Repatriation is probably one of the most contested and emotive issues within heritage. It comes with far more questions than it ever does answers, yet for a paper I about to write as part of a course I'm currently doing I am seeking for answers.
The question I have is so broad the 2500 words seems like it can only ever be an introduction! After completing a fair bit of background reading I still do not know if I fully agree or disagree with the notion. I have however reduced it down to human remains and more specifically of ancient Britons. There seems to be a lot of focus on the repatriation of indigenous peoples and rightly so, but, I have found very little on the repatriation of Britons from Britain's museums. There are Pagan and Druid groups that are making calls for museums to return Britons to their locales and to be re-interred. However, this has problems of its' own, from where to place them, how to place and what sort of ceremony should occur. I can't even decide when the term ancient Briton no longer applies!
As you can see I have found myself a mine field, but, I am not put off by it! Instead I thought I would try and gather the thoughts of others, so it is over to you...if you have strong views, good articles, case studies anything at all really get in touch and broaden my horizons.
Looking forward to hearing from you all :0)
Showing posts with label Bronze Age. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bronze Age. Show all posts
Sunday, 17 March 2013
Monday, 24 December 2012
Twas The Night Before Christmas...
As a Christmas Eve treat we have a particular favourite of mine
it is of course the Ringlemere Cup, discovered in Ringlemere, Sandwich, Kent. This Bronze Age cup dates to around 1700-1500BC and is made from sheet metal. Before damage it would have formed an S shaped vessel, with a rounded bottom; making use rather difficult. It has a corrugated top and a single handle; the second of its' type in Britain, but one of only 5 known in Europe. On discovery it was identified through the Portable Antiquities Scheme and has since been declared as Treasure, through the Treasures act; with the finder and land owner splitting the money paid by The British Museum for its' acquisition.
Since discovery a full excavation has taken place around the findspot and a barrow was located by Canterbury Archaeological Trust. On my last visit Dover Museum had a beautiful display, in the gallery adjacent to the Dover Boat, in relation to the cup. There is now a replica of the cup in position as the original is in the Prehistory Galleries of The British Museum, but, it is still well worth a look if you are in or around the area. The cup has been on many journeys since its' discovery in 2001, it made a brief tour of Britain and even made a stop off in Wales! It also found its way in 2006/2007 back home to Kent, where I feel it belongs.
It is often suggested that the cup was placed in the barrow as part of a burial, subsequently the modern plough has taken its' toll and the cup is clearly damaged. During the excavation CAT found no trace of a burial and as such new theories have emerged; the most popular alluding to a votive deposition. Hoards and Barrows are well known within Kent, particularly to the East of the county, with my knowledge (unsurprisingly) being related to the lovely Thanet (often seen in the Bronze Age as the Isle of the Dead!). It therefore seems a plausible notion. The excavation revealed several Iron Age and Saxon burials in and around the original barrow, thus showing that the area remained a significant one.
Due to the damage visualising the cup in all its' glory can be tricky so I shall leave you with this...
That brings us to the end of our Advent Calender for 2012, I hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it.
I'm going to take the opportunity to thank you all for reading and I hope each and every one of you have a very Merry Christmas!
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| Image taken from the British Museum |
Since discovery a full excavation has taken place around the findspot and a barrow was located by Canterbury Archaeological Trust. On my last visit Dover Museum had a beautiful display, in the gallery adjacent to the Dover Boat, in relation to the cup. There is now a replica of the cup in position as the original is in the Prehistory Galleries of The British Museum, but, it is still well worth a look if you are in or around the area. The cup has been on many journeys since its' discovery in 2001, it made a brief tour of Britain and even made a stop off in Wales! It also found its way in 2006/2007 back home to Kent, where I feel it belongs.
It is often suggested that the cup was placed in the barrow as part of a burial, subsequently the modern plough has taken its' toll and the cup is clearly damaged. During the excavation CAT found no trace of a burial and as such new theories have emerged; the most popular alluding to a votive deposition. Hoards and Barrows are well known within Kent, particularly to the East of the county, with my knowledge (unsurprisingly) being related to the lovely Thanet (often seen in the Bronze Age as the Isle of the Dead!). It therefore seems a plausible notion. The excavation revealed several Iron Age and Saxon burials in and around the original barrow, thus showing that the area remained a significant one.
Due to the damage visualising the cup in all its' glory can be tricky so I shall leave you with this...
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| A British Museum Reconstruction |
I'm going to take the opportunity to thank you all for reading and I hope each and every one of you have a very Merry Christmas!
