The dissertation is focused on three interrelated aspects: 1) the development of a decolonial theoretical framework and collaborative research methodology with the Kamëntšá people centred on the... Show moreThe dissertation is focused on three interrelated aspects: 1) the development of a decolonial theoretical framework and collaborative research methodology with the Kamëntšá people centred on the respect for Kamëntšá ethics, principles and social norms, and the consequent reconstruction, revitalization and dignification of Kamëntšá knowledge, arts, spirituality and notions of time and space; 2) the history and colonization processes of the Kamëntšá people and Uaman Tabanok, its ancestral lands, with a specific emphasis on the work of the Capuchin missionaries, particularly their concept of enculturation and how it transformed and resignified Kamëntšá culture and religion using its own arts, narratives and rituals which were in harmony with Christianity; and 3) the concept of “cultural heritage” and the role of academic disciplines, research practices, government institutions and cultural policies in the perpetuation of colonialism through the appropriation, interpretation, control and resignification of the objects, monuments and cultures of Indigenous peoples, and their consequent contribution to maintaining inequality, racism and historical social injustices. Show less
Harkel, A.T. ten; Dierendonck, R. van; Farber, E.; Dee, M.; Doeve, P.; Hamerow, H.; ... ; Deckers, P. 2023
THIS PAPER ADDRESSES THE QUESTION, who were the people who were buried at the early medievalNorth Sea emporia? Conclusions about the mercantile character of the North Sea emporia are often based on... Show moreTHIS PAPER ADDRESSES THE QUESTION, who were the people who were buried at the early medievalNorth Sea emporia? Conclusions about the mercantile character of the North Sea emporia are often based on portablematerial culture. In recognition of the fact that it is difficult to draw conclusions about the identities of people basedon finds assemblages, two pilot projects have been completed that involved bioarchaeological analyses of cemetery pop-ulations associated with these sites. The first of these, the Investigating the Dead in Early Medieval Domburg project,undertook multi-disciplinary analyses of the (very small) surviving burial population from the mostly destroyed sitesin the Domburg area (Netherlands), combining isotope analysis, radiocarbon dating, biological anthropology, dendro-chronology, and provenancing and study of previous use of coffin wood. The second, the Medieval Migrants of theNorth Sea World project, inventoried available isotopic evidence for human remains from emporia sites in England,the Netherlands and Scandinavia, alongside contextual archaeological information. This paper presents both projects,providing the detailed information from Domburg in its wider, international context, and highlighting the need for acomprehensive research agenda to fill current gaps in our understanding of early medieval emporia populations. Show less
Games and other forms of play are core human activities, as vitally constitutive of cultural and social practices in the past as they are today. Consequently, play, games and fun should be central... Show moreGames and other forms of play are core human activities, as vitally constitutive of cultural and social practices in the past as they are today. Consequently, play, games and fun should be central in archaeological theory, but our review shows they are anything but. Instead, very few studies deal with these concepts at all, and most of those that do focus on how the affordances play offers link it to ritual, power or other ‘more serious’ phenomena. Here, we offer an explanation as to why play has taken such a backseat in archaeological thought and practice, relating it to the ambivalent aesthetics of having fun with the past in our own discipline. Building on our own playful practices and those of other scholars in the ancient board gaming and archaeogaming communities, we propose a move towards a more playful archaeology, which can provide us with a new window into the past as well as into our own professional practices. Show less
The Late Medieval and Early Modern periods in the Netherlands are marked by an upsurge in the production, use and repurposing of casks in cities. This is inextricably linked with the growing marine... Show moreThe Late Medieval and Early Modern periods in the Netherlands are marked by an upsurge in the production, use and repurposing of casks in cities. This is inextricably linked with the growing marine and riverine trade markets and the increase in artisan production. Casks have been found on shipwrecks, where they were used as containers for merchandise (primary purpose) and in urban areas, where they were repurposed as shafts for wells or cesspits (secondary purpose). As a result, the initial production phase of the lifecycle of casks often remained undetected. This study aims to generate an overview of the dendrochronological studies conducted in the past decades by Dutch dendrochronologists on casks from Dutch archaeological context, in which the felling year of the wood used to construct the casks can be dated from the 12th to 18th centuries, to gain insight into their production by coopers. The first objective is to better understand the diverse provenance areas detected in the coopers’ timber, after which the diachronic developments in the use of the timber from specific provenance areas can be addressed. The main objective is to assess whether it is possible to distinguish locally produced casks from casks used to import merchandise, which was successful in some cases. In addition to the dendrochronological and archaeological data, archival sources were used to contextualize and substantiate the analyses and interpretations. Show less
