Furthermore it will discuss some case studies that show how stories, and what kind of stories, are being visualised in the modern day ethnological and archaeological museum. The research reflects the combination of a literature study and case studies. These case studies have been exercised within the National Museum of Ethnology and the National Museum of Antiquities. The selected objects within the case studies have been extensively researched in terms of their history, method of collecting, biographies and presence within the exhibition. These objects are: the Lombok Treasure, the Singosari statues, the golden helmet of de Peel and the Cypriot head. The results of the research showed that the visualisation of the stories behind objects has never been the same and is still shifting, which provide a diverse array of objects and stories. Object biographies were sporadically present in museum exhibitions, but they were never fully embraced. Nowadays this becomes more and more present in museums and new exhibition techniques, such as multi-media and interactive platforms that are implemented to tell and show those hidden stories.Show less
The Peruvian capital Lima contains over more than 300 archaeological sites existing in its forty-nine districts. Sixty percent of these archaeological sites are in danger of being destroyed, and...Show moreThe Peruvian capital Lima contains over more than 300 archaeological sites existing in its forty-nine districts. Sixty percent of these archaeological sites are in danger of being destroyed, and only three percent is incorporated in projects that enjoy their social use. One of the sites that is included in the three percent is the on-site museum ‘Huaca Pucllana’, the subject of this master thesis. Since the construction of Huaca Pucllana’s archaeological complex from 500 A.D. until the arrival of the Spaniards, the archaeological complex has been part of various pre-Columbian cultures (Lima, Wari, and Ychsma) fulfilling different roles (administrative and ceremonial center, cemetery). After a long period of abandonment and being in danger of destruction, an on-site museum was created next to the archaeological complex in the 1980’s. The museum’s main objective was to be a cultural center for society in which society got involved with their cultural heritage. Nowadays, Huaca Pucllana’s heritage management is seen as a model that can be applied to other archaeological sites in Lima. An important aspect of this management is society’s involvement with the archaeological site. But how can this be achieved? This research focuses on this question by using a theoretical framework that includes the themes: New Museology, social development, heritage preservation, and museum education. During this research, an analysis has been performed on the offered activities and programs by Huaca Pucllana, using a theoretical framework of educational theories that George Hein discusses in his book Learning in the Museum (1998). Subsequently, a look has been taken on how they fit into the framework of New Museology, social development, and heritage preservation. Lastly, Huaca Pucllana’s cultural heritage management is compared with other limeño huacas. This research has shown that community involvement with an archaeological site can be achieved by aiming at an active community participation, in which a hands- on/mind-on mentality is essential, in other words: physical and mental participation of the community. Finally, the self-sufficiency of Huaca Pucllana’s cultural heritage management is made possible thanks to four following factors: registration of the archaeological site as heritage of the nation, a convention between the Ministry of Culture and the municipality in which it is situated, its economic self-sufficiency, and the involvement of community with the on-site museum.Show less
Since the 1950 and 60’s, when the link between porotic hyperostosis and ‘anemia’ was established both clinically and archaeologically, the term ‘anemia’ has become somewhat of a default diagnosis;...Show moreSince the 1950 and 60’s, when the link between porotic hyperostosis and ‘anemia’ was established both clinically and archaeologically, the term ‘anemia’ has become somewhat of a default diagnosis; an umbrella under which a multitude of aetiologically and pathophysiologically distinct hemoglobinopathic and red blood cell disorders are meant to reside. This is problematic since bioarchaeologists endeavor not only to diagnose disease, but to link them to the socio-cultural and environmental framework within which they are inherently and inseparably entrenched. A method for more accurately diagnosing, and possibly even differentiating between, ‘anemias’ is therefore a crucial step towards more accurately understanding the relationship between individuals, their bodies, and their world. The purpose of this thesis was to determine if, and how, the pathophysiology of homozygotic and heterozygotic sickle cell and/or thalassemia affects the assimilation, diffusion and/or metabolization of stable carbon (δ13C), oxygen (δ18O) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotopes, using bone collagen and enamel apatite as indicators. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this research represents the first extensive isotopic study of sickle cell and/or thalassemia in the archaeological record, as well as the first to amalgamate and critically assess the relevant biomedical research surrounding the pathophysiological fractionation of stable isotopes in ‘anemics’. Results, obtained from 45 individuals from el Plaza de Espana (8th-12th centuries A.D.) in Écija, Spain, suggests that bone collagen δ15N values are significantly different between Anemic and Control groups, however, breastfeeding could not be conclusively ruled out as the cause of the trophic level shift. No significant differences in bone collagen or enamel apatite δ13C values were noted between cohorts or tooth types, however, sample size is considered to be a contributing factor to the lack of significance. There were no significant differences in enamel apatite δ18O between tooth types, however, significant differences were noted between cohorts. Overall, while disease should be considered an underlying cause of local and systemic isotopic fractionation, more research is required prior to the adoption of stable isotope analysis as a palaeopathological diagnostic method.Show less
Famous as the homeland of Odysseus, Ithaca has been a preferred research area for archaeologists. However, the archaeology of Ithaca has been severely biased by its Homeric focus. As a result, Late...Show moreFamous as the homeland of Odysseus, Ithaca has been a preferred research area for archaeologists. However, the archaeology of Ithaca has been severely biased by its Homeric focus. As a result, Late Archaic and Classical Ithaca remains poorly understood. This biased research agenda combined with the lack of visible remains of monumental public architecture have created the impression that Classical Ithaca was an isolated backwater. This thesis aims to partially redress the balance. At Polis valley, northern Ithaca, relatively rich deposits of Late Archaic and Classical occupation have come to light. Six assemblages of fine ware pottery, Ithacan and imported, provide important insights on the hitherto unknown local pottery production and development, its relations to the Western Greek pottery tradition as well as the influences from the well-known pottery production centres of Athens and Corinth. The contexts of behaviour in which the pottery participated likely represent activities of communal feasting in the open and during daylight, followed by an arranged exposure of the leftovers on the surface. The social significance of the pottery is then investigated and it is argued that the local elite largely regulated pottery production and imports of foreign ceramics as strategies for maintaining the established social hierarchy. Furthermore, the depositional practices of the pottery may reveal a complex negotiation of social behaviours and concepts, such as insularity, acculturation, identity and connectivity. The final conclusion is that the local widely-connected seafaring elite deliberately cultivated a culture of austerity and traditionalism in order to maintain its power over the community, and the manipulation of fine ware pottery played a major role in the success of this strategy.Show less
The aim of this thesis is to identify the status quo of stakeholder engagement in archaeological heritage projects in The Netherlands by studying the processes of organization and decision-making...Show moreThe aim of this thesis is to identify the status quo of stakeholder engagement in archaeological heritage projects in The Netherlands by studying the processes of organization and decision-making in the development of two main archaeological site parks. An integrated approach to heritage management is taken as starting point in the form of a values-based research strategy, by which all the stakeholder’s values attributed to the heritage sites are identified. The two case study projects under examination are Archaeological Park Matilo in Leiden and Castellum Hoge Woerd in Leidsche Rijn. They both involved preservation of archaeological remains and reconstructions of Roman castella in the setting of public site parks located in new city districts. The main research question is: What was the degree of stakeholder engagement in the development of Archaeological Park Matilo and Castellum Hoge Woerd and which values attributed to the heritage sites were most complied with in the projects? Data was collected by means of interviews with the main stakeholder groups, a qualitative research method. The main outcome of this study is that social values were complied with the least. Some additional ways of how to do things differently to this respect are provided.Show less
