Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
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The research presented in this RMA thesis investigates multiple facets of wusūm petroglyphs from the Jebel Qurma region in northeastern Jordan. Wusūm form a particular system of markings used by...Show moreThe research presented in this RMA thesis investigates multiple facets of wusūm petroglyphs from the Jebel Qurma region in northeastern Jordan. Wusūm form a particular system of markings used by largely mobile pastoralist groups throughout the Near East, and are commonly encountered during archaeological surveys. Despite their ubiquity in archaeological contexts, our current understanding of wusūm in general is extremely limited. The rich and well-documented Jebel Qurma dataset, therefore, offers a timely opportunity to investigate the phenomenon of wusūm from a much-needed holistic perspective. Bringing together a multitude of relevant primary sources, theoretical considerations, and archaeological data for the first time, this thesis aims at providing a first-ever, comprehensive perspective on the phenomenon of wusūm marking systems in the Near East.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
closed access
Central to this thesis is an object from Rome dating to the fourth century CE, the so-called Hylas panel from the ‘Basilica of Iunius Bassus'. This object is usually categorized under the heading...Show moreCentral to this thesis is an object from Rome dating to the fourth century CE, the so-called Hylas panel from the ‘Basilica of Iunius Bassus'. This object is usually categorized under the heading of ‘Aegyptiaca’; Egyptian or Egyptianizing objects that, due to their style, provenance or iconography, are assumed to be connected with Egypt or ‘Egypt as an idea’. This thesis, in the first place, intends to add to existing debates concerning this Late Roman ‘Aegyptiacum’, asking questions about the way it functioned in its fourth century CE context, with a specific interest in its ‘Egyptian’ dimensions. Furthermore, it attempts to provide a better understanding of 'Egypt' as a cultural concept in fourth century CE Rome by applying recent theoretical insights on 'cultural biography' and material agency.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
closed access
The incredible rock-cut architecture at the Nabataean capital of Petra, Jordan, has marveled many. They have been, and still are, the subject of many archaeological projects in the region. However,...Show moreThe incredible rock-cut architecture at the Nabataean capital of Petra, Jordan, has marveled many. They have been, and still are, the subject of many archaeological projects in the region. However, the scholarly emphasis on these Nabataean monuments has casted a shadow over all things mundane. Due to this focus, surprisingly little is known about the Nabataean kingdom (second century BC- AD 106), and the people within. Although houses have been excavated from the beginning of the research in the 1930’s onwards, and successfulness of the study of societies through houses in the archaeological record has been well established for other periods in the Near East, the results of these studies are not yet integrated in the study of the Nabataean society as a whole. This thesis aims to give an overview of the available information about houses which were excavated in the past, and to use this information to reconstruct these buildings and their function. Subsequently, this information is used, together with information from epigraphic and ethnographic sources, to study the different social structures which are represented in the dataset. Lastly, on the basis of the Nabataean material culture (small finds, public and private architecture) this culture is placed into the regional context of the Hellenised world. From this study, it becomes apparent that the perspective on non-monumental architecture is a useful one to study the Nabataean society and complement the data from previous studies. It is shown that the houses do not only provide more information about the society, but that they can also be used to contextualize the monuments, and especially their architectural styles.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
closed access
This paper examines the use of the medium of sculpture in the public sphere in Roman East Midlands including sculpture in the round, reliefs, architectural decoration, tombstones and inscriptions....Show moreThis paper examines the use of the medium of sculpture in the public sphere in Roman East Midlands including sculpture in the round, reliefs, architectural decoration, tombstones and inscriptions. The aim of the research is to analyse the social aspects of the public display of the sculptural medium in order to understand what role sculpture had within the society and the reasons behind choices such as subject matter, form and style. All of the sculptures and inscriptions from the chosen study area between and including Lincoln, Leicester and Water Newton are examined in detail and discussed within the context of their find location. The visual effect of sculpture is examined in terms of location in the landscape, the composition of the image and the visual impact of style. The question of identity is also discussed in terms of the commissioning and use of sculpture and the choice of style. In order to gain a better understanding on the fragmented nature and poor survival of sculptures in the area, their fate in terms of re-use and the scale of possible loss is also examined. Although the poor survival of Romano-British sculpture in the East Midlands makes them a difficult area of study, the aim of this paper is to examine different ways of viewing the material in order to gain more insight into the society who acquired and used such sculptural displays.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
open access
2015-01-19T00:00:00Z
Until recently ‘The archaeology of Judaism’ actually meant the archaeology of Judaism for no later than Late Antiquity. Recently, only the archaeology of Judaism for the medieval period in Europe...Show moreUntil recently ‘The archaeology of Judaism’ actually meant the archaeology of Judaism for no later than Late Antiquity. Recently, only the archaeology of Judaism for the medieval period in Europe has been developing, but almost no attention has been paid yet to the archaeology of Judaism in the Islamic World. Although much seems to be known about Judaism in the Islamic World, when taking a closer look, actually all this knowledge is based on textual sources such as the rabbinic literature and the documents from the Cairo Genizah. Apart from that, there have been specialist studies, focussing on specific objects, or architectural features from more recent times, mainly from an art historical approach. This thesis for the first time aims to give a general overview of all the available material and architectural features that could be associated with Judaism in the Islamic World and the wider diaspora and reconsiders the grounds on which the association of this material with Judaism has been made. It examines what contribution archaeology could make to the knowledge of Judaism, thereby paying attention to some issues related to the social responsibility archaeologists have towards society and presenting the most promising fields for future research.Show less