We live in the digital era, and archaeologists are increasingly engaging with 'big' data. A recent project at Oxford sought new answers about the landscapes of early medieval England from the... Show moreWe live in the digital era, and archaeologists are increasingly engaging with 'big' data. A recent project at Oxford sought new answers about the landscapes of early medieval England from the longue durée. Show less
From an Ancient Egyptian plague to the Black Death and Spanish flu, epidemics have often spurred societal transformations. Understanding why can help us create a better world after covid-19
Arctic mining has a bad reputation because the extractive industry is often responsible for a suite of environmental problems. Yet, few studies explore the gap between untouched tundra and messy... Show moreArctic mining has a bad reputation because the extractive industry is often responsible for a suite of environmental problems. Yet, few studies explore the gap between untouched tundra and messy megaproject from a historical perspective. Our paper focuses on Advent City as a case study of the emergence of coal mining in Svalbard (Norway) coupled with the onset of mining-related environmental change. After short but intensive human activity (1904–1908), the ecosystem had a century to respond, and we observe a lasting impact on the flora in particular. With interdisciplinary contributions from historical archaeology, archaeozoology, archaeobotany and botany, supplemented by stable isotope analysis, we examine 1) which human activities initially asserted pressure on the Arctic environment, 2) whether the miners at Advent City were “eco-conscious,” for example whether they showed concern for the environment and 3) how the local ecosystem reacted after mine closure and site abandonment. Among the remains of typical mining infrastructure, we prioritised localities that revealed the subtleties of long-term anthropogenic impact. Significant pressure resulted from landscape modifications, the import of non-native animals and plants, hunting and fowling, and the indiscriminate disposal of waste material. Where it was possible to identify individual inhabitants, these shared an economic attitude of waste not, want not, but they did not hold the environment in high regard. Ground clearances, animal dung and waste dumps continue to have an effect after a hundred years. The anthropogenic interference with the fell field led to habitat creation, especially for vascular plants. The vegetation cover and biodiversity were high, but we recorded no exotic or threatened plant species. Impacted localities generally showed a reduction of the natural patchiness of plant communities, and highly eutrophic conditions were unsuitable for liverworts and lichens. Supplementary isotopic analysis of animal bones added data to the marine reservoir offset in Svalbard underlining the far-reaching potential of our multi-proxy approach. We conclude that although damaging human–environment interactions formerly took place at Advent City, these were limited and primarily left the visual impact of the ruins. The fell field is such a dynamic area that the subtle anthropogenic effects on the local tundra may soon be lost. The fauna and flora may not recover to what they were before the miners arrived, but they will continue to respond to new post-industrial circumstances. Show less
Roxburgh, M.A.; Heeren, S.; Huisman, H.; Os, B. van 2016
We present herea compositional study ofa large number of copper-alloy broochesusing Handheld X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (HHpXRF). The brooches, which come fromthe area of Nijmegen, date from... Show moreWe present herea compositional study ofa large number of copper-alloy broochesusing Handheld X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (HHpXRF). The brooches, which come fromthe area of Nijmegen, date from the Late IronAgeuntil the 2nd c.A.D. Our aim is to explore the ways in which artefact production was organized both in the context of Roman centresand in the countryside. Show less
My thesis provides a comparative analysis of early cilivilisations through archaeological sources. The two selected cases are Mycenaean Greece and the Late Preclassic lowland Maya. Specifically the... Show moreMy thesis provides a comparative analysis of early cilivilisations through archaeological sources. The two selected cases are Mycenaean Greece and the Late Preclassic lowland Maya. Specifically the study focuses on art and its role in social life of the two cases. Major methodological reflections are included. Show less