Saturday, 15 December 2012
A Little More Festive Fashion
Today's artefact is an ornate and amazing find...
Image taken from The British Museum
This golden cap was discovered in an ancient burial mound in 1833, by a group of workmen in Mold, Flinshire, Wales. The cape is beautifully decorated and extremely delicate, it has been painstakingly restored after being crushed upon discovery. It took many years for all the pieces to be reunited but the British Museum is confident that they now have it all. The cape was not found alone, some 300 beads were included in the chamber placed around the body, along with a coarse blanket and an urn containing burnt human remains. I am confident in saying that the cape was not everyday Bronze Age fashion, I am also confident that it was created for a woman due to its size. The usage of the cape will remain unknown, however, its' form is likely to restrict the movement of the person wearing it. This suggests that it has a formal and specific role within Bronze Age life, possibly in relation to religious and/or ceremonial activities. It is the only example known, which makes interpretation increasingly more difficult. Despite this I am sure like me, you are able to admire the work that has gone into its' creation and the wow factor that it produces. The cape is currently on display in Gallery 51 of the British Museum.
Wednesday, 5 December 2012
Bronze Age Beauty
Today's artefact is all about the dainty....
You may well be wondering what on Earth I am showing you...well it is a beautiful faience bead, hailing from a Bronze Age settlement in Shaugh Moor, Dartmoor and currently held within Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery. This tiny bead is only 0.5cm long and is one of a number found at the site. It is made of a large amount of tin, a common material for the area and one that seems to have been important throughout it's human occupation. It was well known in the Roman World and is thought to be a commodity traded indirectly with Rome for centuries before they made contact. Plymouth Museum make many comments about this tiny artefact, the abundance of tin suggests to them that it was an item of status, tin was important so to use is as decoration showed wealth and with it a presumed power. I am not sure how I feel about wealth and power tales, however, there is no denying the skill of the metalworker or the taste of the owner! Another area that they draw attention to is the potential for this bead to have held a spiritual power, presenting tin with a 'magical' quality. Its' transformation from a dull black material to that of shiny silver is a feature we assume the Bronze Age peoples were unable to explain through science. Therefore a sense of awe is assumed. Whether or not this was the case I do not know, I do however, feel it is a nice thought. To give this little bead such significance means that to someone in Bronze Age Shaugh Moor it meant the world. Much like jewellery does in the modern world, it provided the owner with something, maybe it was comfort, a reminder of a loved one, joy or connection will forever be a mystery but it would certainly have meant something. It is easy to forget ownership and emotional connection when studying artefacts as all to often all we can do is imagine the person who may have owned it, we have no link to them other than the artefact in our hands. These artefacts still provide and emotion to us whether it's the wow factor, a sense of wonder or horror, they trigger a reaction. This should always be remembered when we utilise and study artefacts such as this bead, the people of the past should not be omitted from our archaeological accounts.
Image taken from Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery
You may well be wondering what on Earth I am showing you...well it is a beautiful faience bead, hailing from a Bronze Age settlement in Shaugh Moor, Dartmoor and currently held within Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery. This tiny bead is only 0.5cm long and is one of a number found at the site. It is made of a large amount of tin, a common material for the area and one that seems to have been important throughout it's human occupation. It was well known in the Roman World and is thought to be a commodity traded indirectly with Rome for centuries before they made contact. Plymouth Museum make many comments about this tiny artefact, the abundance of tin suggests to them that it was an item of status, tin was important so to use is as decoration showed wealth and with it a presumed power. I am not sure how I feel about wealth and power tales, however, there is no denying the skill of the metalworker or the taste of the owner! Another area that they draw attention to is the potential for this bead to have held a spiritual power, presenting tin with a 'magical' quality. Its' transformation from a dull black material to that of shiny silver is a feature we assume the Bronze Age peoples were unable to explain through science. Therefore a sense of awe is assumed. Whether or not this was the case I do not know, I do however, feel it is a nice thought. To give this little bead such significance means that to someone in Bronze Age Shaugh Moor it meant the world. Much like jewellery does in the modern world, it provided the owner with something, maybe it was comfort, a reminder of a loved one, joy or connection will forever be a mystery but it would certainly have meant something. It is easy to forget ownership and emotional connection when studying artefacts as all to often all we can do is imagine the person who may have owned it, we have no link to them other than the artefact in our hands. These artefacts still provide and emotion to us whether it's the wow factor, a sense of wonder or horror, they trigger a reaction. This should always be remembered when we utilise and study artefacts such as this bead, the people of the past should not be omitted from our archaeological accounts.
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