In onze moderne tijd wordt aan het goed functioneren van infrastructuur grote aandacht besteed. In het hier gepresenteerde onderzoek heb ik getracht aan te tonen dat ook in de Grieks-Romeinse... Show moreIn onze moderne tijd wordt aan het goed functioneren van infrastructuur grote aandacht besteed. In het hier gepresenteerde onderzoek heb ik getracht aan te tonen dat ook in de Grieks-Romeinse wereld de doorstroming als een cruciaal punt werd beschouwd. Niet alleen de infrastructuur zelf, ook datgene wat via de infrastructuur wordt getransporteerd moet aan hoge kwaliteitseisen voldoen om de (Grieks-Romeinse) stad leefbaar te houden. Evenals tegenwoordig werd ook in de Grieks-Romeinse wereld het functioneren van een stad of gebied soms vergeleken met een menselijk lichaam. In beide gevallen is sprake van voedsel- en drinkwatervoorziening, uitscheiding van afvalproducten en een interne infrastructuur die de producten naar en van hun plaats moet brengen en als zodanig de stad c.q. het lichaam in stand moet houden. Wanneer de infrastructuur echter niet meer kan functioneren __ te weinig capaciteit, een onderbreking of een verkeerde inhoud __ komt de doorstroming in gevaar en lopen lichaam en stad de kans ziek te worden met uiteindelijk de dood als gevolg. De infrastructuur m__t in bedrijf zijn en blijven. Stadsbesturen zagen in dat iedereen baat had bij een goed functionerende stad en troffen voorzieningen om de leefbaarheid van een stad te optimaliseren. Show less
In Westerblokker even buiten Hoorn werd in 1475 een vrouwenklooster met de naam Bethlehem opgericht. De grote stichtingsgolf van kloosters, die eind 14de eeuw begon, was al enige tijd over zijn... Show moreIn Westerblokker even buiten Hoorn werd in 1475 een vrouwenklooster met de naam Bethlehem opgericht. De grote stichtingsgolf van kloosters, die eind 14de eeuw begon, was al enige tijd over zijn hoogtepunt heen. In het proefschrift wordt onderzocht waarom aan het einde van de 15de eeuw nog een nieuwe kloostergemeenschap tot stand kwam en wat zegt dit over de vitaliteit van het kloosterleven in de tweede helft van de 15de eeuw en vroege 16de eeuw. Deze nieuwe stichting op het platteland volgde een geheel eigen formule: het nam de regel van Augustinus aan en schaarde zich onder de Orde van het Heilig Kruis. Aanvankelijk hadden de kruisbroeders alleen het toezicht over het vrouwenklooster en in 1530 namen ze ook het biechtvaderschap op zich. Dankzij het statutenboek krijgen we een goed beeld van het religieuze leven in het klooster en de wijze waarop de kruisbroeders vorm gaven aan een vrouwenklooster onder hun hoede. Tussen 2003 en 2008 is klooster Bethlehem voor een groot gedeelte opgegraven. De kloosterplattegrond en de inrichting van het kloosterterrein kunnen deels worden gereconstrueerd. De opgravingen hebben tevens grote hoeveelheden vondstmateriaal opgeleverd, waaronder veel devotionalia van pijpaarde en terracotta, die een beeld geven van het kloosterleven. Show less
Nubia, located in what is now the northern part of the Republic of the Sudan and Upper Egypt, is among the most excavated corners of the world. Here, for over a century, there have been ongoing... Show moreNubia, located in what is now the northern part of the Republic of the Sudan and Upper Egypt, is among the most excavated corners of the world. Here, for over a century, there have been ongoing large-scale archeological rescue operations spurred on by an extensive program of damming the Nile, which is leading to the gradual disappearance of the territory under water. If this trend is not reversed, museums will become ‘the only and sole alternative’ venues where Nubian culture can still be admired and understood. The objective of this research is to analyze how, as a concept and archeological presence, ‘Nubia’ has been dealt with so far, and with what battles it has to contend now that museums are changing their identity and trying to adapt themselves to the political trend of this century which is all about conflict of identity. The ‘analytical tour’ of Nubian collections, presented in this research, includes museums within and beyond the boundaries of Nubia. It sheds light on how Nubia has been understood, created and silenced in the most important venues and smaller contexts and if and how modern Nubians are involved in this process Show less
The central subjects of this dissertation are wheel thrown pottery and settlements from the Roman period in the southern part of the Netherlands from the first three centuries of the Christian... Show moreThe central subjects of this dissertation are wheel thrown pottery and settlements from the Roman period in the southern part of the Netherlands from the first three centuries of the Christian era. Research shows that in most of the modern publications on pottery insufficient attention is devoted to describing the form of the pottery and that there is no common, systematic way of quantifying the pottery. In several settlements the horizontal-stratigraphical analysis has been employed, the core of which are the Roman measurements used and the spatial relations between elements in the settlements. Thus, the consecutive stages of development of the settlements (villas and temples) could, to a large extent, be established. The reorganisation from a military district on the Lower Rhine into the province of Germania inferior, the grant of municipal status and the imperial name to Nijmegen, the involvement of the Roman army in the construction of both public buildings in Nijmegen and villas and temples in the Batavian countryside, agrarian changes, as well as the substitution of hand-made pottery by wheel thrown pottery, are signs of an important transformation of the civitas Batavorum during a period of less than a generation (between 85 and 122 AD). Show less
This study aims to provide an insight in the underlying fabric of colonial remains in Taiwan. Heritage became a prevailing phenomenon during the formation of modern nation-states. The image of... Show moreThis study aims to provide an insight in the underlying fabric of colonial remains in Taiwan. Heritage became a prevailing phenomenon during the formation of modern nation-states. The image of Japan as an advanced modernized nation is rooted within Taiwan and is represented by heritage activities associated with Japanese colonial sites. The case of Japanese colonial heritage in Taiwan shows similarities and differences to the situation of colonial sites within the postcolonial metropole/colony power unbalance. Show less
Barrett, J.H.; Orton, D.; Johnstone, C.; Harland, J.; Van Neer, W.; Ervynck, A.; ... ; Richards, M. 2011
Archaeological fish bones reveal increases in marine fish utilisation in Northern and Western Europe beginning in the 10th and 11th centuries AD. We use stable isotope signatures from 300... Show moreArchaeological fish bones reveal increases in marine fish utilisation in Northern and Western Europe beginning in the 10th and 11th centuries AD. We use stable isotope signatures from 300 archaeological cod (Gadus morhua) bones to determine whether this sea fishing revolution resulted from increased local fishing or the introduction of preserved fish transported from distant waters such as Arctic Norway, Iceland and/or the Northern Isles of Scotland (Orkney and Shetland). Results from 12 settlements in England and Flanders (Belgium) indicate that catches were initially local. Between the 9th and 12th centuries most bones represented fish from the southern North Sea. Conversely, by the 13th to 14th centuries demand was increasingly met through long distance transport - signalling the onset of the globalisation of commercial fisheries and suggesting that cities such as London quickly outgrew the capacity of local fish supplies. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Show less
Rethinking Ostia presents an archaeological and spatial approach to Roman urbanism, focused on Rome's port city. It takes the reader along the route of a 'spatial investigation', offering a fresh... Show moreRethinking Ostia presents an archaeological and spatial approach to Roman urbanism, focused on Rome's port city. It takes the reader along the route of a 'spatial investigation', offering a fresh look and detailed insights into the past society and the built environment of this port town. Following a scaled approach, the book examines different aspects of Ostia's urban landscape, applying Space Syntax's methods for spatial analysis to the urban neighbourhood of one city block - Insula IV ii, selected buildings (Ostia's guild seats), and the entire street system. All through the book a 'Space First' policy has been followed, combining archaeological research with today's insights into urban planning. The heart of this scalar approach is the complete re-working of the archaeological evidence and its interpretative potential for the city block, Insula IV ii. This neighbourhood enjoys an excellent location and boasts a striking variety of buildings including the well-known Terme del Faro, the Caseggiato dell'Ercole, and the Caupona del Pavone, but till now has not been studied in its entirety and within its own social and spatial context. Through a careful reconstruction of the Insula's development over the first three centuries AD, the work fills a lacuna - but more importantly it reveals the way everyday life was structured in the city, and how this evolved over time in response to internal and external influences on the lives of its inhabitants. Rethinking Ostia draws upon archaeological data and extensive spatial analyses, both carefully documented and illustrated. The findings highlight the active role of space in structuring social activity in the ancient city. Archaeological Studies Leiden University (ASLU) is a series of the Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University since 1998. The series' aim is to publish Research and PhD theses of Archaeology and covers the international research fields of European Prehistory, Classical-, Near Eastern-, Indian American- and Science-based Archaeology Show less
This study deals with stone representations of Bhīma, one of the protagonists of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata. This epic which originates from India, is already known on Java in the tenth century.... Show moreThis study deals with stone representations of Bhīma, one of the protagonists of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata. This epic which originates from India, is already known on Java in the tenth century. The Bhīma representations which include statues and reliefs appeared during the Majapahit Period (1296-1527 C.E.) and were mainly found on mountain sanctuaries in present East and Central Java. Given the number of statues found, there was a worship of Bhīma going on during the Majapahit Period. The study researches the motives, the spread and the origin of the worship, its relation to other gods and the influence of wayang on the worship. It concentrates on the iconography of Bhīma, and the interpretation of his iconography. Furthermore it examines Bhīma literature and the material and historical context of the Bhīma representations. This interdisciplinary research shows that protection, salvation and fertility were motives for the Bhīma worship. It also indicates that Bhīma's descent from Bāyu, the god of the wind and his father, was substantial for his worship. The worship was definitely of Javanese origin and the wayang played a considerable role in it. Show less
